[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1351 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1351

    To promote the development, manufacturing, and use of advanced 
                   batteries, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 12, 2011

 Ms. Stabenow introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To promote the development, manufacturing, and use of advanced 
                   batteries, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Battery Innovation 
Act of 2011''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
                        TITLE I--BATTERY SUPPLY

Sec. 101. Grants for lithium production research and development.
Sec. 102. Study on the supply of raw materials.
               TITLE II--BATTERY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

              Subtitle A--Battery Research and Development

Sec. 201. ARPA-E plug-in electric drive vehicle research and 
                            development programs.
Sec. 202. Advanced Battery Breakthrough Achievement Awards.
Sec. 203. Energy innovation hubs.
              Subtitle B--Vehicle Research and Development

Sec. 211. Program.
Sec. 212. Sensing and communications technologies.
Sec. 213. Manufacturing.
Sec. 214. User testing facilities.
Sec. 215. Reporting.
   Subtitle C--Medium- and Heavy-Duty Commercial and Transit Vehicles

Sec. 221. Program.
Sec. 222. Class 8 truck and trailer systems demonstration.
Sec. 223. Technology testing and metrics.
Sec. 224. Nonroad systems pilot program.
              Subtitle D--Authorization of Appropriations

Sec. 231. Authorization of appropriations.
                    TITLE III--BATTERY MANUFACTURING

Sec. 301. Advanced battery manufacturing assistance.
          TITLE IV--ALTERNATIVE AND SECONDARY USE OF BATTERIES

Sec. 401. Alternative and secondary use of batteries.
Sec. 402. Loan guarantees for advanced battery purchases for use in 
                            stationary applications.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--In this Act:
            (1) Advanced research projects agency--energy.--The term 
        ``Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy'' means the 
        Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy established by 
        section 5012(b) of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 
        16538(b)).
            (2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (3) Federal-aid system of highways.--The term ``Federal-aid 
        system of highways'' means a highway system described in 
        section 103 of title 23, United States Code.
            (4) Plug-in electric drive vehicle.--The term ``plug-in 
        electric drive vehicle'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 131(a)(5) of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
        of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17011(a)(5)).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (b) Definition of Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicle.--Section 
131(a)(5) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17011(a)(5)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as 
        clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively, and indenting 
        appropriately;
            (2) by striking ``means a vehicle that--'' and inserting 
        ``means--
                    ``(A) a vehicle that--'';
            (3) in subparagraph (A)(iii) (as so redesignated), by 
        striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) any other motor vehicle--
                            ``(i) for which the motive electric power 
                        can be recharged from an external source of 
                        power; and
                            ``(ii) that has a maximum speed of greater 
                        than 25 miles per hour.''.

                        TITLE I--BATTERY SUPPLY

SEC. 101. GRANTS FOR LITHIUM PRODUCTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Subtitle E of title VI of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 657. GRANTS FOR LITHIUM PRODUCTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
`eligible entity' means--
            ``(1) a private partnership or other entity that is--
                    ``(A) organized in accordance with Federal law; and
                    ``(B) engaged in lithium production for use in 
                advanced battery technologies;
            ``(2) a public entity, such as a State, tribal, or local 
        governmental entity; or
            ``(3) a consortium of entities described in paragraphs (1) 
        and (2).
    ``(b) Grants.--The Secretary shall provide grants to eligible 
entities for research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application of domestic industrial processes that are designed to 
enhance domestic lithium production for use in advanced battery 
technologies, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Use.--An eligible entity shall use a grant provided under 
this subsection to develop or enhance--
            ``(1) domestic industrial processes that increase lithium 
        production, processing, or recycling for use in advanced 
        lithium batteries; or
            ``(2) industrial process associated with new formulations 
        of lithium feedstock for use in advanced lithium batteries.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014.''.

SEC. 102. STUDY ON THE SUPPLY OF RAW MATERIALS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation 
with the Secretary, shall conduct a study that--
            (1) identifies the raw materials needed for the manufacture 
        of plug-in electric drive vehicles, batteries, and other 
        components for plug-in electric drive vehicles, and for the 
        infrastructure needed to support plug-in electric drive 
        vehicles;
            (2) describes the primary or original sources and known 
        reserves and resources of those raw materials;
            (3) assesses, in consultation with an independent analysis 
        entity designated by the Secretary, the degree of risk to the 
        manufacture, maintenance, deployment, and use of plug-in 
        electric drive vehicles associated with the supply of those raw 
        materials;
            (4) identifies pathways to securing reliable and resilient 
        supplies of those raw materials; and
            (5) assesses, in coordination with relevant Federal 
        agencies (as determined by the Secretary), the international 
        trade opportunities and barriers, including tariffs, for the 
        continued development of advanced batteries in the United 
        States.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Congress a 
report that describes the results of the study.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,500,000.

