AVL Selected to Commercialize, Refine FreedomCAR Vehicle Simulation Software

NREL Developed Technology To Model Fuel Cell, Hybrid and Other Advanced Technology Vehicles

DETROIT, March 4 -- The Bush Administration's FreedomCAR initiative, designed to accelerate the advancement of the hydrogen fuel cell, today announced one of its first contract awards at the Society of Automotive Engineers annual World Congress.

AVL of Plymouth, Michigan, is negotiating a license to further develop and market advanced vehicle modeling software -- called ADVISOR -- developed by scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, located in Golden Colorado. ADVISOR is intended to help automakers, suppliers and the government to model the various fuel cell and hybrid powertrains, as well their effects on vehicle performance, economy and emissions of these advanced vehicle concepts.

Under the agreement, AVL will develop and market the ADVISOR 2003 version. NREL will retain a free license to updated versions of ADVISOR, and a cooperative research and development agreement between NREL and AVL will enable further collaboration and enhancement of integrated advanced vehicle simulation tools for DOE and the auto industry. Terms for the licensing agreement and the CRADA are currently being finalized.

AVL was selected via a competitive solicitation process that began in summer 2002. NREL had three objectives for granting the license:

* To transfer ADVISOR to a private-sector partner interested in increasing its use in the automotive industry.

* To receive fair compensation for DOE's investment in ADVISOR.

* To enhance NREL's transportation analysis capabilities through training and acquisition of proprietary analysis tools provided by the commercial partner.

The agreement with AVL fulfills these objectives and will have a large impact on advanced simulation in the auto industry. It will provide a highly visible commercial outlet for NREL's advanced vehicle simulator research, leading to more relevant use of ADVISOR by automakers and ultimately the development of more efficient advanced vehicles. ADVISOR, which to date has been distributed at no cost on the Web, has been used by thousands of individuals, corporations, and universities.

Additionally, AVL will further develop ADVISOR, which will grow their already extensive vehicle simulation software portfolio. AVL will market and sell ADVISOR worldwide through its affiliates and provide technical support for its global user base.

Both AVL and NREL are excited to work with the ADVISOR software. Initial topics for research will be fuel cells and emissions.

AVL is the world's largest privately owned and independent company for the development of gasoline, diesel, alternative fuel powertrain systems, as well as fuel cell and hybrid technologies. The company also manufactures powertrain instrumentation and test systems. Close cooperation with customers is guaranteed by affiliates and local offices worldwide. AVL's North American Headquarters is located in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Michigan.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory managed by Midwest Research Institute, Battelle and Bechtel. The laboratory (www.nrel.gov ) is a leading center for research into wind energy, solar energy, plant- and waste-derived fuels and chemicals, advanced vehicle design, energy efficient buildings, geothermal energy and hydrogen fuel cells.