Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-FOA-0003383 entitled Fiscal Year 2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Batteries & Electrification FOA | DE FOA 0003382

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003382

This Notice of Intent describes the Department of Energy's plan to release a forthcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) focused on batteries and electrification under the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) for Fiscal Year 2024. It is strictly a heads-up document, meaning it is published to inform potential applicants and stakeholders that a formal solicitation is expected, but it is not the solicitation itself. Because it is only a Notice of Intent, DOE is not accepting applications yet, is not requesting public comments through this notice, and may change details once the actual FOA is issued.

The anticipated FOA (referenced as DE-FOA-0003383 in the notice title) is positioned as part of a broader federal effort to address the climate crisis by accelerating innovation that enables wider deployment of clean energy technologies. In practical terms, the program aims to support research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities (often shortened as RDD&D) that help move the transportation sector toward deep decarbonization and support the national goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The focus areas described suggest DOE is looking for projects that can make electric transportation safer, cheaper, more reliable, and easier to integrate with the electric grid.

Based on the description, the technical scope is expected to span multiple problem areas across the EV and battery ecosystem. One area highlighted is the demonstration of smart charge management for electric vehicles, which generally refers to strategies and technologies that coordinate when and how EVs charge to reduce costs, avoid stressing the grid during peak periods, and potentially provide grid services. Another major emphasis is advancing innovative battery chemistries and component materials, implying interest in next-generation approaches that could improve energy density, longevity, charging speed, cost, domestic supply chain resilience, or sustainability. The notice also calls out reduction of cascading battery fires, signaling attention to safety challenges such as thermal runaway propagation and how failures can spread within cells, modules, or packs. In addition, DOE points to manufacturing cost reduction for battery electrodes, cells, and packs, indicating the FOA may support process improvements, novel manufacturing methods, yield and quality enhancements, and other pathways that lower total battery production costs at scale.

Administrative details included in the source data indicate the opportunity is expected to be managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, using a cooperative agreement funding instrument. Cooperative agreements typically mean DOE expects substantial involvement during the project, such as collaboration on technical direction, milestones, validation, and reporting, rather than a hands-off grant structure. The activity category is listed under Energy, Science and Technology, and other R&D, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 81.086, which is commonly associated with DOE energy research and development assistance.

The listing also indicates that eligibility is "Unrestricted," which usually means a broad range of applicants may be allowed (for example, companies, universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, and state or local entities), though the final FOA will control the definitive eligibility rules, teaming requirements, and any cost share expectations. The data field for award ceiling appears as "2" and the expected awards field is incomplete in the provided text, so the specific total funding level, number of selections, and maximum award size are not reliably clear from what is shown. A date of 2024-07-26 is shown as an original closing date, but since this is a Notice of Intent stating applications are not being accepted yet, that date should be treated cautiously and verified against the eventual posted FOA once it is released.

In short, the notice signals an upcoming DOE VTO funding competition centered on EV charging management, next-generation battery materials and chemistries, battery safety improvements to prevent fire propagation, and manufacturing innovations that reduce costs from electrode production through pack assembly. Anyone interested would need to wait for the actual FOA publication to see the final topic areas, required deliverables, merit review criteria, cost share requirements, submission deadlines, and the application package instructions.

• The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-FOA-0003383 entitled Fiscal Year 2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Batteries & Electrification FOA" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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