[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3246 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3246

 To provide for a program of research, development, demonstration, and 
  commercial application in vehicle technologies at the Department of 
                                Energy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 17, 2009

  Mr. Peters (for himself and Mrs. Biggert) introduced the following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for a program of research, development, demonstration, and 
  commercial application in vehicle technologies at the Department of 
                                Energy.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the Energy Information Administration, the 
        transportation sector accounts for approximately 28 percent of 
        the United States primary energy demand and greenhouse gas 
        emissions, and 24 percent of global oil demand.
            (2) The United States transportation sector is over 95 
        percent dependent on petroleum, and over 60 percent of 
        petroleum demand is met by imported supplies.
            (3) United States heavy truck fuel consumption will 
        increase 23 percent by 2030, while overall transportation 
        energy use will decline by 1 percent.
            (4) The domestic automotive and commercial vehicle 
        manufacturing sectors have increasingly limited resources for 
        research and development of advanced technologies.
            (5) Vehicle, engine, and component manufacturers are 
        playing a more important role in vehicle technology 
        development, and should be better integrated into Federal 
        research efforts.
            (6) Priorities for the Department of Energy's vehicle 
        technologies research have shifted drastically in recent years 
        among diesel hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and plug-in 
        electric hybrids, with little continuity among them.
            (7) The integration of vehicle, communication, and 
        infrastructure technologies has great potential for efficiency 
        gains through better management of the total transportation 
        system.
            (8) The Federal Government should balance its role in 
        researching longer-term exploratory concepts and developing 
        nearer-term transformational technologies for vehicles.

SEC. 3. OBJECTIVES.

    The objectives of this Act are to--
            (1) develop technologies and practices that--
                    (A) improve the fuel efficiency and emissions of 
                all vehicles produced in the United States; and
                    (B) reduce transportation sector reliance on 
                petroleum-based fuels;
            (2) support domestic research and manufacturing of advanced 
        vehicles, engines, and components;
            (3) enable moving larger volumes of freight and more 
        passengers with less energy and emissions;
            (4) allow for greater consumer choice of vehicle 
        technologies and fuels;
            (5) shorten technology development and integration cycles 
        in the vehicle industry;
            (6) ensure a proper balance and diversity of Federal 
        investment in vehicle technologies; and
            (7) strengthen partnerships between Federal and State 
        governmental agencies and the private and academic sectors.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The following sums are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary for research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application of vehicles and related technologies, 
including activities authorized under this Act:
            (1) $550,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            (2) $560,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (3) $570,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
            (4) $580,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
            (5) $590,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.
    (b) Medium and Heavy Duty Commercial Vehicles.--From the amounts 
authorized in under subsection (a), there are authorized to be 
appropriated for carrying out title II--
            (1) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (2) $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            (3) $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            (4) $230,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            (5) $240,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.
    (c) User Facilities.--From the amounts authorized in under 
subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated for carrying 
out section 104--
            (1) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (2) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            (3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            (4) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            (5) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.
    (d) Non-Road Pilot Program.--From the amounts authorized in under 
subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated for carrying 
out section 214--
            (1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            (3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

               TITLE I--VEHICLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 101. PROGRAM.

