I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6323 
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 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. HEAVY DUTY PLUG-IN 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 
commercial application program (referred to in this Act 
as the ‘‘development program’’) to provide 5 grants to ap-
plicants to carry out projects to advance research and de-
velopment and to demonstrate advanced technologies for 
heavy duty plug-in hybrid vehicles and for the production 
of such vehicles. 
(b) APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall issue re-
quirements for applying for grants under the devel-
opment program. 
(2) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall 
establish selection criteria for awarding grants under 
the development program. In evaluating applications, 
the Secretary shall— 
(A) consider the ability of applicants to 
successfully complete both phases described in 
subsection (c)(1); and 
(B) give priority to applicants who are best 
able to— 
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(i) fill existing research gaps and ad-
vance current technology; and 
(ii) achieve the greatest reduction in 
fuel consumption in delivery vehicles and 
utility vehicles. 
(3) PARTNERS.—An applicant for a grant 
under this section may carry out a project in part-
nership 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 development 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 development program 
are due, the Secretary shall select, through a 
competitive process, all applicants to be award-
ed a grant under the development program. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.— 
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(1) TWO PHASES.—Each grant recipient shall 
be required to complete two phases: 
(A) PHASE ONE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—In phase one, the 
recipient shall produce or retrofit one or 
more plug-in hybrid delivery vehicles, one 
or more plug-in hybrid utility vehicles, or 
a combination of such vehicles. 
(ii) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the completion of phase one, the re-
cipient shall submit to the Secretary a re-
port containing data and analysis of— 
(I) the performance of each pro-
duced or retrofitted vehicle in carrying 
out the testing program established by 
the Secretary under clause (iv); 
(II) the performance during such 
testing of each vehicle’s components, 
including the battery, energy manage-
ment system, and charging system; 
(III) the projected cost of each 
produced or retrofitted vehicle, includ-
ing acquisition, operating, and main-
tenance costs of each vehicle; and 
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(IV) the emissions levels of each 
produced or retrofitted vehicle, includ-
ing greenhouse gas levels. 
(iii) TIMING.—Phase one begins upon 
receipt of a grant under the development 
program and lasts for one year. 
(iv) TESTING
PROGRAM.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a testing program to 
be used by recipients in testing each pro-
duced or retrofitted vehicle. Such testing 
program shall include testing a vehicle’s 
performance at various driving speeds, dis-
tances, and traffic conditions. 
(B) PHASE TWO.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—In phase two, the 
recipient shall demonstrate the advanced 
manufacturing processes required for pro-
ducing or retrofitting heavy duty plug-in 
hybrid vehicles by producing or retrofitting 
50 plug-in hybrid delivery vehicles or plug- 
in hybrid utility vehicles. 
(ii) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the completion of phase two, the re-
cipient shall submit to the Secretary a re-
port containing— 
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(I) an analysis of the main tech-
nological hurdles encountered by the 
recipient in the development of the 
plug-in hybrid delivery vehicles and 
plug-in hybrid utility vehicles; 
(II) an analysis of the main tech-
nological hurdles involved in mass 
producing plug-in hybrid delivery vehi-
cles and plug-in hybrid utility vehicles; 
and 
(III) the manufacturing cost of 
each produced or retrofitted vehicle, 
the actual or projected sale price of 
each produced or retrofitted vehicle, 
and the cost of a similar non-hybrid 
vehicle. 
(iii) TIMING.—Phase two begins at 
the conclusion of phase one and lasts for 
two years. 
(2) 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. 
(d) RESEARCH ON VEHICLE USAGE AND ALTER-
NATIVE DRIVE TRAINS.—The Secretary shall conduct re-
search into alternative power train designs for use in deliv-
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ery vehicles and utility vehicles. Such research shall com-
pare the estimated cost and fuel savings of each design 
with similar non-hybrid power train designs under the con-
ditions in which these vehicles are typically used, includ-
ing, 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) fuel consumption. 
(e) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 
days after the Secretary receives the reports from grant 
recipients under subsection (c)(1)(B)(ii), the Secretary 
shall submit 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 development program; 
(3) all data contained in reports submitted by 
grant recipients under subsection (c)(1); 
(4) a description of the vehicles produced or 
retrofitted by recipients in phase one and phase two 
of the project, including an analysis of the fuel effi-
ciency of such vehicles; and 
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(5) the results of the research carried out under 
subsection (d). 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) DELIVERY VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘delivery 
vehicle’’ means a heavy duty vehicle intended to be 
used commercially for delivering goods. 
(2) GREENHOUSE GAS.—The term ‘‘greenhouse 
gas’’ means— 
(A) carbon dioxide; 
(B) methane; 
(C) nitrous oxide; 
(D) hydrofluorocarbons; 
(E) perfluorocarbons; or 
(F) sulfur hexafluoride. 
(3) HEAVY
DUTY.—The term ‘‘heavy duty’’ 
means, with respect to a vehicle, a vehicle with a 
gross weight over 8501 pounds. 
(4) PLUG-IN HYBRID.—The term ‘‘plug-in hy-
brid’’ means a vehicle fueled, in part, by electrical 
power that can be recharged by connecting the vehi-
cle to an electric power source. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
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(6) RETROFIT.—The term ‘‘retrofit’’ means the 
process of creating a plug-in hybrid by converting an 
existing, fuel-powered vehicle. 
(7) UTILITY VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘utility vehi-
cle’’ means a heavy duty vehicle used commercially 
by electric utilities. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary $16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2009 through 2011 to carry out this section. 
(2) Of the funds authorized under paragraph 
(1), not more than $1,000,000 per fiscal year may 
be used for— 
(A) carrying out the studies required under 
subsection (d); and 
(B) the administration of the development 
program. 
SEC. 2. EXPANDING RESEARCH IN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY 
FOR LARGE VEHICLES. 
Subsection (g)(1) of the United States Energy Stor-
age Competitiveness Act of 2007 (enacted as section 
641(g)(1) of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17231(g)(1))) is amended by inserting 
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‘‘vehicles with a gross weight over 8501 pounds,’’ before 
‘‘stationary applications’’. 
Æ 
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