§13282 Selection of Proposals

Summary

The Secretary must pick at least one and no more than 10 proposals for financial help within 120 days after the proposal deadline the Secretary sets under section 13281. The Secretary will work with the Transportation Secretary, Commerce Secretary, and EPA Administrator to choose. The Secretary can pick more than 10 only if there is extra money that otherwise would go unused. Each chosen proposal must follow limits set in section 13283(c). No single project may get more than 25 percent of the money authorized under section 13286. A demo project cannot cover electric vehicles in more than one eligible metro area unless it includes at least 100 vehicles. When choosing and negotiating support, the Secretary must look at factors like the maker’s ability to build and support the vehicles; the geographic and climate mix of project locations; the vehicles’ long-term technical and market prospects; whether they fit their intended use; environmental effects; the price difference and any discount plan; state or local involvement and whether that lowers federal cost or lets more vehicles be covered; how much of the vehicle and parts are made in the U.S.; safety; and any other appropriate factors. The Secretary must require that vehicle users give operation and maintenance data to the proposer and manufacturer for 5 years after the project starts, that the proposer share data with the Secretary on request, that car or light-truck demos include at least 50 vehicles (unless the Secretary finds fewer will still give needed geographic/climate diversity and a useful test), and that manufacturers’ buying practices do not unfairly exclude U.S. parts makers.