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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 2501. Congressional findings and policy
(a) The Congress finds and declares that -
(1) the Nation's dependence on foreign sources of petroleum
must be reduced, as such dependence jeopardizes national
security, inhibits foreign policy, and undermines economic
well-being;
(2) the Nation's balance of payments is threatened by the need
to import oil for the production of liquid fuel for
gasoline-powered vehicles;
(3) the single largest use of petroleum supplies is in the
field of transportation, for gasoline- and diesel-powered motor
vehicles;
(4) the expeditious introduction of electric and hybrid
vehicles into the Nation's transportation fleet would
substantially reduce such use and dependence;
(5) such introduction is practicable and would be advantageous
because -
(A) most urban driving consists of short trips, which are
within the capability of electric and hybrid vehicles;
(B) much rural and agricultural driving of automobiles,
tractors, and trucks is within the capability of such vehicles;
(C) electric and hybrid vehicles are more reliable and
practical now than in the past because propulsion, control, and
battery technologies have improved, and further significant
improvements in such technologies are possible in the near
term;
(D) electric and hybrid vehicles use little or no energy when
stopped in traffic, in contrast to conventional automobiles and
trucks;
(E) the power requirements of such vehicles could be
satisfied by charging them during off-peak periods when
existing electric generating plants are underutilized, thereby
permitting more efficient use of existing generating capacity;
(F) such vehicles do not emit any significant pollutants or
noise; and
(G) it is environmentally desirable for transportation
systems to be powered from central sources, because pollutants
emitted from stationary sources (such as electric generating
plants) are potentially easier to control than pollutants
emitted from moving vehicles; and
(6) the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles would be
facilitated by the establishment of a Federal program of
research, development, and demonstration to explore electric and
hybrid vehicle technologies.
(b) It is therefore declared to be the policy of the Congress in
this chapter to -
(1) encourage and support accelerated research into, and
development of, electric and hybrid vehicle technologies;
(2) demonstrate the economic and technological practicability
of electric and hybrid vehicles for personal and commercial use
in urban areas and for agricultural and personal use in rural
areas;
(3) facilitate, and remove barriers to, the use of electric and
hybrid vehicles in lieu of gasoline- and diesel-powered motor
vehicles, where practicable; and
(4) promote the substitution of electric and hybrid vehicles
for many gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles currently used in
routine short-haul, low-load applications, where such
substitution would be beneficial.
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