§2701 — Title 15 Commerce and Trade | U.S. Code

Summary

Requires the Department of Energy to fund contracts and grants to develop advanced car propulsion systems within 5 years of February 25, 1978, or in the shortest time consistent with proper research methods, and to study and share information about the technology. Congress found that today’s car engines do not meet long‑term energy and environmental goals, that better systems could cut pollution and fuel use and be mass produced if researched, and that too little money and effort are going into this work. The program must encourage competition and add to, not replace or copy, what private industry is doing.

Title 15, §2701

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Congress finds that—

(1)existing automobile propulsion systems, on the average, fall short of meeting the long-term goals of the Nation with respect to environmental protection, and energy conservation;

(2)advanced alternatives to existing automobile propulsion systems could, with sufficient research and development effort, meet these long-term goals, and have the potential to be mass produced at reasonable cost; and advanced automobile propulsion systems could operate with significantly less adverse environmental impact and fuel consumption than existing automobiles, while meeting all of the other requirements of Federal law;

(3)insufficient resources are being devoted to both research on and development of advanced automobile propulsion system technology;

(4)an expanded research and development effort with respect to advance automobile propulsion system technology would complement and stimulate corresponding efforts by the private sector and would encourage automobile manufacturers to consider seriously the incorporation of such advanced technology into automobiles and automobile components; and

(5)the Nation’s energy and environmental problems are urgent, and therefore advanced automobile propulsion system technology should be developed, tested, demonstrated, and prepared for manufacture within the shortest practicable time.

(b)It is therefore the purpose of the Congress, in this chapter to—

(1)(A)direct the Department of Energy to make contracts and grants for research and development leading to the development of advanced automobile propulsion systems within 5 years of February 25, 1978, or within the shortest practicable time consistent with appropriate research and development techniques, and (B) evaluate and disseminate information with respect to advanced automobile propulsion system technology;

(2)preserve, enhance, and facilitate competition in research, development, and production with respect to existing and alternative automobile propulsion systems; and

(3)supplement, but neither supplant nor duplicate, the automotive propulsion system research and development efforts of private industry.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 95–238, title III, § 301, Feb. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 78, provided that: “This title [enacting this chapter and amending section 2451 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare] may be cited as the ‘Automotive Propulsion Research and Development Act of 1978’.”

§2701 Congressional Findings and Purpose

Summary

Title 15, §2701

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

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