Batteries, Charging, and Electric Vehicles

With their potential for decreasing transportation costs, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs)—including plug-in hybrid electric and all-electric vehicles—will play a key role in the country's transportation future.

The Transportation Technologies Office (TTO) supports a variety of work to lower the cost and increase the convenience of PEVs. TTO is collaborating with national laboratories and industry to improve batteries and electric drive systems.

To maximize these technologies’ effectiveness, researchers use simulation and modeling software to create virtual vehicles based on data collected from vehicles on the road and in the laboratory.

TTO also works with national laboratories and key stakeholders to advance the development and use of PEV charging infrastructure. Three broad principles guide TTO efforts in this area and are intended to support communities, companies, and others as they plan for future PEV charging availability.

The office closely coordinates with other Federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Transportation, state and local governments, industry partners, and other key stakeholders to serve current and future PEV drivers across America:

• Community and fleet readiness activities connect local governments and private fleets with our more than 75 Clean Cities and Communities coalitions around the country.
• The EV Readiness Scorecard helps communities assess how prepared they are for PEV drivers, while a number of cities are already finding ways to improve planning, increase training, and cut red tape through EV community readiness projects.

TTO partners with a number of organizations and companies to train the American workforce to develop, build, repair, and respond to incidents with these vehicles. TTO has sponsored student competitions in advanced vehicles for more than 35 years.

TTO's Batteries, Charging, and Electric Vehicles program aims to research new battery chemistry and cell technologies that can:

• Reduce EV battery pack level cost down to less than $75/kWh by 2030 while maintaining a vehicle range of at least 300 miles. 
• Decrease charge time to less than 15 minutes.

• For a general overview of PEVs, see Electric Vehicle Basics.
• The Vehicle Charging page provides information on home, public, and workplace charging.
• The Tax Credits and Other Incentives page has sortable lists of federal, state, and utility incentives.