COST Act

To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an analysis of the costs of converting light-duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to electric vehicles, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Comparison of Sustainable Transportation Act COST Act 2. Cost analysis of converting Federal fleet to electric vehicles (a) Cost analysis The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct— (1) an analysis of the costs of replacing the light-duty vehicles in the Federal fleet that are fueled by gasoline with electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; and (2) an analysis of the costs of replacing the light-duty vehicles in the Federal fleet that are fueled by gasoline with flex-fuel ethanol vehicles. (b) Inclusions Each analysis conducted under subsection (a) shall include the costs necessary for deployment of infrastructure for each applicable type of electric vehicle or flex-fuel ethanol vehicle that it is feasible to be used in the Federal fleet nationwide. (c) Publication Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall publish online the cost analyses conducted under subsection (a). 3. Analysis of lifecycle emissions of E85 capable flex-fuel and electric vehicles (a) Analysis The Secretary of Energy, utilizing the most recent Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation model (commonly referred to as the “GREET model”) developed by Argonne National Laboratory, shall conduct a lifecycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from each of the following types of vehicles: (1) A conventional gasoline vehicle. (2) An E85 capable flex-fuel vehicle. (3) A battery electric vehicle. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the lifecycle analyses conducted under subsection (a). 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) E 85 The term E85 (2) Federal fleet The term Federal fleet (3) Light-duty vehicle The term light-duty vehicle

Summary: Comparison of Sustainable Transportation Act or the COST Act This bill requires the federal government to analyze the costs and impacts of replacing vehicles fueled by gasoline with electric vehicles or flex-fuel ethanol vehicles (e.g., vehicles capable of using fuel that contains a percentage of ethanol). Specifically, the Government Accountability Office must analyze the costs of replacing light-duty vehicles (i.e., vehicles weighing 8,500 pounds or less, such as passenger cars, minivans, and sport utility vehicles) in the federal fleet that are fueled with gasoline with electric vehicles or flex-fuel ethanol vehicles. The federal fleet means vehicles owned or operated by the federal government. In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) must analyze the overall greenhouse gas impacts of the following types of vehicles: (1) a conventional gasoline vehicle, (2) an E85 (a fuel containing 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) capable flex-fuel vehicle, or (3) a battery electric vehicle. In conducting the analysis, DOE must utilize the most recent Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation model (commonly referred to as the GREET model) developed by Argonne National Laboratory.