US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

15 U.S.C. § 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 . The report shall include any legislative or other recommendations of the Secretary of Energy.

(b)

Material demand and pollution effect; impact statement

1

1 See References in Text note below.
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  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

1The 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  of this title.
(1)
115 U.S.C. 2012(b)(2)section 32904(a)(1) of title 49section 2505 of this titlesection 2506 of this title 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)  of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (), in the calculation of average fuel economy pursuant to 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 and demonstration activities of to provide all necessary information no later than , 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)
section 32904(a)(1) of title 49 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 , regulations to include electric vehicles in average fuel economy calculations under .
(3)
1 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  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 , 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 .

(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)
section 2506(c)(2) of this title determine whether regenerative braking should be used on some of the advanced electric or hybrid vehicles to be purchased or leased pursuant to .
The Secretary of Energy shall submit a report to the Congress on the findings and conclusions of such study within 1 year after .

Pub. L. 94–413, § 1390 Stat. 1269Pub. L. 95–91, title III, § 301(a)91 Stat. 577Pub. L. 96–185, § 1893 Stat. 1336(, , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 2513 of this titlePub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1051o109 Stat. 717, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c), was repealed by (), , .

15 U.S.C. 2012(b)(2)Pub. L. 103–272, § 7(b)108 Stat. 1379Section 512(b)(2) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (), referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was repealed by , , , the first section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation.

Codification

section 32904(a)(1) of title 4915 U.S.C. 2003(a)(1)15 U.S.C. 1901Pub. L. 103–272, § 6(b)108 Stat. 1378Pub. L. 103–429, § 10(b)108 Stat. 4391In subsec. (c), “” substituted for “section 503(a)(1) and (2) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act ( 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 [ et seq.]” on authority of , , , the first section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation, and on authority of , , , section 6(43)(B) of which enacted section 32918 as part of part C of subtitle VI of Title 49.

Pub. L. 96–185section 18 of Pub. L. 96–185, 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 as the probable intent of Congress in view of the fact that enacted subsec. (c)(1) to (3) of this section.

Pub. L. 96–185section 2003 of this titleA part of par. (2) of section 2512(c) of the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976, as added by , 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 and the indicated amendment has been executed to the text of that section as directed.

section 2502 of this titleIn subsec. (d), “Secretary of Transportation” substituted for “Secretary” in two places for clarity, see Codification note set out under .

Amendments

Pub. L. 96–1851980—Subsec. (c)(1) to (3). added pars. (1) to (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

section 301(a) of Pub. L. 95–91section 2502 of this title“Secretary of Energy” substituted for “Administrator” in subsecs. (a), (b), (d), and (e) pursuant to , see Codification note set out under .

Electric Vehicles

Pub. L. 100–494, § 7102 Stat. 2452Pub. L. 103–272, § 7(b)108 Stat. 1379, , , 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 , , .