    (a) Activities.--The Secretary shall conduct a program of basic and 
applied research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application activities on materials, technologies, and processes with 
the potential to substantially reduce or eliminate petroleum use and 
the related emissions of the Nation's automotive and commercial vehicle 
sectors, including activities in the areas of--
            (1) hybridization or full electrification of vehicle 
        systems;
            (2) batteries and other energy storage devices;
            (3) power electronics;
            (4) vehicle manufacturing technologies and processes;
            (5) engine efficiency and combustion optimization;
            (6) waste heat recovery;
            (7) transmission and drivetrains;
            (8) hydrogen fuel cells and internal combustion engines, 
        infrastructure, and related technologies;
            (9) aerodynamics, rolling resistance, and accessory power 
        loads of vehicles and associated equipment;
            (10) vehicle weight reduction;
            (11) friction and wear reduction;
            (12) engine and component durability;
            (13) innovative propulsion systems;
            (14) engine compatibility with and optimization for 
        nonpetroleum fuels;
            (15) modeling and simulation of vehicle and transportation 
        systems;
            (16) refueling and charging infrastructure for alternative 
        fueled and electric or plug-in electric hybrid vehicles;
            (17) sensing, communications, and actuation technologies 
        for vehicle, electrical grid, and infrastructure;
            (18) efficient use and recycling of rare earth materials, 
        and reduction of precious metals and other high-cost materials 
        in vehicles;
            (19) aftertreatment technologies;
            (20) thermal management of battery systems;
            (21) development of common standards, specifications, and 
        architectures for both transportation and stationary battery 
        applications;
            (22) consumer education and outreach; and
            (23) other research areas as determined by the Secretary.
    (b) Transformational Technology.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
the Department continues to support activities and maintains competency 
in mid- to long-term transformational vehicle technologies with 
potential to achieve deep reductions in petroleum use and emissions, 
including activities in the areas of--
            (1) hydrogen fuel cells, internal combustion engines, 
        storage, infrastructure, and technology validation, and 
        development of hydrogen safety codes and standards;
            (2) multiple battery chemistries and novel energy storage 
        devices;
            (3) communication and connectivity among vehicles, 
        infrastructure, and the electrical grid; and
            (4) other innovative technologies research and development, 
        as determined by the Secretary.
    (c) Industry Participation.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
activities under this Act shall be carried out in partnership or 
collaboration with automotive manufacturers, heavy commercial and 
transit vehicle manufacturers, vehicle and engine equipment and 
component manufacturers, manufacturing equipment manufacturers, 
advanced vehicle service providers, fuel producers and energy 
suppliers, electric utilities, universities, national laboratories, and 
independent research laboratories. In carrying out this Act the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) determine whether a wide range of domestic 
        manufacturers and suppliers are represented in ongoing public-
        private partnership activities and, where possible, partner 
        with firms that have not traditionally participated in 
        federally-sponsored research and development activities;
            (2) leverage the capabilities and resources of, and 
        formalize partnerships with, industry-led stakeholder 
        organizations, nonprofit organizations, industry consortia, and 
        trade associations with expertise in the research and 
        development of, and education and outreach activities in, 
        advanced automotive and commercial vehicle technologies;
            (3) streamline processes for transferring technologies and 
        research findings to industry and consumers;
            (4) give consideration to conversion of existing or former 
        vehicle technology manufacturing facilities for the purposes of 
        this Act; and
            (5) make every effort to ensure that technologies developed 
        under this Act are produced in the United States.
    (d) Interagency and Intraagency Coordination.--To the maximum 
extent practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial application activities 
among--
            (1) relevant programs within the Department, including--
                    (A) the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
                Energy;
                    (B) the Office of Science;
                    (C) the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
                Reliability;
                    (D) the Office of Fossil Energy;
                    (E) the Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy; 
                and
                    (F) other offices as determined by the Secretary; 
                and
            (2) relevant technology research and development programs 
        within other Federal agencies, as determined by the Secretary 
        or an officer of the Executive Office of the President.
    (e) Federal Demonstration of Technologies.--The Secretary shall 
make information available to procurement programs of Federal agencies 
regarding the potential to demonstrate technologies resulting from 
activities funded through programs under this Act.
    (f) Intergovernmental Coordination.--The Secretary shall seek 
opportunities to leverage resources and support initiatives of State 
and local governments in developing and promoting advanced vehicle 
technologies, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

SEC. 102. SENSING AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES.

    The Secretary, in coordination with the relevant research programs 
of other Federal agencies, shall conduct research, development, and 
demonstration activities on connectivity of vehicle and transportation 
systems, including on sensing, computation, communication, and 
actuation technologies that allow for reduced fuel use, optimized 
traffic flow, improved freight logistics, and vehicle electrification, 
including technologies for--
            (1) onboard vehicle, engine, and component sensing and 
        actuation;
            (2) vehicle-to-vehicle sensing and communication;
            (3) vehicle-to-infrastructure sensing and communication; 
        and
            (4) vehicle integration with the electrical grid.

SEC. 103. MANUFACTURING.

    The Secretary shall carry out a research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application program of advanced vehicle 
manufacturing technologies and practices, including innovative 
processes to--
            (1) increase the production rate and decrease the cost of 
        advanced battery manufacturing;
            (2) vary manufacturing facility capability to accommodate 
        different battery chemistries and configurations;
            (3) reduce waste streams, emissions, and energy-intensity 
        of vehicle, engine, and component manufacturing processes;
            (4) recycle and remanufacture used batteries and other 
        vehicle components for reuse in vehicles or stationary 
        applications;
            (5) produce cost-effective lightweight materials such as 
        advanced metal alloys and carbon fiber;
            (6) design and manufacture purpose-built hydrogen and fuel 
        cell vehicles and components; and
            (7) produce permanent magnets for advanced vehicles.

SEC. 104. USER FACILITIES.

