AK Steel has been awarded a $1.8 million grant from the US Department of Energy for research in advanced, next generation hybrid vehicles.
The purpose is to build efficient motor designs with high-alloy steel that is 30 percent more efficient than current motor designs. The steel also could be used for a variety of industrial and automotive applications.
Hybrid electric vehicles, are the fastest growing segment for specialized electrical steel and, presently, many motor components are imported for US vehicles.
The three-year project is being undertaken with Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Power Electronics, Electric Machinery Research Center and Regal Beloit Corporation.