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The successful commercialization of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) can provide significant benefits by reducing the United States' growing dependence on petroleum fuels for transportation; decreasing polluting and greenhouse gas emissions; and facilitating a long-term transition to sustainable renewable energy sources. Recognizing these benefits, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supports an active program of long-range R&D to develop electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technologies and to accelerate their commercialization. The DOE Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies (OAAT) supports several innovative R&D programs, conducted in partnership with DOE's national laboratories, industry, other government agencies, universities, and small businesses. The Office has two key R&D cooperative agreements with the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) to develop high-energy batteries for EVs and high-power batteries for HEVs.

Commercial electric vans are being deployed in operational fleets in the United States and Canada and assessments are being made of the operation and maintenance costs compared with conventional vehicles. For specific missions, the electric vehicle can be a cost effective alternative. As the technology of batteries and propulsion systems is advanced the missions and potential use of electric vehicles will be enhanced. This paper will describe the latest battery and powertrain technology developments, the testing and evaluation in the laboratory and in fleet testing of new advanced technologies and an assessment of the potential use of electric vehicles in future transportation systems. Specific promising battery developments, such as sodium-sulfur, zinc-bromine, and lithium-metal sulfide which significantly increase the range of electric vehicles by a factor of 3 or more will be described. The advances in alternating current propulsion systems will also be presented.

The United States supports an active research and development (R&D) program to develop electric and hybrid vehicle technologies and accelerate their commercialization. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies (OAAT), supports the development of advanced energy storage and power electronics technologies, fuel cells, advanced direct-injection engines, vehicle systems, lightweight materials, and fuels. Much of this R&D directly supports the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), a landmark partnership between the U.S. Federal Government and automakers with the goal of developing a six-passenger family sedan with up to 80 miles per gallon (mpg) fuel economy by 2004. In these efforts, the DOE is working closely with its national laboratories, the auto industry and its suppliers, other government agencies, universities, and innovative small businesses. The Department continues to collaborate closely with the U.S.