               TITLE II--BATTERY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

              Subtitle A--Battery Research and Development

SEC. 201. ARPA-E PLUG-IN ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLE RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy 
established by section 5012(b) of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 
16538(b)) (referred to in this section as ``ARPA-E'') shall use funds 
made available under this section to fund high-risk, high-reward 
research and development programs supporting the development and 
manufacture of plug-in electric drive vehicles and charging 
infrastructure, including advanced batteries, plug-in electric drive 
components, and plug-in electric drive infrastructure.
    (b) Supplemental Funds.--Funds made available under this section 
shall used to supplement (and not supplant) funds made available for 
the Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014.

SEC. 202. ADVANCED BATTERY BREAKTHROUGH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary may make cash awards, in amounts 
determined by the Secretary, in recognition of breakthrough 
achievements in research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application of batteries that--
            (1) are able to power a plug-in electric drive vehicle 
        authorized to travel on the Federal-aid system of highways for 
        at least 500 miles before recharging;
            (2) are of a size that would not be cost-prohibitive or 
        create space constraints, if mass-produced;
            (3) are cost-effective (measured in cost per kilowatt 
        hour), if mass-produced; and
            (4) demonstrate advances in battery durability, energy 
        density, and power density;
            (5) meet other goals established by the United States 
        Advanced Battery Consortium; and
            (6) meet such additional battery specifications as the 
        Secretary determines to be necessary.
    (b) Battery Achievement Award Fund.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
        the United States a fund to be known as the ``Battery 
        Achievement Award Fund'' (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Fund''), to be administered by the Secretary, to be available 
        without fiscal year limitation and subject to appropriation, to 
        award amounts under this section.
            (2) Transfers to fund.--The Fund shall consist of such 
        amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under subsection (c).
            (3) Prohibition.--Amounts in the Fund may not be made 
        available for any purpose other than a purposes described in 
        subsection (a).
            (4) Annual reports.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                end of each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 
                2012, the Secretary shall submit a report on the 
                operation of the Fund during the fiscal year to--
                            (i) the Committees on Appropriations of the 
                        House of Representatives and of the Senate;
                            (ii) the Committee on Energy and Natural 
                        Resources of the Senate; and
                            (iii) the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
                        of the House of Representatives.
                    (B) Contents.--Each report shall include, for the 
                fiscal year covered by the report, the following:
                            (i) A statement of the amounts deposited 
                        into the Fund.
                            (ii) A description of the expenditures made 
                        from the Fund for the fiscal year, including 
                        the purpose of the expenditures.
                            (iii) Recommendations for additional 
                        authorities to fulfill the purpose of the Fund.
                            (iv) A statement of the balance remaining 
                        in the Fund at the end of the fiscal year.
            (5) Separate appropriations account.--Section 1105(a) of 
        title 31, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (35) and (36) as 
                paragraphs (36) and (37), respectively;
                    (B) by redesignating the second paragraph (33) 
                (relating to obligational authority and outlays 
                requested for homeland security) as paragraph (35); and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(38) a separate statement for the Battery Achievement 
        Award Fund established under section 202(b) of the Battery 
        Innovation Act of 2011, which shall include the estimated 
        amount of deposits into the Fund, obligations, and outlays from 
        the Fund.''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Fund such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section.

SEC. 203. ENERGY INNOVATION HUBS.

    The Secretary may establish energy innovation hubs--
            (1) to advance highly promising areas of science and 
        engineering relating to batteries throughout all applicable 
        stages, including research through providing promising 
        technology and information to the private sector; and
            (2) to foster unique, cross-disciplinary collaborations by 
        bringing together leading scientists and engineers to focus on 
        high priority technology relating to batteries.

              Subtitle B--Vehicle Research and Development

SEC. 211. PROGRAM.

