Department of Energy Awards $206,500 for Small Business Research and Development to RockeTruck, Inc.

May 18, 2022

ESCONDIDO, CA

 

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm today announced that RockeTruck, Inc, will receive $206,500 as part of 259 Department of Energy grants totaling $53 million to 210 small businesses in 38 states. The awards include projects relating to particle accelerators and fusion technology, applied nanoscience, quantum information applications, and dark matter research along with a wide range of other efforts.  

“Supporting small businesses will ensure we are tapping into all of America’s talent to develop clean energy technologies that will help us tackle the climate crisis,” said Steve Binkley, Acting Director of the DOE’s Office of Science. “DOE’s investments will enable these economic engines to optimize and commercialize their breakthroughs, while developing the next generation of science leaders and ensuring U.S. scientific and economic competitiveness that will benefit all Americans.” 

 

Through the SBIR/STTR program across the federal government, small business powers the U.S. economy and generates thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, the DOE notes. DOE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards aim at transforming DOE-supported science and technology breakthroughs into viable products and services. The awards also support the development of specialized technologies and instruments that aid in scientific discovery.  

 

RockeTruck’s share of the SBIR/STTR funding will be used to support the design of a “Mobile Fuel Cell Generator” that is easily transportable and that can deliver electrical power when grid power is unavailable, without using fossil fuels or generating any harmful emissions.  This builds on funding previously received from the California Energy Commission to develop this integrated generator system, which combines hydrogen fuel cells with lithium batteries to produce clean electrical power.