IB 
Union Calendar No. 553 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6323 
[Report No. 110–855] 
To establish a research, development, demonstration, and commercial applica-
tion program to promote research of appropriate technologies for heavy 
duty plug-in hybrid vehicles, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 19, 2008 
Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART 
of Florida, Mr. EHLERS, and Mr. SMITH of Texas) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Tech-
nology 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Mr. REICHERT and Mr. MILLER of North Carolina 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 19, 2008] 
A BILL 
To establish a research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application program to promote research of 
appropriate technologies for heavy duty plug-in hybrid 
vehicles, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Heavy Duty Hybrid 
Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 
2008’’. 
SEC. 2. ADVANCED HEAVY DUTY HYBRID VEHICLE TECH-
NOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEM-
ONSTRATION, AND COMMERCIAL APPLICA-
TION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a 
competitive research, development, demonstration, and com-
mercial application program (referred to in this Act as the 
‘‘program’’) to provide grants to applicants to carry out 
projects to advance research and development and to dem-
onstrate technologies for advanced heavy duty hybrid vehi-
cles. 
(b) APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall issue re-
quirements for applying for grants under the pro-
gram. 
(2) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall 
establish selection criteria for awarding grants under 
the program. In evaluating applications, the Sec-
retary shall— 
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(A) consider the ability of applicants to suc-
cessfully complete both phases described in sub-
section (c); and 
(B) give priority to applicants who are best 
able to— 
(i) fill existing research gaps and 
achieve the greatest advances beyond the 
state of current technology; and 
(ii) achieve the greatest reduction in 
fuel consumption and emissions. 
(3) PARTNERS.—An applicant for a grant under 
this section may carry out a project in partnership 
with other entities. 
(4) SCHEDULE.— 
(A) APPLICATION REQUEST.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal 
Register, and elsewhere as appropriate, a request 
for applications to undertake projects under the 
program. Applications shall be due not later 
than 90 days after the date of such publication. 
(B) APPLICATION
SELECTION.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date on which applica-
tions for grants under the program are due, the 
Secretary shall select, through a competitive 
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process, all applicants to be awarded a grant 
under the program. 
(5) NUMBER OF GRANTS.—The Secretary shall 
determine the number of grants to be awarded under 
the program based on the technical merits of the ap-
plications received. The number of grants awarded 
under the program shall not be less than 3 or more 
than 7, and at least half of the grants awarded shall 
be for plug-in hybrid technology. 
(6) AWARD
AMOUNTS.—The Secretary shall 
award not more than $3,000,000 to each recipient per 
year for each of the 3 years of the project. 
(c) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; TWO PHASES.—Each 
grant recipient shall be required to complete two phases: 
(1) PHASE ONE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In phase one, the recipi-
ent shall research and demonstrate advanced hy-
brid technology by producing or retrofitting one 
or more advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles. 
(B) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the completion of phase one, the recipient shall 
submit to the Secretary a report containing data 
and analysis of— 
(i) the performance of each vehicle in 
carrying out the testing procedures devel-
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oped by the Secretary under subparagraph 
(E); 
(ii) the performance during such test-
ing of each vehicle’s components, including 
the battery, energy management system, 
charging system, and power controls; 
(iii) the projected cost of each vehicle, 
including acquisition, operating, and main-
tenance costs; and 
(iv) the emissions levels of each vehicle, 
including greenhouse gas levels. 
(C) TERMINATION.—The Secretary may ter-
minate the grant program with respect to the 
project of a recipient at the conclusion of phase 
one if the Secretary determines that the recipient 
cannot successfully complete the requirements of 
phase two. 
(D) TIMING.—Phase one begins upon re-
ceipt of a grant under the program and has a 
duration of one year. 
(E) TESTING PROCEDURES.—The Secretary 
shall develop standard testing procedures to be 
used by recipients in testing each vehicle. Such 
procedures shall include testing a vehicle’s per-
formance under typical operating conditions. 
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(2) PHASE TWO.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In phase two, the recipi-
ent shall demonstrate advanced manufacturing 
processes and technologies by producing or retro-
fitting 50 advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles. 
(B) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the completion of phase two, the recipient shall 
submit to the Secretary a report containing— 
(i) an analysis of the technological 
challenges encountered by the recipient in 
the development of the vehicles; 
(ii) an analysis of the technological 
challenges involved in mass producing the 
vehicles; and 
(iii) the manufacturing cost of each ve-
hicle, the estimated sale price of each vehi-
cle, and the cost of a comparable non-hybrid 
vehicle. 
(C) TIMING.—Phase two begins at the con-
clusion of phase one and has a duration of two 
years. 
(d) RESEARCH ON VEHICLE USAGE AND ALTERNATIVE 
DRIVE TRAINS.—The Secretary shall conduct research into 
alternative power train designs for use in advanced heavy 
duty hybrid vehicles. Such research shall compare the esti-
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mated cost, including operating and maintenance costs, 
emissions reductions, and fuel savings of each design with 
similar non-hybrid power train designs under the condi-
tions in which these vehicles are typically used, including, 
for each vehicle type— 
(1) number of miles driven; 
(2) time spent with the engine at idle; 
(3) horsepower requirements; 
(4) length of time the maximum or near max-
imum power output of the vehicle is needed; and 
(5) any other factors that the Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
(e) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 
days after the Secretary receives the reports from grant re-
cipients under subsection (c)(2)(B), the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Congress a report containing— 
(1) an identification of the grant recipients and 
a description of the projects to be funded; 
(2) an identification of all applicants who sub-
mitted applications for the program; 
(3) all data contained in reports submitted by 
grant recipients under subsection (c); 
(4) a description of the vehicles produced or ret-
rofitted by recipients in phase one and phase two of 
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the project, including an analysis of the fuel efficiency 
of such vehicles; and 
(5) the results of the research carried out under 
subsections (d) and (h). 
(f) COORDINATION
AND NONDUPLICATION.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall coordi-
nate, and not duplicate, activities under this Act with other 
programs and laboratories of the Department of Energy 
and other Federal research programs. 
(g) COST SHARING.—Section 988 of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to the program 
established pursuant to this section. 
(h) ELECTRICAL GRID RESEARCH PILOT PROGRAM.— 
The Secretary shall establish a pilot program through the 
National Laboratories and Technology Centers of the De-
partment of Energy to research and test the effects on the 
domestic electric power grid of the widespread use of plug- 
in hybrid vehicles, including plug-in hybrid vehicles that 
are advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) ADVANCED HEAVY DUTY HYBRID VEHICLE.— 
The term ‘‘advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicle’’ 
means a vehicle with a gross weight between 14,000 
pounds and 33,000 pounds that is fueled, in part, by 
a rechargeable energy storage system. 
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