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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 2512. Studies
(a) Bias of surface transportation systems; submission of report
The Secretary of Energy shall conduct a study to determine the
existence of any tax, regulatory, traffic, urban design, rural
electrical, or other institutional factor which tends or may tend
to bias surface transportation systems toward vehicles of
particular characteristics. The Secretary of Energy shall submit a
report to the Congress on the findings and conclusions of such
study, within 1 year after September 17, 1976. The report shall
include any legislative or other recommendations of the Secretary
of Energy.
(b) Material demand and pollution effect; impact statement
The Secretary of Energy shall conduct a continuing assessment of
the long-range material demand and pollution effects which may
result from or in connection with the electrification of urban
traffic. Such assessment shall include a statement of the Secretary
of Energy's current findings in each report submitted under section
2513 (!1) of this title. Any environmental impact statement which
may be filed under a Federal law with respect to research,
development, or demonstration activities under this chapter shall
include reference to the matters which are subject to assessment
under this subsection.
(c) Incentives to encourage utilization; inclusion of electric
vehicles in calculation of average fuel economy; evaluation
program; annual report; final report and recommendations to
Congress on January 1, 1987
The Secretary of Energy shall perform, or cause to be performed,
studies and research on incentives to promote broader utilization
and consumer acceptance of electric and hybrid vehicle
technologies. A description and a statement of the findings of such
studies and research activities shall be included in each report
submitted under section 2513 (!1) of this title.
(1) The Secretary of Energy in consultation with the Secretary
of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency is authorized and directed to conduct a
seven-year evaluation program of the inclusion of electric
vehicles, as defined in section 512(b)(2) (!1) of the Motor
Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 2012(b)(2)),
in the calculation of average fuel economy pursuant to section
32904(a)(1) of title 49 to determine the value and implications
of such inclusion as an incentive for the early initiation of
industrial engineering development and initial commercialization
of electric vehicles in the United States. The evaluation program
shall be conducted in parallel with the research and development
activities of section 2505 of this title and demonstration
activities of section 2506 of this title to provide all necessary
information no later than January 1, 1987, for the private sector
and Federal, State and local officials to make required decisions
for the full commercialization of electric vehicles in the United
States.
(2) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency,
in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of
Transportation, shall implement immediately the evaluation
program by promulgating, within sixty days of January 7, 1980,
regulations to include electric vehicles in average fuel economy
calculations under section 32904(a)(1) of title 49.
(3) The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary
of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, shall include a full discussion of this
evaluation program in the annual report required by section 2513
(!1) of this title in each year after promulgation of the
regulations under paragraph (2). The Secretary of Energy, in
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall
submit to the Congress on January 1, 1987, a final report on the
results of the evaluation program and any recommendations
regarding the continued inclusion of electric vehicles in the
average fuel economy calculations under part C of subtitle VI of
title 49.
(d) Safety standards and regulations
The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study of the
current and future applicability of safety standards and
regulations to electric and hybrid vehicles. The Secretary of
Transportation shall report the results of such study to the
Secretary of Energy and the Congress within 1 year after September
17, 1976.
(e) Regenerative braking systems
The Secretary of Energy shall conduct a study to determine the
overall effectiveness and feasibility of including regenerative
braking systems on electric and other automobiles in order to
recover energy. In such study the Secretary of Energy shall -
(1) review the history of regenerative braking devices;
(2) describe relevant experimental test data and theoretical
calculations with respect to such devices;
(3) assess the net energy impacts and cost effectiveness of
such devices;
(4) examine present patents and patent policy regarding such
devices; and
(5) determine whether regenerative braking should be used on
some of the advanced electric or hybrid vehicles to be purchased
or leased pursuant to section 2506(c)(2) of this title.
The Secretary of Energy shall submit a report to the Congress on
the findings and conclusions of such study within 1 year after
September 17, 1976.
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