[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2493 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2493
To amend chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, to ensure that
new vehicles enable fuel competition so as to reduce the strategic
importance of oil to the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2013
Mr. Engel (for himself, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Israel, Mr. Cole, Ms.
Bordallo, Ms. Schwartz, and Mr. Peterson) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, to ensure that
new vehicles enable fuel competition so as to reduce the strategic
importance of oil to the United States.
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 ``Open Fuel Standard Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. OPEN FUEL STANDARD FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.
Chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after section 32905 the following new section:
``Sec. 32905A. Open fuel standard for motor vehicles.
``(a) Requirements.--Except as provided in subsection (c), each
manufacturer's fleet of covered vehicles for a particular model year
shall be comprised of--
``(1) not less than 30 percent qualified vehicles beginning
in model year 2016; and
``(2) not less than 50 percent qualified vehicles beginning
in model year 2017 and each subsequent year.
``(b) Additional Definitions.--As used in this section--
``(1) the term `covered vehicle' means a passenger
automobile, and includes a light-duty motor vehicle;
``(2) the term `qualified vehicle' means covered vehicle
that--
``(A) has been warranted by its manufacturer to
operate on natural gas, hydrogen, or biodiesel;
``(B) is a flexible fuel vehicle;
``(C) is a plug-in electric drive vehicle;
``(D) is propelled solely by fuel cell that
produces power without the use of petroleum or a
petroleum-based fuel; or
``(E) is propelled solely by something other than
an internal combustion engine, and produces power
without the use of petroleum or a petroleum-based fuel;
``(3) the term `flexible fuel vehicle' means a vehicle that
has been warranted by its manufacturer to operate on gasoline,
E85, and M85;
``(4) the term `E85' means a fuel mixture containing up to
85 percent ethanol and meets the standards of ASTM D5798;
``(5) the term `M85' means a fuel mixture containing up to
85 percent methanol and meets the standards of ASTM D5797;
``(6) the term `biodiesel' means diesel fuel which has been
produced from a non-petroleum feedstock and which meets the
standards of ASTM D6751-03;
``(7) the term `plug-in electric drive vehicle' has the
meaning given such term in section 508(a)(5) of the Energy
Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13258(a)(5)); and
``(8) the term `light-duty motor vehicle' means a light-
duty truck or light-duty vehicle as such terms are defined in
section 216(7) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7550(7)) of less
than or equal to 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating.
``(c) Temporary Exemption From Requirements.--
``(1) Application.--A manufacturer may request an exemption
from the requirement described in subsection (a) by submitting
an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may require by
regulation. Each such application shall specify the models,
lines, and types of automobiles affected.
``(2) Evaluation.--After evaluating an application received
from a manufacturer, the Secretary may at any time, under such
terms and conditions, and to such extent as the Secretary
considers appropriate, temporarily exempt, or renew the
exemption of, a light-duty motor-vehicle from the requirement
described in subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that
unavoidable events not under the control of the manufacturer
prevent the manufacturer of such automobile from meeting its
required production volume of qualified automobiles,
including--
``(A) a disruption in the supply of any component
required for compliance with the regulations; or
``(B) a disruption in the use and installation by
the manufacturer of such component.
``(3) Consolidation.--The Secretary may consolidate
applications received from multiple manufacturers under
subparagraph (A) if they are of a similar nature.
``(4) Conditions.--Any exemption granted under paragraph
(2) shall be conditioned upon the manufacturer's commitment to
recall the exempted automobiles for installation of the omitted
components within a reasonable time proposed by the
manufacturer and approved by the Secretary after such
components become available in sufficient quantities to satisfy
both anticipated production and recall volume requirements.
``(5) Notice.--The Secretary shall publish in the Federal
Register--
``(A) notice of each application received from a
manufacturer;
``(B) notice of each decision to grant or deny a
temporary exemption; and
``(C) the reasons for granting or denying such
exemptions.
``(d) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations as
necessary to carry out this section.''.
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