§ 2512. — Studies.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC2512]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 52--ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND
DEMONSTRATION
Sec. 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.
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\1\ See References in Text note below.
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(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.
(Pub. L. 94-413, Sec. 13, Sept. 17, 1976, 90 Stat. 1269; Pub. L. 95-91,
title III, Sec. 301(a), Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 577; Pub. L. 96-185,
Sec. 18, Jan. 7, 1980, 93 Stat. 1336.)
References in Text
Section 2513 of this title, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c), was
repealed by Pub. L. 104-66, title I, Sec. 1051(o), Dec. 21, 1995, 109
Stat. 717.
Section 512(b)(2) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings
Act (15 U.S.C. 2012(b)(2)), referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was repealed
by Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 7(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1379, the first
section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49,
Transportation.
Codification
In subsec. (c), ``section 32904(a)(1) of title 49'' substituted for
``section 503(a)(1) and (2) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost
Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 2003(a)(1) and (2))'' and ``section 503(a)(1) and
(2) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act'', and ``part
C of subtitle VI of title 49'' substituted for ``the Motor Vehicle
Information and Cost Savings Act [15 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.]'' on authority
of Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 6(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1378, the first
section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49,
Transportation, and on authority of Pub. L. 103-429, Sec. 10(b), Oct.
31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4391, section 6(43)(B) of which enacted section
32918 as part of part C of subtitle VI of Title 49.
January 7, 1980, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), was in the original
``enactment of the Act'' which has been translated as meaning the date
of enactment of Pub. L. 96-185 as the probable intent of Congress in
view of the fact that section 18 of Pub. L. 96-185 enacted subsec.
(c)(1) to (3) of this section.
A part of par. (2) of section 2512(c) of the Electric and Hybrid
Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976, as added
by Pub. L. 96-185, has not been included in the text of subsec. (c)(2)
of this section. The omitted provision consists of directory language
for an amendment of section 2003 of this title and the indicated
amendment has been executed to the text of that section as directed.
In subsec. (d), ``Secretary of Transportation'' substituted for
``Secretary'' in two places for clarity, see Codification note set out
under section 2502 of this title.
Amendments
1980--Subsec. (c)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 96-185 added pars. (1) to (3).
Transfer of Functions
``Secretary of Energy'' substituted for ``Administrator'' in
subsecs. (a), (b), (d), and (e) pursuant to section 301(a) of Pub. L.
95-91, see Codification note set out under section 2502 of this title.
Electric Vehicles
Pub. L. 100-494, Sec. 7, Oct. 14, 1988, 102 Stat. 2452, directed
Secretary of Transportation to study whether regulations should be
amended or promulgated to stimulate production and introduction of
electric and solar-powered vehicles into commerce and to report to
Congress on results of study, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103-272,
Sec. 7(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1379.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 2503 of this title.
