Alternative Fuel Vehicle Development Act

Bill: 113-s-2065
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2014-02-27
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources

Commuting

Congressional oversight

Energy efficiency and conservation

Government lending and loan guarantees

Government studies and investigations

Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles

Motor fuels

Public-private cooperation

Transportation programs funding
Latest action: action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-02-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Alternative Fuel Vehicle Development Act - Creates incentives for the manufacture of dual-fueled automobiles that use alternative fuels other than methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols (non-alcohol, dual-fueled automobiles).</p> <p>Removes the cap on credits under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program for non-alcohol, dual-fueled automobiles. (The cap on CAFE credits limits the total increase of a manufacturer's average fuel economy attributable to dual-fueled automobiles.)</p> <p>Reduces the minimum driving range for non-alcohol, dual-fueled automobiles. Disallows any petition to lower the driving range below 150 miles for those automobiles. </p> <p>Revises the formula the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses to calculate fuel economy for dual-fueled automobiles operating with gaseous fuel, such as natural gas or hydrogen. Requires the EPA to apply utility factors based on the driving range for such automobiles. Allows the EPA to use a different methodology to calculate the fuel economy for dual-fueled, electric automobiles.</p> <p> Makes permanent the state's authority to exempt alternative fuel vehicles from high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane restrictions. Makes eligible only those alternative fuel vehicles operating solely on alternative fuel, including electric vehicles.</p> <p>Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to report on incentives and financing tools to develop public compressed natural gas fueling stations.</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2065 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 27, 2014 Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. Levin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To create incentives for the development of alternative fuel vehicles.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Development Act . 2. Alternative fuel vehicles (a) Maximum fuel economy increase for alternative fuel automobiles Section 32906(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking (except an electric automobile) and inserting (except an electric automobile or, beginning with model year 2016, an alternative fueled automobile that does not use a fuel described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of section 32901(a)(1)) . (b) Minimum driving ranges for dual fueled passenger automobiles Section 32901(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting , except that beginning with model year 2016, alternative fueled automobiles that do not use a fuel described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of subsection (a)(1) shall have a minimum driving range of 150 miles after at least 200 miles ; and (2) in subparagraph (C), by adding at the end the following: Beginning with model year 2016, if the Secretary prescribes a minimum driving range of 150 miles for alternative fueled automobiles that do not use a fuel described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of subsection (a)(1), subparagraph (A) shall not apply to dual fueled automobiles (except electric automobiles). . (c) Manufacturing provision for alternative fuel automobiles Section 32905(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; (2) by striking For any model and inserting the following: (1) Model years 1993 through 2015 For any model ; (3) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by striking 2019 and inserting 2015 ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (2) Model years after 2015 For any model of gaseous fuel dual fueled automobile manufactured by a manufacturer after model year 2015, the Administrator shall calculate fuel economy as a weighted harmonic average of the fuel economy on gaseous fuel as measured under subsection (c) and the fuel economy on gasoline or diesel fuel as measured under section 32904(c). The Administrator shall apply the utility factors set forth in the table under section 600.510–12(c)(2)(vii)(A) of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations. (3) Model years after 2016 Beginning with model year 2017, the manufacturer may elect to utilize the utility factors set forth under subsection (e)(1) for the purposes of calculating fuel economy under paragraph (2). . (d) Electric dual fueled automobiles Section 32905 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: (e) Electric dual fueled automobiles (1) In general At the request of the manufacturer, the Administrator may measure the fuel economy for any model of dual fueled automobile manufactured after model year 2015 that is capable of operating on electricity in addition to gasoline or diesel fuel, obtains its electricity from a source external to the vehicle, and meets the minimum driving range requirements established by the Secretary for dual fueled electric automobiles, by dividing 1.0 by the sum of— (A) the percentage utilization of the model on gasoline or diesel fuel, as determined by a formula based on the model’s alternative fuel range, divided by the fuel economy measured under section 32904(c); and (B) the percentage utilization of the model on electricity, as determined by a formula based on the model’s alternative fuel range, divided by the fuel economy measured under section 32904(a)(2). (2) Alternative utilization The Administrator may adapt the utility factor established under paragraph (1) for alternative fueled automobiles that do not use a fuel described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of section 32901(a)(1). (3) Alternative calculation If the manufacturer does not request that the Administrator calculate the manufacturing incentive for its electric dual fueled automobiles in accordance with paragraph (1), the Administrator shall calculate such incentive for such automobiles manufactured by such manufacturer after model year 2015 in accordance with subsection (b). . (e) Conforming amendment Section 32906(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking section 32905(e) and inserting section 32905(f) . 3. High occupancy vehicle facilities Section 166 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (b)(5), by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (A) Inherently low-emission vehicles If a State agency establishes procedures for enforcing the restrictions on the use of a HOV facility by vehicles listed in clauses (i) and (ii), the State agency may allow the use of the HOV facility by— (i) alternative fuel vehicles; and (ii) new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles (as defined in section 30D(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). ; and (2) in subparagraph (f)(1), by inserting solely before operating . 4. Study Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, after consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall submit a report to Congress that— (1) describes options to incentivize the development of public compressed natural gas fueling stations; and (2) analyzes a variety of possible financing tools, which could include— (A) Federal grants and credit assistance; (B) public-private partnerships; and (C) membership-based cooperatives.