Part A—Electric Motor Vehicle Commercial Demonstration Program

§13281. Program and solicitation

(a) Program

The Secretary shall conduct a program to demonstrate electric motor vehicles and the associated equipment of such vehicles, in consultation with the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Program Site Operators, manufacturers, the electric utility industry, and such other persons as the Secretary considers appropriate. Such program shall be—

(1) designed to accelerate the development and use of electric motor vehicles; and

(2) structured to evaluate the performance of such electric motor vehicles in field operation, including fleet operation, and evaluate the necessary supporting infrastructure.

(b) Solicitation

(1) Not later than 18 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall solicit proposals to demonstrate electric motor vehicles and associated equipment in one or more eligible metropolitan areas. The Secretary may make additional solicitations for proposals if the Secretary determines that such solicitations are necessary to carry out this part.

(2)(A) Solicitations for proposals under this subsection shall require the proposer to include a description, including the manufacturer or manufacturers of the electric motor vehicles; the proposed users of the electric motor vehicles; the eligible metropolitan area or areas involved; the number of electric motor vehicles to be demonstrated and their type, characteristics, and life-cycle costs; the price differential; the proposed discount payment; the contributions of State or local governments and other persons to the demonstration project; the type of associated equipment to be demonstrated; the domestic content of the electric motor vehicles and associated equipment; and any other information the Secretary considers appropriate.

(B) If the proposal includes a lease arrangement, the proposal shall indicate the terms of such lease arrangement for the electric motor vehicles or associated equipment.

(3) The solicitation for proposals under this subsection shall establish a closing date for receipt of proposals. The Secretary may, if necessary, extend the closing date for receipt of proposals for a period not to exceed 90 days.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title VI, §611, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2900.)

§13282. Selection of proposals

(a) Selection

(1) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall, not later than 120 days after the closing date, as established by the Secretary, for receipt of proposals under section 13281 of this title, select at least one, but not more than 10, proposals to receive financial assistance under section 13283 of this title.

(2) The Secretary may select more than 10 proposals under this section, if the Secretary determines that the total amount of available funds is not likely to be otherwise utilized.

(3) Any proposal selected under paragraph (1) must satisfy the limitations set forth in section 13283(c) of this title.

(4) No one project selected under this section shall receive more than 25 percent of the funds authorized under section 13286 of this title.

(5) A demonstration project may not include electric motor vehicles in more than one eligible metropolitan area, unless the total number of electric motor vehicles in that project is equal to, or greater than, 100.

(b) Criteria

In selecting a proposal and in negotiating financial assistance under this section, the Secretary shall consider—

(1) the ability of the manufacturer, directly, indirectly, or in combination with the proposer, to develop, assist in the demonstration of, manufacture, distribute, sell, provide warranties for, service, and ensure the continued availability of parts for, electric motor vehicles in the demonstration project;

(2) the geographic and climatic diversity of the eligible metropolitan area or areas in which the demonstration project is to be undertaken, when considered in combination with other proposals and other selected demonstration projects;

(3) the long-term technical and competitive viability of the electric motor vehicles;

(4) the suitability of the electric motor vehicles for their intended uses;

(5) the environmental effects of the use of the proposed electric motor vehicles;

(6) the price differential and the proposed discount payment;

(7) the extent of involvement of State or local government and other persons in the demonstration project, and whether such involvement will—

(A) permit a reduction of the Federal cost share per vehicle; or

(B) otherwise be used to allow the Federal contribution to be provided for a greater number of electric motor vehicles;

(8) the proportion of domestic content of the electric motor vehicles and associated equipment;

(9) the safety of the electric motor vehicles; and

(10) such other criteria as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(c) Conditions

The Secretary shall require that—

(1) as a part of a demonstration project, the user or users of the electric motor vehicles will provide to the proposer and the manufacturer information regarding the operation, maintenance, performance, and use of the electric motor vehicles for 5 years after the beginning of the demonstration project;

(2) the proposer shall provide to the Secretary such information regarding the operation, maintenance, performance, and use of the electric motor vehicles as the Secretary may request during the period of the demonstration project;

(3) in the case of a demonstration project including automobiles or light duty trucks, the number of electric motor vehicles to be included in the demonstration project shall be no less than 50, except that the Secretary may select a demonstration project with fewer than 50 electric motor vehicles if the Secretary determines that selection of such a proposal will ensure that there is geographic or climatic diversity among the proposals selected and that an adequate demonstration to accelerate the development and use of electric motor vehicles can be undertaken with fewer than 50 electric motor vehicles; and

(4) the procurement practices of the manufacturer do not discriminate against United States producers of vehicle parts.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title VI, §612, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2901.)

§13283. Discount payments

(a) Certification

The Secretary shall provide a discount payment to a proposer of a proposal selected under this part for purposes of reimbursing the proposer for a discount provided to the users if the proposer certifies to the Secretary that—

(1) the electric motor vehicles have been purchased or leased by a user or users in accordance with the requirements of this part; and

(2) the proposer has provided to the user or users a discount payment in accordance with the requirements of this part.

(b) Payment

Not later than 30 days after receipt from the proposer of certification that the Secretary determines satisfies the requirements of subsection (a), the Secretary shall pay to the proposer the full amount of the discount payment, to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

(c) Calculations of discount payments

(1) The discount payment shall be no greater than—

(A) the price differential; or

(B) the price of the comparable conventionally fueled motor vehicle.

(2) The purchase price of the electric motor vehicle, less the discount payment and less any additional reduction in the purchase price of the electric motor vehicle that may result from contributions provided by other parties, may not be less than the manufacturer's suggested retail price of a comparable conventionally fueled motor vehicle.

(3) The maximum discount payment shall be no greater than $10,000 per electric motor vehicle.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title VI, §613, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2902.)

§13284. Cost-sharing

(a) Requirement

The Secretary shall require at least 50 percent of the costs directly and specifically related to any project under this part to be from non-Federal sources. Such share may be in the form of cash, personnel, services, equipment, and other resources.

(b) Reduction

The Secretary may reduce the amount of costs required to be provided by non-Federal sources under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that the reduction is necessary and appropriate—

(1) considering the technological risks involved in the project; and

(2) in order to meet the objectives of this part.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title VI, §614, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2903.)

§13285. Reports to Congress

(a) Progress reports

The Secretary shall report annually to Congress on the progress being made, through demonstration projects supported under this part, to accelerate the development and use of electric motor vehicles.

(b) Report on encouraging purchase and use of electric motor vehicles

Within 18 months after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on methods for encouraging the purchase and use of electric motor vehicles. Such report shall—

(1) address the potential cost of purchasing and maintaining electric motor vehicles, including the initial cost of the batteries and the cost of replacement batteries;

(2) identify methods for reducing, subsidizing, or sharing such costs; and

(3) include recommendations for legislative and administrative measures to encourage the purchase and use of electric motor vehicles.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title VI, §615, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2903.)

§13286. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for purposes of this part $50,000,000 for the 10-year period beginning with the first full fiscal year after October 24, 1992, to remain available until expended.

(Pub. L. 102–486, title VI, §616, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2903.)