Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§13212 Minimum Federal Fleet Requirement
Title 42 › CHAPTER 134 — ENERGY POLICY › SUBCHAPTER I — ALTERNATIVE FUELS—GENERAL › § 13212
Summary
Federal government must buy a lot more alternative fueled vehicles. It must buy 5,000 light-duty alternative fueled vehicles in fiscal year 1993, 7,500 in fiscal year 1994, and 10,000 in fiscal year 1995. Starting in fiscal year 1996, at least 25% of the vehicles a qualifying Federal fleet buys must be alternative fueled, 33% in 1997, 50% in 1998, and 75% in 1999 and after. The Secretary can let some fleets buy less if other fleets make up the difference so the overall percentage is met. A “Federal fleet” here means 20 or more centrally fueled light vehicles in a metro area (1980 population over 250,000) that are owned or controlled by federal agencies. It does not include rental cars to the public, manufacturer test cars, law enforcement or emergency vehicles, certain military vehicles cleared by the Secretary of Defense, or nonroad vehicles like farm and construction equipment. The General Services Administration and other vehicle providers must spread the extra cost of alternative fueled vehicles across the whole fleet. GSA should try to keep sold federal alternative fueled vehicles as such when sold. Federal executive agencies (not offices of Congress) may not buy light or medium-duty passenger vehicles unless they are low greenhouse gas emitting, unless the agency head gives a written, vehicle-by-vehicle exception saying no suitable low-GHG vehicle is available or the agency took other verified measures that cut equal or greater greenhouse gases. The EPA will list which models count as low greenhouse gas emitting each year. Money as needed was authorized for fiscal years 1993 through 1998.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §13212
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)General requirements
(1)The Federal Government shall acquire at least—
(A)5,000 light duty alternative fueled vehicles in fiscal year 1993;
(B)7,500 light duty alternative fueled vehicles in fiscal year 1994; and
(C)10,000 light duty alternative fueled vehicles in fiscal year 1995.
(2)The Secretary shall allocate the acquisitions necessary to meet the requirements under paragraph (1).
(b)Percentage requirements
(1)Of the total number of vehicles acquired by a Federal fleet, at least—
(A)25 percent in fiscal year 1996;
(B)33 percent in fiscal year 1997;
(C)50 percent in fiscal year 1998; and
(D)75 percent in fiscal year 1999 and thereafter,
shall be alternative fueled vehicles.
(2)The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services where appropriate, may permit a Federal fleet to acquire a smaller percentage than is required in paragraph (1), so long as the aggregate percentage acquired by all Federal fleets is at least equal to the required percentage.
(3)For purposes of this subsection, the term “Federal fleet” means 20 or more light duty motor vehicles, located in a metropolitan statistical area or consolidated metropolitan statistical area, as established by the Bureau of the Census, with a 1980 population of more than 250,000, that are centrally fueled or capable of being centrally fueled and are owned, operated, leased, or otherwise controlled by or assigned to any Federal executive department, military department, Government corporation, independent establishment, or executive agency, the United States Postal Service, the Congress, the courts of the United States, or the Executive Office of the President. Such term does not include—
(A)motor vehicles held for lease or rental to the general public;
(B)motor vehicles used for motor vehicle manufacturer product evaluations or tests;
(C)law enforcement vehicles;
(D)emergency vehicles;
(E)motor vehicles acquired and used for military purposes that the Secretary of Defense has certified to the Secretary must be exempt for national security reasons; or
(F)nonroad vehicles, including farm and construction vehicles.
(c)Allocation of incremental costs
The General Services Administration and any other Federal agency that procures motor vehicles for distribution to other Federal agencies shall allocate the incremental cost of alternative fueled vehicles over the cost of comparable gasoline vehicles across the entire fleet of motor vehicles distributed by such agency.
(d)Application of requirements
The provisions of section 6374 of this title relating to the Federal acquisition of alternative fueled vehicles shall apply to the acquisition of vehicles pursuant to this section.
