Major Automotive R&D Programs in Federal Agencies
The discussion below characterizes the major advanced automotive R&D programs underway
in the federal agencies, together with their finding levels and strategies for commercializing
advanced vehicles.
Department of Commerce (DOC)
DOC’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the focal point for the
agency’s advanced automotive research. NIST is a world-class center for physical science and
engineering research with long experience in areas such as automated manufacturing processes,
advanced materials, and development of measurement standards and techniques.
Overall, NIST’s ongoing research is predominantly in the area of advanced manufacturing,
followed by advanced composites and design methods. In the future, NIST’s capabilities in the
area of standards development could become very important for advanced vehicles--for example,
standards for product data exchange, standards for measuring the performance of composite
materials, or for information exchange between an electric vehicle and a charging station during
rapid charging.
Although NIST’s advanced vehicle-related R&D is scattered among several programs, the bulk
of the finding is provided through the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), a 50-50 cost-
shared R&D program with industry. ATP solicits research proposals from industry in several
areas related to automobiles, including advanced composites, materials processing for heavy
manufacturing, and automotive manufacturing. For example, in FY 1995 ATP initiated eight new
projects, all related to the use of composite materials in vehicles, with annual finding of about
$8.5 million (matched by an equal industry contribution).
DOC’s advanced vehicle budget request shows an apparent decrease from nearly $20 million in
FY 1995 to $9 million in FY 1996. The $9 million figure, however, includes only the cost of
continuing projects started in earlier fiscal years. In fact, ATP expects to initiate $30 million in
new auto-related contracts in FY 1996, but negotiations on these contracts are not yet completed.
Thus, instead of being cut in halt the actual NIST budget for PNGV-related technologies would
nearly double to $39 million in FY 1996.
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Department of Defense
DOD has numerous projects under way to improve the readiness and fighting capability of
military vehicles. Many of these involve the same advanced technologies that are also being
considered for the civilian light-duty vehicle fleet under PNGV DOD research is sponsored by a
number of institutions, including research laboratories of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well
as ARPA. In addition to sponsoring its own research, ARPA is the coordinator of the Technology
Reinvestment Project (TRP), which promotes the development of “dual use” technologies that
have both civilian and military applications. DOD’s participation in PNGV is coordinated by thelOHowevm, ATP fitig is controversial in Congra and sknifkant CUtS Me ~i% A*