I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4542 
To support research, development, and other activities to develop innovative 
vehicle technologies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 11, 2023 
Mrs. DINGELL (for herself and Ms. STEVENS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To support research, development, and other activities to 
develop innovative vehicle technologies, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Vehicle Innovation Act 
of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Energy. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
SEC. 3. OBJECTIVES. 
The objectives of this Act are— 
(1) to establish a consistent and consolidated 
authority for the vehicle technology program at the 
Department; 
(2) to develop United States technologies and 
practices that improve the fuel efficiency and emis-
sions of all vehicles produced in the United States; 
(3) to support domestic research, development, 
engineering, demonstration, and commercial applica-
tion and manufacturing of advanced vehicles, en-
gines, and components; 
(4) to enable vehicles to move larger volumes of 
goods and more passengers with less energy and 
emissions; 
(5) to develop cost-effective advanced tech-
nologies for wide-scale utilization throughout the 
passenger, commercial, government, and transit ve-
hicle sectors; 
(6) to allow for greater consumer choice of vehi-
cle technologies and fuels; 
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(7) shorten technology development and inte-
gration cycles in the vehicle industry; 
(8) to ensure a proper balance and diversity of 
Federal investment in vehicle technologies; and 
(9) to strengthen partnerships between Federal 
and State governmental agencies and the private 
and academic sectors. 
SEC. 4. COORDINATION AND NONDUPLICATION. 
The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent 
practicable, that the activities authorized by this Act do 
not duplicate those of other programs within the Depart-
ment or other relevant research agencies. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary for research, development, engineering, demonstra-
tion, and commercial application of vehicles and related 
technologies in the United States, including activities au-
thorized under this Act— 
(1) for fiscal year 2024, $313,567,000; 
(2) for fiscal year 2025, $326,109,000; 
(3) for fiscal year 2026, $339,154,000; 
(4) for fiscal year 2027, $352,720,000; and 
(5) for fiscal year 2028, $366,829,000. 
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SEC. 6. REPORTING. 
(a) TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act and annu-
ally thereafter through 2028, the Secretary shall submit 
to Congress a report regarding the technologies developed 
as a result of the activities authorized by this Act, with 
a particular emphasis on whether the technologies were 
successfully adopted for commercial applications, and if 
so, whether products relying on those technologies are 
manufactured in the United States. 
(b) ADDITIONAL MATTERS.—At the end of each fis-
cal year through 2028, the Secretary shall submit to the 
relevant Congressional committees of jurisdiction an an-
nual report describing activities undertaken in the pre-
vious year under this Act, active industry participants, the 
status of public-private partnerships, progress of the pro-
gram in meeting goals and timelines, and a strategic plan 
for funding of activities across agencies. 
SEC. 7. VEHICLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) PROGRAM.— 
(1) ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary shall conduct a 
program of basic and applied research, development, 
engineering, demonstration, and commercial applica-
tion activities on materials, technologies, and proc-
esses with the potential to substantially reduce pe-
troleum use and the emissions of the passenger and 
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commercial vehicles of the United States, including 
activities in the areas of— 
(A) electrification of vehicle systems; 
(B) batteries, ultracapacitors, and other 
energy storage devices; 
(C) power electronics; 
(D) vehicle, component, and subsystem 
manufacturing technologies and processes; 
(E) engine efficiency and combustion opti-
mization; 
(F) waste heat recovery; 
(G) transmission and drivetrains; 
(H) hydrogen vehicle technologies, includ-
ing fuel cells and internal combustion engines, 
and hydrogen infrastructure, including hydro-
gen energy storage to enable renewables and 
provide hydrogen for fuel and power; 
(I) natural gas vehicle technologies; 
(J) aerodynamics, rolling resistance (in-
cluding tires and wheel assemblies), and acces-
sory power loads of vehicles and associated 
equipment; 
(K) vehicle weight reduction, including 
lightweighting materials and the development of 
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manufacturing processes to fabricate, assemble, 
and use dissimilar materials; 
(L) friction and wear reduction; 
(M) engine and component durability; 
(N) innovative propulsion systems; 
(O) advanced boosting systems; 
(P) hydraulic hybrid technologies; 
(Q) engine compatibility with and optimi-
zation for a variety of transportation fuels in-
cluding natural gas and other liquid and gas-
eous fuels; 