    (a) Activities.--The Secretary shall conduct a program of basic and 
applied research, development, engineering, demonstration, and 
commercial application activities on materials, technologies, and 
processes with the potential to substantially reduce or eliminate 
petroleum use and the emissions of the passenger and commercial 
vehicles of the United States, 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, component, and subsystem manufacturing 
        technologies and processes;
            (5) engine efficiency and combustion optimization;
            (6) waste heat recovery;
            (7) transmission and drivetrains;
            (8) hydrogen vehicle technologies, including fuel cells and 
        internal combustion engines, and hydrogen infrastructure;
            (9) compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas 
        vehicle technologies;
            (10) aerodynamics, rolling resistance, and accessory power 
        loads of vehicles and associated equipment;
            (11) vehicle weight reduction, including lightweighting 
        materials;
            (12) friction and wear reduction;
            (13) engine and component durability;
            (14) innovative propulsion systems;
            (15) advanced boosting systems;
            (16) hydraulic hybrid technologies;
            (17) engine compatibility with and optimization for a 
        variety of transportation fuels including natural gas and other 
        liquid and gaseous fuels;
            (18) predictive engineering, modeling, and simulation of 
        vehicle and transportation systems;
            (19) refueling and charging infrastructure for alternative 
        fueled and electric or plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, 
        including the unique challenges facing rural areas;
            (20) gaseous fuels storage systems and system integration 
        and optimization;
            (21) sensing, communications, and actuation technologies 
        for vehicle, electrical grid, and infrastructure;
            (22) efficient use, substitution, and recycling of 
        potentially critical materials in vehicles, including rare 
        earth elements and precious metals, at risk of supply 
        disruption;
            (23) aftertreatment technologies;
            (24) thermal management of battery systems;
            (25) retrofitting advanced vehicle technologies to existing 
        vehicles;
            (26) development of common standards, specifications, and 
        architectures for both transportation and stationary battery 
        applications;
            (27) advanced internal combustion engines; and
            (28) other research areas as determined by the Secretary.
    (b) Transformational Technology.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
the Department continues to support research, development, engineering, 
demonstration, and commercial application 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 vehicle technologies, including fuel cells, 
        internal combustion engines, hydrogen storage, infrastructure, 
        and activities in hydrogen technology validation and safety 
        codes and standards;
            (2) multiple battery chemistries and novel energy storage 
        devices, including nonchemical batteries and electromechanical 
        storage technologies such as hydraulics, flywheels, and 
        compressed air storage;
            (3) communication, connectivity, and power flow 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, 
vocational, and transit vehicle manufacturers, qualified plug-in 
electric vehicle manufacturers, compressed natural gas and liquefied 
petroleum gas 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 companies that 
        manufacture or assemble vehicles or components in the United 
        States are represented in ongoing public private partnership 
        activities, including firms that have not traditionally 
        participated in federally sponsored research and development 
        activities, and where possible, partner with such firms that 
        conduct significant and relevant research and development 
        activities in the United States;
            (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) develop more efficient processes for transferring 
        research findings and technologies to industry;
            (4) give consideration to conversion of existing or former 
        vehicle technology development or manufacturing facilities for 
        the purposes of this Act;
            (5) establish and support public-private partnerships, 
        dedicated to overcoming barriers in commercial application of 
        transformational vehicle technologies, that utilize such 
        industry-led technology development facilities of entities with 
        demonstrated expertise in successfully designing and 
        engineering pre-commercial generations of such transformational 
        technology; and
            (6) promote efforts to ensure that technology research, 
        development, engineering, and commercial application activities 
        funded under this Act are carried out 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 the Department of Transportation and other Federal 
        agencies, as determined by the Secretary.
    (e) Coordination and Nonduplication.--In coordinating activities 
the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that 
activities do not duplicate those of other programs within the 
Department or other relevant research agencies.
    (f) 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.
    (g) 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.
    (h) Criteria.--When awarding grants under this program, the 
Secretary shall give priority to those technologies (either 
individually or as part of a system) that--
            (1) provide the greatest aggregate fuel savings based on 
        the reasonable projected sales volumes of the technology; and
            (2) provide the greatest increase in United States 
        employment.

SEC. 212. SENSING AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary 
of Transportation and the relevant research programs of other Federal 
agencies, shall conduct research, development, engineering, 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, 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 and 
        communications to provide grid services.
    (b) Coordination.--The activities carried out under this section 
shall supplement (and not supplant) activities under the intelligent 
transportation system research program of the Department of 
Transportation.

SEC. 213. MANUFACTURING.

    The Secretary shall carry out a research, development, engineering, 
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 the capability of individual manufacturing 
        facilities to accommodate different battery chemistries and 
        configurations;
            (3) reduce waste streams, emissions, and energy-intensity 
        of vehicle, engine, advanced battery 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, polymeric composites, and carbon fiber;
            (6) produce lightweight high pressure storage systems for 
        gaseous fuels;
            (7) design and manufacture purpose-built hydrogen and fuel 
        cell vehicles and components;
            (8) improve the calendar life and cycle life of advanced 
        batteries; and
            (9) produce permanent magnets for advanced vehicles.

