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These projects, selected for negotiation of awards, will focus on three areas: improving fuel utilisation in ethanol-powered engines (engine optimisation), developing advanced lubrication systems, and exploring high efficiency, clean combustion engines.  The projects is intended to advance President Bush's 20-in-10 Initiative, which calls for displacing 20% of gasoline usage by 2017 through increased use of clean, renewable fuels, and improved vehicle efficiency.

Secretary Bodman said:
"We expect this research to make significant strides toward maximising an engine's performance in a cleaner, more economical manner. Increasing the use of clean, renewable fuels will not only help reduce our reliance on imported oil, but will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions for a more secure energy future."

Seven of the eleven projects selected total up to $15.3 million (71% of the funding) in DOE funding and will focus specifically on improving flexible-fuel engines and light-duty vehicles that operate on ethanol-gasoline blends up to 85% ethanol by volume (E-85).  The research will seek to take advantage of favourable properties of ethanol blends without diminishing gasoline fuel efficiency.

Three projects have been selected for negotiation of awards up to $5.7 million (26% of the funding) to develop advanced combustion engines for light-duty vehicles.  Selected projects will take advantage of complementary properties among combustion, fuels, and emission control technologies to develop clean, high-efficiency engines.

This announcement supports America's aggressive persuit of corn-based ethanol production, which many environmental groups are concerned about because of the amount of land that would be required to supply enough fuel to satisfy demand.