(R) predictive engineering, modeling, and 
simulation of vehicle and transportation sys-
tems; 
(S) refueling and charging infrastructure 
for alternative fueled and electric or plug-in 
electric hybrid vehicles, including the unique 
challenges facing rural areas; 
(T) gaseous fuels storage systems and sys-
tem integration and optimization; 
(U) sensing, communications, and actu-
ation technologies for vehicle, electrical grid, 
and infrastructure; 
(V) efficient use, substitution, and recy-
cling of potentially critical materials in vehicles, 
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including rare earth elements and precious met-
als, at risk of supply disruption; 
(W) aftertreatment technologies; 
(X) thermal management of battery sys-
tems; 
(Y) retrofitting advanced vehicle tech-
nologies to existing vehicles; 
(Z) development of common standards, 
specifications, and architectures for both trans-
portation and stationary battery applications; 
(AA) advanced internal combustion en-
gines; 
(BB) mild hybrid; 
(CC) engine down speeding; 
(DD) vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-pedes-
trian, and vehicle-to-infrastructure technologies; 
and 
(EE) other research areas as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(2) TRANSFORMATIONAL
TECHNOLOGY.—The 
Secretary shall ensure that the Department con-
tinues to support research, development, engineer-
ing, demonstration, and commercial application ac-
tivities and maintains competency in mid- to long- 
term transformational vehicle technologies with po-
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tential to achieve reductions in emissions, including 
activities in the areas of— 
(A) hydrogen vehicle technologies, includ-
ing fuel cells, hydrogen storage, infrastructure, 
and activities in hydrogen technology validation 
and safety codes and standards; 
(B) multiple battery chemistries and novel 
energy storage devices, including nonchemical 
batteries and electromechanical storage tech-
nologies such as hydraulics, flywheels, and com-
pressed air storage; 
(C) communication and connectivity among 
vehicles, infrastructure, and the electrical grid; 
and 
(D) other innovative technologies research 
and development, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(3) INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—To the maximum ex-
tent practicable, activities under this Act shall 
be carried out in partnership or collaboration 
with automotive manufacturers, heavy commer-
cial, vocational, and transit vehicle manufactur-
ers, qualified plug-in electric vehicle manufac-
turers, compressed natural gas vehicle manufac-
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turers, vehicle and engine equipment and com-
ponent manufacturers, manufacturing equip-
ment manufacturers, advanced vehicle service 
providers, fuel producers and energy suppliers, 
electric utilities, universities, national labora-
tories, and independent research laboratories. 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out this 
Act, the Secretary shall— 
(i) determine whether a wide range of 
companies that manufacture or assemble 
vehicles or components in the United 
States are represented in ongoing public- 
private partnership activities, including 
firms that have not traditionally partici-
pated in federally sponsored research and 
development activities, and where possible, 
partner with such firms that conduct sig-
nificant and relevant research and develop-
ment activities in the United States; 
(ii) leverage the capabilities and re-
sources of, and formalize partnerships 
with, industry-led stakeholder organiza-
tions, nonprofit organizations, industry 
consortia, and trade associations with ex-
pertise in the research and development of, 
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and education and outreach activities in, 
advanced automotive and commercial vehi-
cle technologies; 
(iii) develop more effective processes 
for transferring research findings and tech-
nologies to industry; 
(iv) support public-private partner-
ships, dedicated to overcoming barriers in 
commercial application of transformational 
vehicle technologies, that use such indus-
try-led technology development facilities of 
entities with demonstrated expertise in 
successfully designing and engineering pre- 
commercial generations of such trans-
formational technology; and 
(v) promote efforts to ensure that 
technology research, development, engi-
neering, and commercial application activi-
ties funded under this Act are carried out 
in the United States. 
(4) INTERAGENCY AND INTRAAGENCY COORDI-
NATION.—To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall coordinate research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application activities 
among— 
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(A) relevant programs within the Depart-
ment, including— 
(i) the Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy; 
(ii) the Office of Science; 
(iii) the Office of Electricity Delivery 
and Energy Reliability; 
(iv) the Office of Fossil Energy; 
(v) the Advanced Research Projects 
Agency—Energy; and 
(vi) other offices as determined by the 
Secretary; and 
(B) relevant technology research and devel-
opment programs within other Federal agen-
cies, as determined by the Secretary. 