SEC. 214. USER TESTING FACILITIES.

    Activities under this subtitle 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 and systems;
            (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 
        alternative fuels, and other advanced vehicle technologies.

SEC. 215. REPORTING.

    (a) Technologies Developed.--Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through 2017, the 
Secretary of Energy shall transmit to Congress a report regarding the 
technologies developed as a result of the activities authorized by this 
subtitle, with a particular emphasis on whether the technologies were 
successfully adopted for commercial applications, and if so, whether 
products relying on those technologies are manufactured in the United 
States.
    (b) Additional Matters.--At the end of each fiscal year through 
2017, the Secretary shall submit to the relevant Congressional 
committees of jurisdiction an annual report describing activities 
undertaken in the previous year under this subtitle, active industry 
participants, efforts to recruit new participants committed to design, 
engineering, and manufacturing of advanced vehicle technologies in the 
United States, progress of the program in meeting goals and timelines, 
and a strategic plan for funding of activities across agencies.

   Subtitle C--Medium- and Heavy-Duty Commercial and Transit Vehicles

SEC. 221. PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in partnership with relevant 
research and development programs in other Federal agencies, and a 
range of appropriate industry stakeholders, shall carry out a program 
of cooperative research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application activities on advanced technologies for medium- to heavy-
duty commercial, vocational, recreational, and transit vehicles, 
including activities in the areas of--
            (1) engine efficiency and combustion research;
            (2) onboard storage technologies for compressed natural gas 
        and liquefied petroleum gas;
            (3) development and integration of engine technologies 
        designed for compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas 
        operation of a variety of vehicle platforms;
            (4) waste heat recovery and conversion;
            (5) improved aerodynamics and tire rolling resistance;
            (6) energy and space-efficient emissions control systems;
            (7) heavy hybrid, hybrid hydraulic, plug-in hybrid, and 
        electric platforms, and energy storage technologies;
            (8) drivetrain optimization;
            (9) friction and wear reduction;
            (10) engine idle and parasitic energy loss reduction;
            (11) electrification of accessory loads;
            (12) onboard sensing and communications technologies;
            (13) advanced lightweighting materials and vehicle designs;
            (14) increasing load capacity per vehicle;
            (15) thermal management of battery systems;
            (16) recharging infrastructure;
            (17) compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas 
        infrastructure;
            (18) advanced internal combustion engines;
            (19) complete vehicle modeling and simulation;
            (20) hydrogen vehicle technologies, including fuel cells 
        and internal combustion engines, and hydrogen infrastructure;
            (21) retrofitting advanced technologies onto existing truck 
        fleets; and
            (22) 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, 
recreational, and transit vehicle technologies. Responsibilities of the 
Director shall be to--
            (1) improve coordination and develop consensus between 
        government agency and industry partners, and propose new 
        processes for program management and priority setting to better 
        align activities and budgets among partners;
            (2) regularly convene 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) develop a budget for the Department's activities with 
        regard to the interagency program, and provide consultation and 
        guidance on vehicle technology funding priorities across 
        agencies;
            (4) determine a process for reviewing program technical 
        goals, targets, and timetables and, where applicable, aided by 
        life-cycle impact and cost analysis, propose revisions or 
        elimination based on program progress, available funding, and 
        rate of technology adoption;
            (5) evaluate ongoing activities of the program and 
        recommend project modifications, including the termination of 
        projects, where applicable;
            (6) recruit 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; and
            (7) other responsibilities as determined by the Secretary, 
        in consultation with interagency and industry partners.
    (c) Reporting.--At the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Congress 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. 222. CLASS 8 TRUCK AND TRAILER SYSTEMS DEMONSTRATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a competitive grant 
program to demonstrate the integration of multiple advanced 
technologies on Class 8 truck and trailer platforms with a goal of 
improving overall freight efficiency, as measured in tons and volume of 
freight hauled or other work performance-based metrics, by 50 percent, 
including a combination of technologies listed in section 221(a).
    (b) Applicant Teams.--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. 223. TECHNOLOGY TESTING AND METRICS.

    The Secretary, in coordination with the partners of the interagency 
research program described in section 221(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) shall evaluate heavy vehicle performance using work 
        performance-based metrics other than those based on miles per 
        gallon, including those based on units of volume and 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. 224. NONROAD SYSTEMS PILOT PROGRAM.

