House Passes Legislation to Fund Research on Technology for Alternative-Energy Vehicles
This story appears in the Sept. 21 print edition of Transport Topics.
The House passed legislation last week authorizing $2.85 billion for the development of electric and hybrid technologies that can be used to create alternative-energy vehicles.
The bill, which passed Sept. 16 by a vote of 312-114, authorizes at least $550 million in annual spending, beginning in fiscal 2010, with increases of $10 million a year through 2014. Most of that spending will be directed to passenger car research, but some will go toward funding efforts to develop heavy-duty vehicles.
“We’re trying to save millions of gallons of gasoline and diesel every year and create thousands and thousands of jobs,” said Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.).
Championed by Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), the bill requires the federal government to create a research program for advanced technology for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, including the appointment of a full-time director to oversee federal research.
“Other nations are investing heavily in these technologies, and we cannot afford to be left behind,” Peters said.
A number of industry groups, including American Trucking Associations, support the bill.
“This is a good initial step, and frankly, more needs to be done,” ATA Senior Vice President Tim Lynch told Transport Topics.
Bob McKenna, president of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, said the bill was “particularly important for suppliers.”
“Suppliers who partner with [the Department of Energy] will be able to leverage the federal re-search funding into components and systems that will be necessary for future cutting-edge vehicles,” he said. “The investments made by this legislation will help a wide range of suppliers who are already working on advances for safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles.”
Keith McCoy, vice president of energy and resources policy of the National Association of Manufacturers, said the bill, which now goes to the Senate, “will give our transportation sector a boost at a difficult time and assure our leadership in energy-efficient transportation of the future.”
“This legislation will create high-paying manufacturing jobs and create opportunities for universities to get involved in the research necessary to make important advances in clean energy,” he said.
Opponents of the bill said they were worried about the cost.
Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) at-tempted to trim some of the authorized spending, but his amendment was defeated.
“Simply throwing money at a problem is never a solution,” Broun said.
In addition to the heavy-duty vehicle provisions, the bill orders DOE to conduct research in the area of battery and storage devices, hybrid technology, electrification and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as vehicle communication systems and infrastructure.
