Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 134— - ENERGY POLICY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - ALTERNATIVE FUELS—GENERAL › § 13211
Defines the main words used for rules about alternative fuels, vehicles, fleets, and fuel suppliers. Administrator — the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Alternative fuel — fuels like methanol, denatured ethanol, other alcohols, mixtures that are at least 85% alcohol by volume (or another percentage not less than 70% set by the Secretary for cold-start or safety reasons), natural gas (and liquids made from it), liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, coal-derived liquid fuels, non-alcohol fuels made from biological materials, electricity (including solar), and any other fuel the Secretary decides is largely not petroleum and gives big energy security and environmental benefits. Alternative fueled vehicle — a dedicated or dual-fuel vehicle; also includes new qualified fuel cell, new advanced lean-burn, new qualified hybrid vehicles, and any other vehicle the EPA shows would cut petroleum use a lot. Comparable conventionally fueled motor vehicle — a commercially available gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicle with similar passenger or cargo capacity. Covered person — someone who owns or controls a fleet with at least 20 centrally fueled vehicles used mainly in a metro area that had a 1980 population of 250,000 or more, and who has at least 50 vehicles in the United States. Dedicated vehicle — a vehicle that runs only on alternative fuel (including automobiles as defined in federal motor vehicle law). Domestic — made from resources in U.S. states, territories, the outer continental shelf, or from a country that has a free trade agreement requiring national treatment. Dual fueled vehicle — a vehicle that can run on an alternative fuel and also on gasoline or diesel. Fleet — a group of 20 or more light-duty vehicles used mainly in a metro area with a 1980 population of more than 250,000, centrally fueled or able to be centrally fueled, and owned or controlled by a government or a person who controls 50 or more such vehicles; excludes rental or dealer vehicles, manufacturer test vehicles, law enforcement and certain emergency vehicles, military vehicles certified by the Secretary of Defense for exemption, nonroad vehicles like farm or construction equipment, and vehicles normally garaged at a personal residence at night. Fuel supplier — anyone who imports, refines, or processes crude oil to make motor fuel; or imports, produces, stores, transports, distributes, or sells motor fuel; or generates, transmits, imports, or sells electricity. Light duty motor vehicle — a light-duty truck or vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than or equal to 8,500 pounds. Motor fuel — any substance suitable to fuel a motor vehicle. Motor vehicle — has the meaning given in federal motor vehicle law. Replacement fuel — the part of any motor fuel that is made up of the listed alternative fuels (alcohols, natural gas, LPG, hydrogen, coal-derived liquids, non-alcohol biofuels, electricity including solar, ethers, or other fuels the Secretary decides are largely not petroleum and give energy security and environmental benefits).
Full Legal Text
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 13211
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73