Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 1.djvu/1310

 90 STAT. 1260

PUBLIC LAW 94-413—SEPT. 17, 1976

Public Law 9 4 - 4 1 3 94th Congress

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An Act Sept. lY, L\fio [H.R. 8800]

rj^Q authorize in the Energy Research and Development Administration a Federal program of research, development, and demonstration designed to promote electric vehicle technologies and to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of electric vehicles.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, ^nd Demonstration Act of 1976."

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development,

and Demonstration ^^*TNr^\m 15 USC 2501

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SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND POLICY. (a) The Congress finds and declares that— (^^ ^^® 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 gasolinepowered 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 M'ould 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,

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