Electric Transportation Advancement Act of 2013

To enhance the energy security of the United States, reduce dependence on imported oil, improve the energy efficiency of the transportation sector, and reduce emissions through the expansion of grid supported transportation. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Electric Transportation Advancement Act of 2013 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are to enhance the energy security of the United States, reduce dependence on imported oil, improve the energy efficiency of the transportation sector, and reduce emissions through the expansion of grid supported transportation, through programs to— (1) develop, with industry, research institutions, National Laboratories, and institutions of higher education, projects to foster— (A) the commercialization of plug-in electric drive vehicle technology for various sizes and applications of vehicles; and (B) growth in employment in the United States in electric drive design and manufacturing of components and vehicles; and (2) optimize the availability of the existing electric infrastructure for use in fueling light duty transportation and other on-road and nonroad vehicles to minimize the use of vehicles and equipment that use petroleum. 3. Near-term electric transportation (a) In general Paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of section 131 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17011(c)(1) (1) by striking this Act the Electric Transportation Advancement Act of 2013 (2) by striking establish a program to provide grants establish or maintain a competitive grant and revolving loan program to provide grants and make loans (3) by adding the following new subparagraphs at the end thereof: (A) Grant and loan selection The Secretary shall select grant and loan recipients based on the overall cost-effectiveness of a proposed qualified electric transportation project in reducing emissions of criteria pollutants, emissions of greenhouse gases, and petroleum usage. (B) Revolving loans (i) Criteria The Secretary shall establish criteria for the provision of loans under this subsection. (ii) Funding Of amounts made available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall use amounts not used to provide grants to make loans under this subsection. . (b) Priority Paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of section 131 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17011(c)(2) grants under grants and loans under 4. Electric transportation inventory Section 131 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17011 (e) Market assessment program The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator and private industry, shall carry out a program— (1) to inventory and analyze existing electric transportation technologies and hybrid transportation technologies and markets; and (2) to identify and implement methods of promoting existing and emerging applications of electric transportation technologies and hybrid transportation technologies. . 5. Electricity usage program and certification Section 131 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17011 (f) Electricity usage program The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator and private industry, shall carry out a program— (1) to work with utilities to develop low-cost, simple methods of— (A) using off-peak electricity; or (B) managing on-peak electricity use; (2) to develop systems and processes— (A) to enable plug-in electric drive vehicles to enhance the availability of emergency back-up power for consumers; and (B) to work with utilities and other interested stakeholders to study and demonstrate the implications of the introduction of plug-in electric drive vehicles and other types of electric transportation technology on the production of electricity from renewable resources; and (3) to study and demonstrate the potential value to the electric grid to use the energy stored in on-board storage systems of plug-in electric drive vehicles to improve the efficiency and reliability of the grid generation system. (g) Plug-In hybrid electric vehicle and electric transportation technology certification (1) In general For the purpose of enabling the introduction of plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles and electric transportation technology into commercial use, the Administrator shall develop, in consultation with industry, the Secretary, and the National Laboratories, a program to certify— (A) the emissions of criteria pollutants, fuel economy, and petroleum usage of plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles; and (B) the emissions reductions, fuel economy improvements, and petroleum usage reductions from other forms of electric transportation technology. (2) Certification The certifications made pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include consideration of— (A) the entire vehicle propulsion system, not just the engine; (B) nightly off-board charging, as applicable; and (C) different engine turn-on control strategies. (3) Task force Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall establish a task force representing auto manufacturers, truck manufacturers, National Laboratories, public agencies, utilities, and other interested stakeholders to recommend certification protocols for certifying— (A) the emissions, fuel economy, and petroleum usage of a wide variety of plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles; and (B) the emissions reductions, fuel economy improvements, and petroleum usage reductions from other forms of electric transportation technology. (4) Public comment Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall publish the certification protocols recommended pursuant to paragraph (3) for public comment. (5) Final protocols Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall adopt and publish final certification protocols for certifying— (A) the emissions, fuel economy, and petroleum usage of a wide variety of plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles; and (B) the emissions reductions, fuel economy improvements, and petroleum usage reductions from other forms of electric transportation technology. (6) Evaluation and modification of electric transportation technology protocols (A) Evaluation Not later than 2 years after the adoption of the certification protocols pursuant to paragraph (5), and every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, appropriate Federal agencies, and interested stakeholders shall evaluate and modify, as necessary, such certification protocols to ensure that— (i) for plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles, such protocols accurately measure emissions, fuel economy, and petroleum usage of such vehicles; and (ii) for other forms of electric transportation technology, such protocols accurately measure emissions reductions, fuel economy improvements, and petroleum usage reductions from such