Source: http://ecfr.io/Title-49/pt49.6.538
Timestamp: 2019-12-06 10:00:30
Document Index: 714708783

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 538', 'art 538', 'art 538', 'ART 538', '§538', '§538', '§538', '§538', '§538', '§538', '§538', '§538', '§538', 'art 531', 'art 523', 'art 529', 'art 600', 'art 600']

[49 CFR 538] Title 49 Part 538 : Code of Federal Regulations ';
Title 49 Part 538
Title 49 → Subtitle B → Chapter V → Part 538
PART 538—MANUFACTURING INCENTIVES FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES
§538.1 Scope.
§538.2 Purpose.
§538.3 Applicability.
§538.4 Definitions.
§538.5 Minimum driving range.
§538.6 Measurement of driving range.
§538.7 Petitions for reduction of minimum driving range.
§538.8 Gallon Equivalents for Gaseous Fuels.
§538.9 Dual fuel vehicle incentive.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 32901, 32905, and 32906; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95.
Source: 61 FR 14511, Apr. 2, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
The purpose of this part is to specify one of the criteria in 49 U.S.C. chapter 329 “Automobile Fuel Economy” for identifying dual-fueled passenger automobiles that are manufactured in model years 1993 through 2019. The fuel economy of a qualifying vehicle is calculated in a special manner so as to encourage its production as a way of facilitating a manufacturer's compliance with the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards set forth in part 531 of this chapter. The purpose is also to establish gallon equivalent measurements for gaseous fuels other than natural gas.
This part applies to manufacturers of automobiles.
(a) Statutory terms. (1) The terms alternative fuel, alternative fueled automobile, and dual fueled automobile, are used as defined in 49 U.S.C. 32901(a).
(2) The terms automobile and passenger automobile, are used as defined in 49 U.S.C. 32901(a), and in accordance with the determinations in part 523 of this chapter.
(3) The term manufacturer is used as defined in 49 U.S.C. 32901(a)(13), and in accordance with part 529 of this chapter.
(4) The term model year is used as defined in 49 U.S.C. 32901(a)(15).
(b)(1) Other terms. The terms average fuel economy, fuel economy, and model type are used as defined in subpart A of 40 CFR part 600.
(2) The term EPA means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
(a) The minimum driving range that a passenger automobile must have in order to be treated as a dual fueled automobile pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 32901(c) is 200 miles when operating on its nominal useable fuel tank capacity of the alternative fuel, except when the alternative fuel is electricity or compressed natural gas. Beginning model year 2016, a natural gas passenger automobile must have a minimum driving range of 150 miles when operating on its nominal useable fuel tank capacity of the alternative fuel to be treated as a dual fueled automobile, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 32901(c)(2).
(b) The minimum driving range that a passenger automobile using electricity as an alternative fuel must have in order to be treated as a dual fueled automobile pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 32901(c) is 7.5 miles on its nominal storage capacity of electricity when operated on the EPA urban test cycle and 10.2 miles on its nominal storage capacity of electricity when operated on the EPA highway test cycle.
[81 FR 74274, Oct. 25, 2016]
The driving range of a passenger automobile model type not using electricity as an alternative fuel is determined by multiplying the combined EPA urban/highway fuel economy rating when operating on the alternative fuel, by the nominal usable fuel tank capacity (in gallons), of the fuel tank containing the alternative fuel. The combined EPA urban/highway fuel economy rating is the value determined by the procedures established by the Administrator of the EPA under 49 U.S.C. 32904 and set forth in 40 CFR part 600. The driving range of a passenger automobile model type using electricity as an alternative fuel is determined by operating the vehicle in the electric-only mode of operation through the EPA urban cycle on its nominal storage capacity of electricity and the EPA highway cycle on its nominal storage capacity of electricity. Passenger automobile types using electricity as an alternative fuel that have completed the EPA urban cycle after recharging and the EPA highway cycle after recharging shall be deemed to have met the minimum range requirement.
[63 FR 66069, Dec. 1, 1998]
[63 FR 66069, Dec. 1, 1998, as amended at 75 FR 25728, May 7, 2010]
The gallon equivalent of gaseous fuels, for purposes of calculations made under 49 U.S.C. 32905, are listed in Table I:
Table I—Gallon Equivalent Measurements for Gaseous Fuels per 100 Standard Cubic Feet
Gallon equivalent measurement
Compressed Natural Gas 0.823
Liquefied Natural Gas 0.823
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Grade HD-5)* 0.726
Hydrogen 0.259
Hythane (Hy5) 0.741
*Per gallon unit of measure.
The application of 49 U.S.C. 32905(b) and (d) to qualifying dual fuel vehicles is extended to the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 model years.
[69 FR 7703, Feb. 19, 2004]