§13282 Selection of Proposals

Summary

The Secretary must pick at least one and up to ten proposals for federal help within 120 days after the proposal deadline. The Secretary must talk with the Transportation Secretary, the Commerce Secretary, and the EPA Administrator before deciding. More than ten can be chosen only if the money left is unlikely to be used otherwise. No single project can get more than 25 percent of the program’s authorized funds. A demo project can span more than one metro area only if it includes 100 or more electric vehicles. When choosing and negotiating awards, the Secretary will look at several things, including the maker’s ability to build and support the vehicles, the geographic and climate spread of sites, the vehicles’ long-term viability and safety, how well they fit their planned use, environmental effects, price differences and discounts, local or state involvement that could lower federal cost or increase the number of vehicles, and how much of the vehicle content is made in the U.S. Selected projects must collect and share operation, maintenance, and performance data for 5 years, give the Secretary requested information during the project, include at least 50 cars or light trucks (unless fewer still gives needed diversity and a good test), and use purchasing practices that don’t discriminate against U.S. parts makers.