(5) FEDERAL
DEMONSTRATION
OF
TECH-
NOLOGIES.—The Secretary shall make information 
available to procurement programs of Federal agen-
cies regarding the potential to demonstrate tech-
nologies resulting from activities funded through 
programs under this Act. 
(6) INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COORDINATION.— 
The Secretary shall seek opportunities to leverage 
resources and support initiatives of State and local 
governments in developing and promoting advanced 
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vehicle technologies, manufacturing, and infrastruc-
ture. 
(7) CRITERIA.—In awarding grants under the 
program under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
give priority to those technologies (either individually 
or as part of a system) that— 
(A) provide the greatest aggregate fuel 
savings based on the reasonable projected sales 
volumes of the technology; and 
(B) provide the greatest increase in United 
States employment. 
(8) SECONDARY USE APPLICATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
carry out a research, development, and dem-
onstration program that— 
(i) builds on any work carried out 
under section 915 of the Energy Policy Act 
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16195); 
(ii) identifies possible uses of a vehicle 
battery after the useful life of the battery 
in a vehicle has been exhausted; 
(iii) conducts long-term testing to 
verify performance and degradation pre-
dictions and lifetime valuations for sec-
ondary uses; 
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(iv) evaluates innovative approaches to 
recycling materials from plug-in electric 
drive vehicles and the batteries used in 
plug-in electric drive vehicles; 
(v)(I) assesses the potential for mar-
kets for uses described in clause (ii) to de-
velop; and 
(II) identifies any barriers to the de-
velopment of those markets; and 
(vi) identifies the potential uses of a 
vehicle battery— 
(I) with the most promise for 
market development; and 
(II) for which market develop-
ment would be aided by a demonstra-
tion project. 
(B) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress an initial report on the findings of the 
program described in subparagraph (A), includ-
ing recommendations for stationary energy stor-
age and other potential applications for bat-
teries used in plug-in electric drive vehicles. 
(C) SECONDARY USE DEMONSTRATION.— 
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(i) IN GENERAL.—Based on the re-
sults of the program described in subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall develop 
guidelines for projects that demonstrate 
the secondary uses and innovative recycling 
of vehicle batteries. 
(ii) PUBLICATION OF GUIDELINES.— 
Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall— 
(I) publish the guidelines de-
scribed in clause (i); and 
(II) solicit applications for fund-
ing for demonstration projects. 
(iii) PILOT
DEMONSTRATION
PRO-
GRAM.—Not later than 21 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall select proposals for grant 
funding under this subsection, based on an 
assessment of which proposals are mostly 
likely to contribute to the development of 
a secondary market for batteries. 
(b) MANUFACTURING.—The Secretary shall carry out 
a research, development, engineering, demonstration, and 
commercial application program of advanced vehicle man-
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ufacturing technologies and practices, including innovative 
processes— 
(1) to increase the production rate and decrease 
the cost of advanced battery and fuel cell manufac-
turing; 
(2) to vary the capability of individual manufac-
turing facilities to accommodate different battery 
chemistries and configurations; 
(3) to reduce waste streams, emissions, and en-
ergy intensity of vehicle, engine, advanced battery, 
and component manufacturing processes; 
(4) to recycle and remanufacture used batteries 
and other vehicle components for reuse in vehicles or 
stationary applications; 
(5) to develop manufacturing processes to effec-
tively fabricate, assemble, and produce cost-effective 
lightweight materials such as advanced aluminum 
and other metal alloys, polymeric composites, and 
carbon fiber for use in vehicles; 
(6) to produce lightweight high pressure storage 
systems for gaseous fuels; 
(7) to design and manufacture purpose-built hy-
drogen fuel cell vehicles and components; 
(8) to improve the calendar life and cycle life of 
advanced batteries; and 
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(9) to produce permanent magnets for advanced 
vehicles. 
