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119-hr-8560119th CongressWALLET

Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act

Sponsored By: Representative Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

Introduced

Summary

Accelerate development of vehicle technologies to cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. The bill creates a Department of Energy (DOE)-led, cross‑agency research, development, demonstration, and coordination initiative to speed cleaner vehicle manufacturing, lower ownership costs, and strengthen domestic supply chains.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

National vehicle R&D and funding

If enacted, the Secretary of Energy would run a national research, development, and demonstration program on advanced vehicle technologies. The program would target batteries, electrification, manufacturing, recycling, retrofits, nonroad sectors, and testing procedures with NIST. The bill would authorize RD&D funding of $530 million for FY2027 rising to $644.2 million for FY2031. The Secretary must coordinate activities across DOE offices and other federal agencies.

Local technical help for fuel and chargers

If enacted, the Secretary may provide technical assistance to State, local, and Tribal governments and to public-private partnerships on siting, installation, communications protocols, and outreach for recharging and refueling infrastructure. The Act would authorize $50 million per year for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031 for this assistance.

Research on energy-efficient transport systems

If enacted, the Secretary would fund R&D and demonstrations to improve energy productivity across mobility systems. The program would study vehicle computing loads, vehicle-to-everything connectivity, autonomous charging, machine learning for city and industry datasets, and system-level strategies to lower energy use and grid impacts.

Safer batteries and hydrogen tanks

If enacted, the Secretary would support R&D to improve safety and reliability of vehicle energy storage, including studies of failure mechanisms, abuse testing, new materials, and crush- and failure-protocols for batteries and hydrogen tanks. The work would aim to reduce failures, recalls, and repair costs over time.

Vehicle and grid cybersecurity research

If enacted, the Secretary would fund research and demonstrations on cybersecurity and physical security for connected and electric vehicle systems, chargers, batteries, buildings, and the grid. The Secretary would also produce a 5- to 10-year assessment identifying emergent threats and research priorities that need cross-agency action.

Grants for heavy-duty truck and transit tech

If enacted, the Secretary would award grants and financial assistance to test and demonstrate advanced energy technologies for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, trailers, and transit. Eligible applicants include manufacturers, fleets, fuel cell firms, universities, and other partners. The program would support retrofits, charging beyond-megawatt, hydrogen, and other efficiency measures.

Advisory board and Congress reports

If enacted, the Secretary would create an Advanced Vehicle Technologies Advisory Committee within 180 days with at least 15 members from industry, labor, academia, and other groups. The committee must report to the Secretary and Congress within two years and at least every three years after that. The Secretary must also submit a program report to two congressional committees within two years and every two years through 2031.

Study fuel delivery and define terms

If enacted, the Secretary would publish a request for information within one year to identify technical and cost barriers to alternative fuel and charging delivery and would report findings to Congress within two years. The Act would also define key terms used in the programs, including 'alternative fuel', 'extreme fast charging' (about 80% in ~10 minutes), and 'sustainable materials'.

Graduate centers to train vehicle engineers

If enacted, the Secretary would fund up to seven Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) Centers to train engineers and support graduate research. Grants would be for up to five years, renewable once, and must include HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, or Tribal colleges as lead or consortium members. The Act would authorize $8.3 million per year for FY2027–FY2031.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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