§13282 Selection of proposals

Summary

The Secretary must, after working with the Transportation Secretary, the Commerce Secretary, and the EPA Administrator, pick at least 1 and up to 10 proposals for financial help within 120 days after the proposal deadline. The Secretary can pick more than 10 only if there is extra money that would otherwise go unused. Each chosen proposal must follow the program’s funding limits. No single project can get more than 25% of the authorized funds. A project may span more than one metropolitan area only if it includes at least 100 electric vehicles. When choosing and negotiating awards, the Secretary must consider things like the manufacturer’s ability to build, sell, service, and supply parts for the vehicles; geographic and climate diversity of project areas; long-term technical and market prospects; suitability for intended use; environmental effects; price differences and proposed discounts; state or local involvement that could lower federal cost per vehicle or let federal money cover more vehicles; share of domestic content; safety; and any other useful criteria. The Secretary must also require that users provide five years of operation, maintenance, performance, and use data to the applicant and manufacturer; that the applicant give the Secretary project information on request; that car or light‑truck projects include at least 50 electric vehicles unless fewer still provide diversity and a useful test; and that manufacturers’ purchasing does not discriminate against U.S. parts makers.