Driving Technology: A Transition Strategy to Enhance Energy Security

A 12-page, full-color document titled Driving Technology: A Transition Strategy to Enhance Energy Security (PDF 2.0 MB) Download Adobe Reader, offers an overview of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Transition Strategy to develop efficient, affordable technologies that reduce oil use in the near term and are integral to future fuel cell vehicles.

DOE's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies (FCVT) Program is implementing the Transition Strategy to:

Dramatically reduce oil consumption by improving the efficiency of personal vehicles (cars, pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles [SUVs], and minivans)
Double the fuel economy in commercial vehicles (long-haul freight trucks and buses)
Develop many of the core technologies needed for tomorrow's fuel cell hybrid vehicles

These efforts, conducted with industry (through the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership and the 21st Century Truck Partnership), are already leading to a comprehensive suite of new technologies, including hybrid vehicle components, such as electric motors, energy storage units (e.g., batteries) and power electronics; advanced combustion systems and improved fuels; lightweighting materials; and sophisticated vehicle systems. These technologies will help maintain freedom of mobility, a wide range of vehicle choices, and reliable freight transport. They are projected to reduce oil consumption by up to 8 million barrels per day (mbpd) by 2040.

The document also describes key FCVT research efforts and highlights some of the Program's research and development success stories to date. It concludes with a discussion of the benefits that improving vehicle system efficiencies can have on energy security, emissions reduction, and on the nation's economy in general.

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