Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling, Transport, and Design | DE FOA 0003119

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003119

The Department of Energy, through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), released a Notice of Intent related to a planned grant funding opportunity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The notice signals DOE's intent to issue a forthcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling, Transport, and Design" (anticipated as DE-FOA-0003120; the notice itself is referenced as DE-FOA-0003119). Because this is only a Notice of Intent, it is not an application period and DOE will not accept applications at this stage. Instead, it is meant to alert potential applicants and stakeholders that a formal FOA is expected and to provide early visibility into the program's purpose and direction.

The planned FOA is tied to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Section 40208, which establishes the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second-Life Applications Program. In practical terms, the program is focused on improving what happens to electric drive vehicle batteries after they have finished their first use powering a vehicle. The opportunity is expected to support research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) efforts in two closely related areas: first, developing and proving "second-life" applications, where used vehicle batteries can be repurposed for other uses (often in less demanding roles than vehicle propulsion, such as stationary energy storage); and second, advancing technologies and processes for the end-of-life pathway, including final recycling and disposal. The emphasis on RD&D suggests DOE is looking for projects that move beyond basic research, potentially including pilot-scale validation, demonstrations in relevant environments, and other work that helps transition solutions toward real-world deployment.

The scope implied by the title also highlights "transport" and "design" as important considerations. That points to a broader systems view of battery end-of-life management, not just recycling chemistry or second-life use cases in isolation. Transport can involve the logistical, safety, regulatory, and cost challenges associated with collecting, packaging, moving, and handling used high-voltage batteries. Design can refer to approaches that make batteries easier to disassemble, diagnose, refurbish, repurpose, or recycle, including design-for-recycling concepts, standardized interfaces, and methods that reduce hazards and costs across the battery lifecycle. While the notice does not list topic areas in detail, the framing indicates DOE is aiming to strengthen the full chain of second-life utilization and recycling outcomes, which is essential as electric vehicle adoption increases and larger volumes of batteries begin reaching retirement age.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding in the form of a grant, under the energy funding activity category, with CFDA number 81.086. Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others," with clarification expected in the forthcoming FOA's eligibility section. The notice lists an original closing date of November 15, 2023, but that date applies to the notice posting context and does not represent an application deadline for awards, since applications are not accepted under a Notice of Intent. The notice also shows an award ceiling value of 2 and expected awards of 0, which is consistent with a notice placeholder rather than final funding details; actual award sizes, number of awards, cost-share requirements, and submission deadlines are typically defined in the issued FOA, not in the Notice of Intent.

Overall, the key takeaway is that DOE/NETL is preparing a competitive grant opportunity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate practical solutions for managing used electric drive vehicle batteries, with a clear focus on enabling credible second-life applications where appropriate and improving recycling and disposal technologies and processes at end of life. Interested parties would need to monitor for the release of DE-FOA-0003120 to see the final topic areas, eligibility rules, required partnerships (if any), performance milestones, and application requirements.

• The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling, Transport, and Design" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 23, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 15, 2023 This is a Notice of Intent to issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0003120. Applications will not be accepted for the Notice of Intent.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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