§ 2501. — Congressional findings and policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC2501]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 52--ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND
DEMONSTRATION
Sec. 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.
(Pub. L. 94-413, Sec. 2, Sept. 17, 1976, 90 Stat. 1260.)
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 94-413 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this
chapter and amending sections 2451 and 2473 of Title 42, The Public
Health and Welfare] may be cited as the `Electric and Hybrid Vehicle
Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976'.''
