In return for giving Eaton Corp. a $2 million grant, the U.S. Department of Energy is expecting the Southfield, MI, company to boost the performance and reduce the cost of fuel-cell systems. The DOE announced the grant award March 29. As part of a three-year project, Eaton will modify its existing air-compression technology to deliver more power and better fuel economy at a lower cost. Project partners include Kettering University, Ballard Power Systems, and Electricore Inc. The DOE says its hydrogen and fuel-cell research and development program has resulted in more than 300 patents and more than 30 products brought to market. From 2008, it noted, fuel-cell durability has doubled and the cost of fuel cells has come down 30%.