The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $55 million to projects expected to advance battery-electric vehicle technology and adaption for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles.

The grants, which were awarded Aug. 14, are part of the Obama administration's "EV Everywhere Grand Challenge" launched in 2012. The program started with the stated goal of making plug-in electric vehicles as affordable and convenient as today's gasoline-powered vehicles by 2022.

This years' list of awardees included $6 million to Ford Motor Co. for the development of carbon-fiber toward automotive design, molding, and final performance.

Alcoa was awarded $2.39 million to develop a high-strength aluminum alloy for automotive use.

Other funded projects include $1.48 million to Delta Products Corp. to develop a charger for plug-in electric vehicles; $2.99 million to Eaton Corp. for a new transmission controller and shift strategy for medium-duty plug-in electric trucks; $1.5 million to Chrysler Group for exhaust after-treatment research; $1.35 million to Ford to demonstrate low-temperature catalyst materials; $10 million to Delphi Automotive to develop a more efficient direct injection gasoline system; and $1.74 million to Eaton to demonstrate an electric variable-speed supercharger.

View a full list of awardees here.