May 10, 2012

The Department of Energy's Transportation Electrification Program

The Department of Energy (Department) established the Transportation Electrification Program (Program) to demonstrate and evaluate the deployment of plug-in hybrid vehicles and their associated infrastructure needs.  Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Program provided about $400 million to 18 grant recipients—12 non-profit entities and 6 for-profit entities.  The grants are intended to further the development of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle industry in the United States; ensure achievement of the President's goal to have one million of these vehicles on the road by 2015; and, create thousands of jobs.

We found that the Department could improve its financial management of the Program.  Specifically, the Department had not obtained and reviewed required financial and compliance audits and cost reports for the Program's six for-profit recipients to determine the financial condition of the recipients; the reasonableness of costs expended under their awards; and, the adequacy of internal controls and compliance with laws and regulations.

Topic: Financial Assistance