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

              Subtitle D--Authorization of Appropriations

SEC. 231. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for United States research, development, engineering, 
demonstration, and commercial application of vehicles and related 
technologies, including activities authorized under subtitles B and C, 
such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2012 through 
2016.
    (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The activities carried out under 
this title shall be subject to the cost-sharing requirements of section 
988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352).

                    TITLE III--BATTERY MANUFACTURING

SEC. 301. ADVANCED BATTERY MANUFACTURING ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants for the 
manufacturing of advanced batteries and components, and provide 
facility funding awards, to manufacturers of advanced battery systems 
and vehicle batteries that are produced in the United States, including 
manufacturers of advanced lithium ion batteries and hybrid electrical 
systems, component manufacturers, software designers, and system design 
and vehicle integrators.
    (b) Appointment of Highly Qualified Individuals.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) through (4), 
        notwithstanding section 3304 of title 5, United States Code, 
        and without regard to sections 3309 through 3318 of that title, 
        the Secretary, on a determination that there is a severe 
        shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need for particular 
        positions, may from funds made available to carry out this 
        section, recruit and directly appoint highly qualified 
        individuals into the competitive service to carry out this 
        section.
            (2) Exceptions.--The authority provided under paragraph (1) 
        shall not apply to positions in the excepted service or the 
        Senior Executive Service.
            (3) Merit principles.--Any action authorized under 
        paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the merit principles of 
        section 2301 of title 5, United States Code.
            (4) Public notice.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall comply with the public notice requirements of 
        section 3327 of title 5, United States Code.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000,000.

          TITLE IV--ALTERNATIVE AND SECONDARY USE OF BATTERIES

SEC. 401. ALTERNATIVE AND SECONDARY USE OF BATTERIES.

    (a) Alternative and Secondary Use Applications Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a research, 
        development, and demonstration program that builds upon any 
        work carried out under section 915 of the Energy Policy Act of 
        2005 (42 U.S.C. 16195) and--
                    (A) identifies possible uses of a vehicle battery 
                after the useful life of the battery in a vehicle has 
                been exhausted;
                    (B) assesses the potential for markets for uses 
                described in subparagraph (A) to develop, as well as 
                any barriers to the development of the markets;
                    (C) identifies the infrastructure, technology, and 
                equipment needed to manage the charging activity of the 
                batteries used in stationary sources; and
                    (D) identifies the potential uses of a vehicle 
                battery--
                            (i) with the most promise for market 
                        development; and
                            (ii) for which market development would be 
                        aided by a demonstration project.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress an initial report on the 
        findings of the program described in paragraph (1), including 
        recommendations for stationary energy storage and other 
        potential applications for batteries used in plug-in electric 
        drive vehicles.
    (b) Alternative and Secondary Use Demonstration Projects.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) develop guidelines for projects that 
                demonstrate the alternative and secondary uses of 
                vehicle batteries; and
                    (B) coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to 
                demonstrate the use of batteries to provide onsite 
                power on United States military facilities.
            (2) Publication of guidelines.--Not later than 30 months 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) publish the guidelines described in paragraph 
                (1); and
                    (B) solicit applications for funding for 
                demonstration projects.
            (3) Grant program.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall select proposals 
        for grant funding under this section, based on an assessment of 
        which proposals are mostly likely to contribute to the 
        development of a secondary market for batteries.

SEC. 402. LOAN GUARANTEES FOR ADVANCED BATTERY PURCHASES FOR USE IN 
              STATIONARY APPLICATIONS.

    Subtitle B of title I of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 137. LOAN GUARANTEES FOR ADVANCED BATTERY PURCHASES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Qualified automotive battery.--The term `qualified 
        automotive battery' means a battery that--
                    ``(A) has at least 4 kilowatt hours of battery 
                capacity; and
                    ``(B) is designed for use in qualified plug-in 
                electric drive motor vehicles but is purchased for 
                nonautomotive applications.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) an original equipment manufacturer;
                    ``(B) an electric utility;
                    ``(C) any provider of range extension 
                infrastructure; or
                    ``(D) any other qualified entity, as determined by 
                the Secretary.
    ``(b) Loan Guarantees.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall guarantee loans made 
        to eligible entities for the aggregate purchase of not less 
        than 200 qualified automotive batteries in a calendar year that 
        have a total minimum power rating of 1 megawatt and use 
        advanced battery technology.
            ``(2) Restriction.--As a condition of receiving a loan 
        guarantee under this section, an entity purchasing qualified 
        automotive batteries with loan funds guaranteed under this 
        section shall comply with the provisions of the Buy American 
        Act (41 U.S.C. 10a et seq.).
    ``(c) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations 
as are necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000.''.
                                 <all>