    Activities under this Act may include construction, expansion, or 
modification of new and existing vehicle, engine, and component 
research and testing facilities for--
            (1) testing or simulating interoperability of a variety of 
        vehicle components;
            (2) subjecting whole or partial vehicle platforms to fully 
        representative duty cycles and operating conditions;
            (3) developing and demonstrating a range of chemistries and 
        configurations for advanced vehicle battery manufacturing; and
            (4) developing and demonstrating test cycles for new and 
        alternate fuels, and other advanced vehicle technologies.

          TITLE II--MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

SEC. 201. PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in partnership with relevant 
research and development programs in other Federal agencies, and 
diverse industrial stakeholders, shall carry out a program of 
cooperative research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application activities on advanced technologies for medium- to heavy-
duty commercial and transit vehicles, including activities in the areas 
of--
            (1) engine efficiency and combustion research;
            (2) waste heat recovery and conversion;
            (3) improved aerodynamics and tire rolling resistance;
            (4) energy and space-efficient emissions control systems;
            (5) heavy hybrid, hybrid hydraulic, plug-in hybrid, and 
        electric platforms, and energy storage technologies;
            (6) drivetrain optimization;
            (7) friction and wear reduction;
            (8) engine idle and parasitic energy loss reduction;
            (9) electrification of accessory loads;
            (10) onboard sensing and communications technologies;
            (11) advanced lightweight materials and vehicle designs;
            (12) increasing freight capacity per vehicle;
            (13) thermal management of battery systems;
            (14) recharging infrastructure;
            (15) complete vehicle modeling and simulation;
            (16) vehicle and driver management systems;
            (17) retrofitting advanced technologies onto existing truck 
        fleets; and
            (18) integration of these and other advanced systems onto a 
        single truck and trailer platform.
    (b) Leadership.--The Secretary shall appoint a full-time Director 
to coordinate research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application activities in medium- to heavy-duty commercial and transit 
vehicle technologies. Responsibilities of the Director, reporting to 
the Program Manager for Vehicle Technologies, include--
            (1) improving coordination and developing consensus between 
        government agency and industry partners, and proposing new 
        processes for program management and priority setting to better 
        align activities and budgets among partners;
            (2) frequent convening of workshops, site visits, 
        demonstrations, conferences, investor forums, and other events 
        in which information and research findings are shared among 
        program participants and interested stakeholders;
            (3) developing a budget for the Department's activities 
        with regard to the interagency program, and providing 
        consultation and guidance on vehicle technology funding 
        priorities across agencies;
            (4) determining a process for reviewing program technical 
        goals, targets, and timetables and, where applicable, aided by 
        life-cycle impact and cost analysis, proposing revisions in 
        light of program progress, available funding, and rate of 
        technology adoption;
            (5) evaluating ongoing activities of the program and 
        recommending project modifications, including the termination 
        of projects, where applicable; and
            (6) recruiting new industry participants to the interagency 
        program, including truck, trailer, and component manufacturers 
        who have not traditionally participated in federally sponsored 
        research and technology development activities.
    (c) Reporting.--At the end of each fiscal year the partnership 
shall submit to the Secretary and relevant Congressional committees of 
jurisdiction an annual report describing activities undertaken in the 
previous year, active industry participants, efforts to recruit new 
participants, progress of the program in meeting goals and timelines, 
and a strategic plan for funding of activities across agencies.

SEC. 202. CLASS 8 TRUCK DEMONSTRATION.

    The Secretary shall conduct a competitive grant program to 
demonstrate the integration of multiple advanced technologies on long-
haul Class 8 truck and trailer platforms with a goal of improving 
overall freight efficiency, as measured in ton-miles per gallon, by 50 
percent, including a combination of technologies listed in section 
201(a). Applicant teams may be comprised of truck and trailer 
manufacturers, engine and component manufacturers, fleet customers, 
university researchers, and other applicants as appropriate for the 
development and demonstration of integrated Class 8 truck and trailer 
systems.

SEC. 203. TECHNOLOGY TESTING AND METRICS.

    The Secretary, in coordination with the partners of the interagency 
research program described in section 201(a)--
            (1) shall develop standard testing procedures and 
        technologies for evaluating the performance of advanced heavy 
        vehicle technologies under a range of representative duty 
        cycles and operating conditions, including for heavy hybrid 
        propulsion systems;
            (2) may evaluate heavy vehicle performance using metrics 
        other than those based on miles per gallon, including those 
        based on units of volume or 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. 204. NONROAD SYSTEMS PILOT PROGRAM.

    The Secretary is authorized to undertake a pilot program of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications of 
technologies to improve total machine or system efficiency for heavy 
duty nonroad equipment, and shall seek opportunities to transfer 
relevant research findings and technologies between the nonroad and on-
highway equipment and vehicle sectors.
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