| May 27, 2010 |  |
Two New Electric Vehicle Bills Introduced in Congress
WASHINGTON (May 27, 2010) — Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) today introduced the Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010, while Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) today introduced a companion bill, the Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010. These bills would help reduce U.S. oil dependence by funding programs to put hundreds of thousands of electric drive cars and trucks on the road over the next five years, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
The bipartisan bills would establish new funding to support efforts in five communities to work with industry, electric utilities and other organizations to deploy electric drive vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles. The House version included additional support for fuel cell electric vehicles. The bills would help establish and expand recharging infrastructure for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. They do not expand support for hydrogen refueling infrastructure, however. The bills would augment funding currently available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and energy bills passed in 2005 and 2007.
Below is a statement by David Friedman, research director of UCS's Clean Vehicles program:
"Electrifying our cars and trucks in the coming decades will be a key part the broad strategy needed to cure our oil addiction. It's gratifying to see lawmakers on both sides of the aisle working together on a smart, sensible policy. The oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is just the latest reminder that we desperately need to end our addiction to oil. It threatens our economy, our national security, and our environment.
"These bills would move electric drive technologies into the fast lane. They would boost funds for producing, buying and selling electric drive vehicles and electric recharging infrastructure and help overcome some of the other barriers to electric drive vehicles, such as outdated codes, standards and zoning requirements. By requiring a comprehensive plan from each community that applies for funding, these bills would ensure that an electric drive vehicle future is built from the ground up.
"These bills are important contributions to the debate over comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation. A bill that resolves differences between the House and Senate language should be integrated into broader climate, energy and oil saving efforts in a way that guarantees long-term funding for this ambitious and essential program. The bills should be updated to ensure that they provide a level playing field for all electric drive vehicles and the necessary infrastructure to recharge and refuel them, including hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicle technology."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
