Transportation

Verne is developing a cryo-compressor technology platform that will convert gaseous hydrogen (GH2) at low pressures (e.g., 20 bar) and ambient temperature (e.g., 300K) to cryo-compressed hydrogen (CcH2) at 60–80K and 300–500 bar. CcH2 is thermodynamically optimal for high-density, low-cost storage in achieving an economical hydrogen infrastructure. This platform will provide hydrogen with liquid-like densities using half the energy intensity and at smaller scales relative to liquefaction.

Sylvatex will use a low-cost, high-yield, and simplified continuous approach to synthesize lithium iron phosphate iron (LFP) based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) where the reactants flow and mix continuously. Sylvatex’s proprietary nanomaterial platform has already demonstrated a significant breakthrough in synthesizing cathode materials for LIBs.

Gencores enables technology for ultra-light vehicles to decarbonize transportation. Herein they demonstrate a scalable and digital production of low-cost and high-performance hybrid Polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam cores for sandwich composite constructions. Sandwich composites feature a foam core wrapped in fiber-reinforced skins and offer a 40-75% weight reduction potential compared with traditional metal alternatives. Current PMI foam cores are costly and time-consuming to produce in complex shapes.

Stoicheia aims to accelerate the discovery of proton exchange membrane electrolyzer (PEM) anode catalysts to reduce or eliminate the rare, expensive iridium oxide (IrOx) that is currently the industry standard. Stoicheia’s novel combinatorial process and Megalibrary platform enables the rapid synthesis and characterization of hundreds of thousands of unique materials in a single experiment. Stoicheia seeks to use this approach to accelerate the discovery of reduced IrOX options.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) aims to develop the first carbon negative biorefinery that funnels multiple organic waste feedstocks into a chemically consistent stream of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) that are upgraded to carbon negative products. NREL’s Recirculating System for Optimal Use of Refuse with Control and Efficiency (ReSOURCE) process operates via arrested anaerobic digestion, and it accumulates and selectively isolates VFAs.

The University of California, Davis, will develop novel models that integrate material properties and characteristics into greenhouse gas sequestration scenarios to inform technological breakthroughs in carbon storing building materials. Models will also be generated for rapid assessment of uncertainty in the life cycle assessment of novel building materials that can inform ARPA-E-funded HESTIA teams of target areas for improvement during the material development process.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory team will combine artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced controls, while leveraging CAV and roadside infrastructure advances to transform transportation management. The team’s traffic management system, AutonomIA, will reduce congestion, improve energy efficiency, and reduce emissions across regional transportation systems.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) aims to develop a complete system to remove low-level methane from high-flow gaseous streams associated with coal mining. Because state-of-the-art mine ventilation air systems offer zero methane conversion, the system will be developed and tested on ventilation air methane. MIT’s design will include real-time input determination, output performance sensing, advanced machine learning algorithms, and feedback control for process optimization.

Johnson Matthey, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Consol Energy will adapt the Catalytic Oxidation METhane (COMET™) methane abatement system to convert vent air methane at a Consol Energy coal mining site. The COMET methane system has shown potential for controlling dilute methane emissions. The team will use cost-effective technology to achieve over 99.5% methane conversion efficiency at temperatures below 1112 ºF for methane concentration in the range of 0.1-1.6%, representing nearly all ventilation air methane sources in the U.S.

MAHLE Powertrain proposes an aftertreatment package to minimize methane emissions from natural gas-fired lean and ultra-lean burn engines. The package features a methane oxidation catalyst with a novel hydrothermally stable catalyst formulation that significantly increases methane conversion efficiencies under low temperature exhaust conditions. The methane source addressed is methane that “slips” through the engine, unconverted to other species during combustion.