SEC. 8. MEDIUM- AND HEAVY-DUTY COMMERCIAL AND 
TRANSIT VEHICLES PROGRAM. 
The Secretary, in partnership with relevant research 
and development programs in other Federal agencies, and 
a range of appropriate industry stakeholders, shall carry 
out a program of cooperative research, development, dem-
onstration, and commercial application activities on ad-
vanced technologies for medium- to heavy-duty commer-
cial, vocational, recreational, and transit vehicles, includ-
ing activities in the areas of— 
(1) engine efficiency and combustion research; 
(2) onboard storage technologies for compressed 
and liquefied natural gas; 
(3) development and integration of engine tech-
nologies designed for natural gas operation of a vari-
ety of vehicle platforms; 
(4) waste heat recovery and conversion; 
(5) improved aerodynamics and tire rolling re-
sistance; 
(6) energy and space-efficient emissions control 
systems; 
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(7) mild hybrid, heavy hybrid, hybrid hydraulic, 
plug-in hybrid, and electric platforms, and energy 
storage technologies; 
(8) drivetrain optimization; 
(9) friction and wear reduction; 
(10) engine idle and parasitic energy loss reduc-
tion; 
(11) electrification of accessory loads; 
(12) onboard sensing and communications tech-
nologies; 
(13) advanced lightweighting materials and ve-
hicle designs; 
(14) increasing load capacity per vehicle; 
(15) thermal management of battery systems; 
(16) recharging infrastructure; 
(17) compressed natural gas infrastructure; 
(18) advanced internal combustion engines; 
(19) complete vehicle and power pack modeling, 
simulation, and testing; 
(20) hydrogen vehicle technologies, including 
fuel cells and internal combustion engines, and hy-
drogen infrastructure, including hydrogen energy 
storage to enable renewables and provide hydrogen 
for fuel and power; 
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(21) retrofitting advanced technologies onto ex-
isting truck fleets; 
(22) advanced boosting systems; 
(23) engine down speeding; and 
(24) integration of these and other advanced 
systems onto a single truck and trailer platform. 
SEC. 9. CLASS 8 TRUCK AND TRAILER SYSTEMS DEM-
ONSTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a 
competitive grant program to demonstrate the integration 
of multiple advanced technologies on Class 8 truck and 
trailer platforms, including a combination of technologies 
listed in section 8. 
(b) APPLICANT TEAMS.—Applicant teams may be 
comprised of truck and trailer manufacturers, engine and 
component manufacturers, fleet customers, university re-
searchers, and other applicants as appropriate for the de-
velopment and demonstration of integrated Class 8 truck 
and trailer systems. 
SEC. 10. TECHNOLOGY TESTING AND METRICS. 
The Secretary, in coordination with the partners of 
the interagency research program described in section 8— 
(1) shall develop standard testing procedures 
and technologies for evaluating the performance of 
advanced heavy vehicle technologies under a range of 
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representative duty cycles and operating conditions, 
including for heavy hybrid propulsion systems; 
(2) shall evaluate heavy vehicle performance 
using work performance-based metrics other than 
those based on miles per gallon, including those 
based on units of volume and weight transported for 
freight applications, and appropriate metrics based 
on the work performed by nonroad systems; and 
(3) may construct heavy duty truck and bus 
testing facilities. 
SEC. 11. NONROAD SYSTEMS PILOT PROGRAM. 
The Secretary shall undertake a pilot program of re-
search, development, demonstration, and commercial ap-
plications of technologies to improve total machine or sys-
tem efficiency for nonroad mobile equipment including ag-
ricultural, construction, air, and sea port equipment, and 
shall seek opportunities to transfer relevant research find-
ings and technologies between the nonroad and on-high-
way equipment and vehicle sectors. 
SEC. 12. REPEAL OF EXISTING AUTHORITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Sections 706, 711, 712, and 933 
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16051, 
16061, 16062, 16233) are repealed. 
(b) ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Section 911 of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16191) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘vehi-
cles, buildings,’’ and inserting ‘‘buildings’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking subparagraph (A); and 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(B) through (E) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (D), respectively; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (3); 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(C) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), 
by 
striking 
‘‘(a)(2)(D)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘(a)(2)(C)’’. 
Æ 
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