(e)Resale
The Administrator of General Services shall take all feasible steps to ensure that all alternative fueled vehicles sold by the Federal Government shall remain alternative fueled vehicles at time of sale.
(f)Vehicle emission requirements
(1)Definitions
In this subsection: (A) Federal agency
(B)Medium duty passenger vehicle
The term “medium duty passenger vehicle” has the meaning given that term section 523.2 of title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on December 19, 2007.
(2)Prohibition
(A)In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no Federal agency shall acquire a light duty motor vehicle or medium duty passenger vehicle that is not a low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle.
(B)Exception
The prohibition in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to acquisition of a vehicle if the head of the agency certifies in writing, in a separate certification for each individual vehicle purchased, either—
(i)that no low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle is available to meet the functional needs of the agency and details in writing the functional needs that could not be met with a low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle; or
(ii)that the agency has taken specific alternative more cost-effective measures to reduce petroleum consumption that—
(I)have reduced a measured and verified quantity of greenhouse gas emissions equal to or greater than the quantity of greenhouse gas reductions that would have been achieved through acquisition of a low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle over the lifetime of the vehicle; or
(II)will reduce each year a measured and verified quantity of greenhouse gas emissions equal to or greater than the quantity of greenhouse gas reductions that would have been achieved each year through acquisition of a low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle.
(3)Guidance
(A)In general
Each year, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall issue guidance identifying the makes and model numbers of vehicles that are low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles.
(B)Consideration
In identifying vehicles under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall take into account the most stringent standards for vehicle greenhouse gas emissions applicable to and enforceable against motor vehicle manufacturers for vehicles sold anywhere in the United States.
(C)Requirement
The Administrator shall not identify any vehicle as a low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle if the vehicle emits greenhouse gases at a higher rate than such standards allow for the manufacturer’s fleet average grams per mile of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions for that class of vehicle, taking into account any emissions allowances and adjustment factors such standards provide.
(g)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this section, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1993 through 1998, to remain available until expended.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (f)(1)(A). Pub. L. 119–37, § 113(a)(2), substituted “branch.” for “branch, except that it does include the House of Representatives with respect to an acquisition described in paragraph (2)(C).” Subsec. (f)(1)(C). Pub. L. 119–37, § 113(a)(3), struck out subpar. (C). Text read as follows: “The term ‘Member’s Representational Allowance’ means the allowance described in section 5341(a) of title 2.” Subsec. (f)(2)(C). Pub. L. 119–37, § 113(a)(1), struck out subpar. (C). Text read as follows: “This paragraph shall apply to the acquisition of a light duty motor vehicle or medium duty passenger vehicle using any portion of a Member’s Representational Allowance, including an acquisition under a long-term lease.” 2007—Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 110–140 added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g). 2005—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–58 substituted “shall” for “may”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2025 Amendment Pub. L. 119–37, div. C, title I, § 113(b), Nov. 12, 2025, 139 Stat. 570, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section] apply to fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.”
Effective Date
of 2007 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–140 effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 12844 Ex. Ord. No. 12844, Apr. 21, 1993, 58 F.R. 21885, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12974, § 3(b), Sept. 29, 1995, 60 F.R. 51876, which required the Federal Government to institute a Federal fleet vehicle acquisition program and established the Federal Fleet Conversion Task Force to advise on implementation of the program, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13031, § 9, Dec. 13, 1996, 61 F.R. 66531, formerly set out below. Executive Order No. 13031 Ex. Ord. No. 13031, Dec. 13, 1996, 61 F.R. 66529, which provided that the Federal Government exercise leadership in the use of alternative fueled vehicles, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13149, § 501, Apr. 21, 2000, 65 F.R. 24610, formerly set out below. Executive Order No. 13149 Ex. Ord. No. 13149, Apr. 21, 2000, 65 F.R. 24607, which directed the Federal Government to exercise leadership in the reduction of petroleum consumption through improvements in fleet fuel efficiency and the use of alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuels, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13423, § 11(a)(v), Jan. 24, 2007, 72 F.R. 3923, formerly set out in a note under section 4321 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 13212
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110