Automotive Waste Heat Recovery by High Efficiency Thermoelectric Generators

The United States¿ consumption of fossil fuels has effects on the country¿s economic, environmental, and national security. This project will develop a new solid state energy conversion technology that has the potential to significantly impact the transportation industry, an industry responsible for much of the U.S.¿s fossil fuel consumption. This work will introduce new materials into an advanced manufacturing technology to yield a device that converts waste heat into useful electrical energy for the automotive industry. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The use of this technology should lead to increases in fuel economy by as much as 15%, directly reducing automotive emissions that harm the environment. The competitive advantage of this technology and the strong response from customers indicate a strong market pull