[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 3618. A bi11 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; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Heavy Duty 
Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act, along with 
my colleague from California, Senator Feinstein. This bill will 
accelerate research of plug-in hybrid technologies for heavy duty 
trucks.
  The Department of Energy, DOE, administers several grants to speed 
production of hybrid cars, but DOE does not have a single grant 
specifically intended for trucks. Truck operators in Maine and around 
the country are being hit hard by high diesel prices. In 1999, a Maine 
truck driver could purchase $500 of diesel fuel and drive from Augusta, 
ME, all the way to Albuquerque, NM. Today, a driver who purchases $500 
of diesel and leaves Augusta would not even make it to Altoona, PA, and 
because diesel prices may well continue to increase, the problem is 
only getting worse. Plug-in hybrid trucks would make them less 
susceptible to dramatic swings in oil prices.
  Industries turn their trucks over faster than consumers do their cars 
and can therefore adopt new technologies faster. This means reducing 
oil consumption by heavy duty trucks could go a long way toward reduce 
our Nation's oil consumption. DOE's National Renewable Energy 
Laboratory estimates that hybrid trucks could reduce fuel use by as 
much as 60 percent.
  Current hybrid technology works well for cars because they can be 
made with lightweight materials and run shorter distances. Trucks need 
to be able to carry heavy loads and, if they are going to be plug-in 
hybrids, travel long distances in between charges. So, the battery and 
other technologies needed to make plug-in trucks a reality are more 
advanced than for cars.
  The Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and 
Demonstration Act would direct DOE to expand its research in advanced 
energy storage technologies to include heavy hybrid trucks as well as 
passenger vehicles. The focus on plug-ins builds on a proven technology 
for cars that can drastically reduce our use of foreign oil and enhance 
the efficiency of the electric grid.
  Grant recipients will be required to complete two phases. In phase 
one, recipients must build one plug-in hybrid truck, collect data and 
make comparisons to traditional trucks, and report on the fuel savings. 
In phase two, recipients must produce 50 plug-in hybrid trucks and 
report on the technological and market obstacles to widespread 
production. To help with this second phase, grant applicants can 
partner with other manufacturers. The bill authorizes $16 million for 
each of fiscal years 2009-2011 for the grant program.
  We need a comprehensive approach to addressing the energy crisis. The 
Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act 
is one vital piece of that approach. I urge my colleagues to support 
this important legislation.
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