OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY

“Power electronics research at ORNL focuses on developing 

a small, high-energy-density capacitor for electric vehicles 

that can improve performance and increase reliability.”

—Electric Drives Group Researcher Shajjad Chowdhury

Transportation Technologies

ACCELERATING 

extreme fast charging 

for electric vehicles

ADVANCING 

technologies for 

automated and 

connected vehicles

DEVELOPING durable, 

lightweight materials for 

next-generation vehicles

APPLYING data science 

for vehicle cybersecurity 

and fleet efficiency 

INTEGRATING 

net-zero carbon fuels 

into engine technologies

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is accelerating the pace of research and development for efficient, safe, secure, clean, fully 

decarbonized transportation. By leveraging the National Transportation Research Center—the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) only 

dedicated user facility focused on transportation—researchers identify new technologies for next-generation vehicles; provide decisionmaking tools and intelligent technologies for the secure, efficient movement of passengers and freight; and create economic 

opportunity for the nation by improving the energy efficiency of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles.

Research Focus Areas

Electrification and fast wired and wireless charging—Early-stage technologies to 

speed deployment of electric vehicles, including extreme fast charging; advanced batteries, 

fuel cells, electric machinery, and power electronics; and roll-to-roll technologies 

Hydrogen and net-zero carbon fuel technologies—Innovative processes for the 

generation, processing, storage, and use of hydrogen; exploring advanced characterization, 

materials development, and manufacturing of technologies such as electrolysis and fuel cells 

Automation and connectivity—Advanced simulation, hardware, and control 

methodologies to accelerate the introduction and management of connected and 

autonomous mobility systems, reducing congestion and improving fuel economy

Data science and vehicle cybersecurity—Unique security expertise to detect and 

prevent cyber intrusions; advanced sensors, controls, algorithms, and other technologies 

to safely and efficiently guide automated and connected vehicles; and analysis of 

transportation fuel economy and fleets

Materials for future vehicles—Durable, cost-effective, lightweight materials and 

advanced processes for next-generation vehicles, including high-temperature alloys for 

engines, carbon fiber, 3D printing, and materials-joining techniques

Virtual–physical research environment—Integration of simulation, hardware, and 

analyses to address the challenges within complex mobility systems 

Fuels, engines, and emissions research—Co-optimization of advanced fuels, engines 

and catalysts, emissions control technologies, and biofuels production and integration 

breakthroughs, with a focus on hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy-duty vehicle and 

marine, rail, air, and other off-road applications
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle LLC for the US Department of Energy January 2023

Impacts and Partnerships

• Developing, demonstrating, and collaborating to deploy high-power, fast, wired and wireless charging 

technology for electric vehicles, including a unique polyphase electromagnetic coil that delivers the 

greatest surface power density available anywhere in the world, supported by advanced, compact 

power electronics. Partners include Volkswagen Group of America and HEVO Inc.

• Deploying supercomputing, traffic sensors, and advanced controls to simulate regional mobility 

corridors and automatically direct traffic. Testing in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, region yielded 16% 

savings in fuel and time for drivers and fleet owners. 

• Using ORNL’s world-leading supercomputer, worked with General Motors to advance artificial intelligence 

to improve sensory perception. 

• Collaborating with Wabtec to develop a dual-fuel locomotive engine that runs on hydrogen and other 

clean energy fuels.

• Working with partners FCA US LLC and Nemak, developed high-temperature aluminum alloys for automotive 

cylinder heads using materials characterization expertise and high-performance computing.

Licensed Technologies

Fast-charging batteries—Marc-Antoni Racing licensed a collection of energy storage 

technologies that enable fast-charging, energy-dense batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Carbon fiber production—RMX Technologies licensed ORNL plasma oxidation 

technology to reduce energy consumption by 75%, shorten production time by 

about 70%, and cut production costs by 20%.

Ethanol-to-jet fuel—Prometheus Fuels licensed a process for cost-competitive 

production of jet fuel and butadiene from ethanol.

Fast wireless charging—HEVO Inc. licensed ORNL technologies for compact, 

highly efficient and fast wireless charging of electric vehicles.

Safer batteries—Soteria Battery Innovation Group licensed technology to eliminate

thermal runaway caused by mechanical damage in lithium-ion batteries. 

CONTACT:

Rich Davies, 

Sustainable Transportation 

Program manager

daviesrw@ornl.gov

865-341-1745

One Bethel Valley Road, 

Oak Ridge, TN 37831

ornl.gov/

transportation

DOE’s Most Comprehensive 

Transportation R&D Facilities

The Connected and Automated Vehicle 

Environment Laboratory is a unique proving 

ground to evaluate intelligent mobility 

solutions using real-world hardware and 

data in virtual traffic conditions.

DOE National Transportation Research Center helps industry, academia, 

and other agencies accelerate the development and deployment of 

efficient and secure transportation technologies. 

DOE Battery Manufacturing Facility is the country’s largest openaccess R&D center focused on advanced, energy-dense batteries. 

Grid Research Integration and Deployment Center focuses on 

vehicle-to-buildings and vehicle-to-grid integration research for clean 

mobility and secure energy systems.

DOE Manufacturing Demonstration Facility houses integrated 

capabilities to drive the development of new materials, software, 

and systems for advanced manufacturing technologies that 

support the secure production of clean energy products.

DOE Carbon Fiber Technology Facility developes methods 

using low-cost feedstocks to assist industry in overcoming 

the barriers of carbon fiber production cost, scalability of 

processes, and development of fiber-reinforced polymer 

composites for end use.

29

R&D 100

awards

207

Industry

partners 32

University

partners

495

Publications

in FY 2022