TABLE 5-1: Key Legislation Affecting Automotive Research and DevelopmentPublic law
Title number Major provisions Comments
Clean Air Act PL 89-675 Provides Department of Housing, Education, and Legislative history emphasizes that a balanced research program is to be
Amendments of Welfare (HEW) funding to support the followed regarding automobile-related air pollution, including supporting
1966 development of technologies to assist in improving research to develop cleaner internal combustion engine-powered vehicles and
air quality. the development of electric vehicles.
Clean Air Act PL 91-604 Provides the secretary of HEW with the authority Directs the secretary to test, as he deems appropriate, any new motor vehicle
Amendments of to set and enforce national air quality standards, or engine as it comes off the assembly line to determine whether it conforms
1970 including for automotive emission control, motor to applicable standards, and to conduct R&D activities with respect to low-
vehicle testing and certifications, and for cost instrumentation techniques to facilitate the measuring of automotive
automotive and other fuels emissions.
Energy PL 93-48 Gives Energy Research and Development Agency Responsibility for this was transferred to DOE under the Department of
Reorganization (ERDA) responsibility for accelerating the Energy Reorganization Act of 1977, PL 95-91.
Act of 1974 commercialization of electric and hybrid vehicles.
Non-Nuclear PL 93-577 instructs ERDA in Sec. 6.(3)(A)(iii) to advance ERDA initiated a near-term Electric Vehicle Program.
Energy R&D energy conservation technologies in the near term
Act of 1974 through “improvements in automobile design for
increased efficiency and lowered emissions,
including investigation of the full range of
alternatives to the internal combustion engine.. .“
Electric and PL 94-413 Authorizes Department of Energy (DOE) to, inter Launched DOE’s Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Program. Subsequently
Hybrid Vehicles alia, “encourage and support accelerated research amended by PL 95-238.
Research, into, and development of, electric and hybrid
Development vehicle technologies. ”
and
Demonstration
Act of 1976
Department of PL 95-238 Directs the Department of Energy to undertake Amended PL 94A13. Launched DOE’s Automotive Technology
Energy Act of research and development of new automotive Development Program, which currently consists of two major engine-related
1978 --Civil propulsion systems to achieve improved fuel projects: (1) the Advanced Turbine Technology Applications Project and (2)
Applications. economy, which can be adapted to various the Heavy-Duty Transport Project. [n addition, basic ceramic materials and
alternative fuels. alternative fuels technologies for all engine projects are being developed
under the Advanced Materials Development Project and the Alternative Fuels
Utilization Program.