[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6323 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6323

  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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    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 following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. HEAVY DUTY PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, 
              DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATION 
              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 applicants to carry out projects to advance 
research and development 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 requirements for 
        applying for grants under the development 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--
                            (i) fill existing research gaps and advance 
                        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 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 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 applications for grants under 
                the development program are due, the Secretary shall 
                select, through a competitive process, all applicants 
                to be awarded a grant under the development program.
    (c) Development Program Requirements.--
            (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 recipient 
                        shall submit to the Secretary a report 
                        containing data and analysis of--
                                    (I) the performance of each 
                                produced 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 
                                management system, and charging system;
                                    (III) the projected cost of each 
                                produced or retrofitted vehicle, 
                                including acquisition, operating, and 
                                maintenance costs of each vehicle; and
                                    (IV) the emissions levels of each 
                                produced or retrofitted vehicle, 
                                including 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 Secretary shall 
                        establish a testing program to be used by 
                        recipients in testing each produced or 
                        retrofitted vehicle. Such testing program shall 
                        include testing a vehicle's performance at 
                        various driving speeds, distances, and traffic 
                        conditions.
                    (B) Phase two.--
                            (i) In general.--In phase two, the 
                        recipient shall demonstrate the advanced 
                        manufacturing processes required for producing 
                        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 recipient 
                        shall submit to the Secretary a report 
                        containing--
                                    (I) an analysis of the main 
                                technological 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 
                                technological hurdles involved in mass 
                                producing plug-in hybrid delivery 
                                vehicles 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 Alternative Drive Trains.--The 
Secretary shall conduct research into alternative power train designs 
for use in delivery vehicles and utility vehicles. Such research shall 
compare the estimated cost and fuel savings of each design with similar 
non-hybrid power train designs under the conditions 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 maximum 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 submitted 
        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 efficiency of such vehicles; 
        and
            (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 hybrid'' means a 
        vehicle fueled, in part, by electrical power that can be 
        recharged by connecting the vehicle to an electric power 
        source.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (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 vehicle'' 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 Storage 
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 ``vehicles with a gross weight over 8501 pounds,'' 
before ``stationary applications''.
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