Promoting Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles Act of 2010
Key claim: A 2010 House bill would have created Department of Energy rebates, grants, and loans to convert vehicles to natural gas and to deploy plug-in electric cars and charging infrastructure, but it was only referred to committee.
Abstract
(HR6402 · 111th Congress) Promoting Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles Act of 2010 - Establishes within the Department of Energy (DOE) a Natural Gas Vehicle and Infrastructure Development Program. Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish: (1) a rebate program for owners who convert or repower a conventionally fueled vehicle to a vehicle that operates on compressed or liquefied natural gas or to a mixed-fuel vehicle or a bi-fuel vehicle; (2) an infrastructure deployment program and a manufacturing development program to provide grants for installing natural gas refueling property and developing engines with reduced emissions, improved performance, and lower cost; and (3) a direct loan program to provide loans to manufacturers for the cost of reequipping, expanding, or establishing a facility that will be used for producing new alternative fuel motor vehicles or vehicle components. Establishes within DOE a national plug-in electric drive vehicle deployment program. Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) provide technical assistance to state, local, and tribal governments to create deployment programs for such vehicles; (2) make available to the public information regarding the cost, performance, usage data, and technical data regarding such vehicles and associated infrastructure; (3) carry out a national assessment and develop a national deployment plan; and (4) award grants for preparing a community deployment plan and for implementing programs that support such deployment. Directs the Secretary to develop and publish guidance for: (1) model building codes for charging infrastructure in new construction and major renovations of private residences, buildings, or other structures; (2) model construction permitting or inspection processes that allow for the expedited installation of charging infrastructure for purchasers of plug-in electric drive vehicles; and (3) model zoning, parking rules, or other local ordinances that facilitate the installation of, and allow for access to, publicly av Latest action (2010-11-15): Referred to House Budget
Why this matters
The 2010 bill is an early example of the recurring congressional pattern of trying to jump-start alternative-fuel vehicle deployment through DOE-administered rebates, grants, and loans rather than mandates. Because it never left committee, none of the proposed natural gas conversion or EV/charging infrastructure programs came into effect, but the design foreshadows later enacted subsidies for EV charging under IIJA and DOE loan programs.