technology. (B) Modification The Administrator shall modify such certification protocols for such plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles and electric transportation technologies to realize the full potential of the benefits of such vehicles and technologies, in terms of reduction of emissions of criteria pollutants, reduction of energy use, and reduction of petroleum use. In modifying such certification protocols, the Administrator shall consider— (i) the entire vehicle propulsion system, not just the engine; (ii) nightly off-board charging, as applicable; and (iii) different engine turn-on control strategies. (7) Plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicle For purposes of this subsection, the term plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicle (A) an electric motor and on-board, rechargeable energy storage system capable of operating the vehicle in intermittent or continuous all-electric mode and that is rechargeable using an off-board source of electricity; and (B) an internal combustion engine or heat engine using any combustible fuel. . 6. City cars Section 131 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17011 (h) City Cars Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Transportation in consultation with the Secretary, appropriate Federal agencies, and interested stakeholders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, shall study, and submit a report to Congress on the benefits, including the petroleum savings of, and barriers to, the widespread deployment of a potential new class of vehicles known as City Cars with performance capability that exceeds that of low speed vehicles but is less than that of passenger vehicles, and that may be battery electric, fuel cell electric, or plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles. Such study shall examine, and such report shall recommend, appropriate safety requirements for such vehicles based on patterns of usage. Such study shall examine the benefits and issues associated with limiting City Cars to a maximum speed of 35 mph, 45 mph, 55 mph, or any other maximum speed, and such report shall make a recommendation regarding the maximum speed of such City Cars. . 7. Transition to fuel neutral EPA regulations Section 131 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17011 (i) Transition to Fuel and Technology Neutral Regulations (1) Findings The Congress finds the following: (A) In light of advances in automotive engine technologies since the passage of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. (B) Replacement of current emissions control requirements with a new fuel and technology neutral program that encourages use of the most fuel efficient and environmentally benign vehicles could include all vehicle technologies, including vehicles with spark-ignited engines, compression-ignited engines, and other engine types, dual fueled vehicles, flexible fuel vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, corded electric vehicle equipment, and other electric propulsion technologies. (2) Reports (A) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall submit a report to Congress describing all of the fuel definitions and technology definitions specific to vehicles in Federal law and regulation and recommend how such definitions may be changed to be fuel and technology neutral. (B) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall submit a report to Congress describing how petroleum reductions, emissions reductions, and reductions in full fuel cycle criteria pollutants may be incorporated into the fuel and technology neutral mobile source emissions control program required under paragraph (3), including any changes needed to existing law to achieve the purposes of the Electric Transportation Advancement Act of 2013. (3) Rulemaking Not later than 2 years after the submission of the report required under paragraph (2)(B), the Administrator shall adopt final rules to implement a fuel and technology neutral mobile source emissions control program. Such program shall take effect not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this subsection. (4) Fuel and technology neutral mobile source emission control program In this subsection, the term fuel and technology neutral mobile source emissions control program . 8. Research and development diversification Subsection (m) of section 641 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17231(m) Of amounts made available to carry out the programs established under subsections (i), (j), and (k), not more than 30 percent shall be awarded to the National Laboratories.

Summary: Electric Transportation Advancement Act of 2013 - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct the Secretary of Energy to make loans as well as (under current law) grants for qualified electric transportation projects, especially near-term projects. Directs the Secretary to inventory existing electric transportation technologies and hybrid transportation technologies and markets and implement methods of promoting them. Directs the Secretary to: (1) work with utilities to develop low-cost, simple methods of using off-peak electricity or managing on-peak electricity use; (2) develop systems to enable plug-in electric drive vehicles to enhance the availability of emergency back-up power for consumers and work with utilities to study and demonstrate the implications of the introduction of plug-in electric drive vehicles and other types of electric transportation technology on electrical production from renewable resources; and (3) study and demonstrate the potential value to the electric grid of using energy stored in on-board storage systems of plug-in electric drive vehicles. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a program to certify: (1) emissions of criteria pollutants, fuel economy, and petroleum usage of plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles; and (2) emissions reductions, fuel economy improvements, and petroleum usage reductions from other forms of electric transportation technology. Requires the EPA Administrator to establish a task force to recommend certification protocols. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study and report to Congress on the benefits of and barriers to the widespread deployment of City Cars with performance capability that exceeds that of low-speed vehicles but is less than that of passenger vehicles, and that may be battery electric, fuel cell electric, or plug-in hybrid electric drive vehicles. Directs the EPA Administrator to: (1) recommend to Congress how vehicle fuel definitions may be changed to be fuel and technology neutral; and (2) report to Congress on how petroleum, emissions, and pollutant reductions may be incorporated into the fuel and technology neutral mobile source emissions control program. Limits the amount of certain electric vehicle energy storage research and development funding available to the National Laboratories.