DOE funding to help Blossman Services develop direct injection

December 23, 2016 By Brian Richesson

Blossman Services of Swannanoa, North Carolina, is among the companies that will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for research, development and demonstration of direct injection propane engine or plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) technologies.

Blossman will receive $2 million to develop a 4.3-liter propane direct injection engine and emission control system for demonstration on a package delivery vehicle, according to DOE. Direct injection engine technology offers improved performance and fuel savings, the department notes. DOE announced the funding as part of an $18 million investment in five projects.

“Public investment in advanced, energy-efficient transportation technologies and systems will improve our nation’s energy security, support energy independence, reduce transportation emissions and strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness,” DOE says in announcing the projects. “The projects selected will accelerate the development and adoption of alternative fuel technologies and support pioneering deployments of market-ready vehicles and alternative fuels.”

Other companies to receive DOE funding include:

Odyne Systems LLC (Pewaukee, Wisconsin): $2.9 million to develop and demonstrate plug-in hybrid work trucks (class 7) that reduce fuel consumption by more than 50 percent and eliminate fuel consumption during stationary operations.
Blue Bird Body Co. (Fort Valley, Georgia): $4.9 million to develop and demonstrate a battery-powered electric school bus that improves propulsion energy efficiency by 20 to 30 percent and that can connect to the electric grid (vehicle to grid).
PacifiCorp (Portland, Oregon): $3.9 million to accelerate PEV adoption by developing electric highway corridors along Interstate 15, Interstate 80, Interstate 70 and Interstate 84 in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
Gas Technology Institute (Des Plaines, Illinois): $4.9 million to deploy multi-fuel stations (including electric vehicle charging stations, compressed natural gas, biofuels, and propane stations) and alternative fuel vehicles (including electric drive) along Interstate 94 from Port Huron, Michigan, to the North Dakota border.