Energy Policy Act Requires Purchase of Light-Duty Alternative Fuel Vehicles

The Energy Policy Act was passed in 1992 to accelerate the use of alternative fuels in the transportation sector. The U.S. Department of Energy's primary goals are to decrease the nation's dependence on foreign oil and increase energy security through the use of domestically produced alternative fuels.

Federal, state and alternative fuel providers fleets are mandated by EPAct. Fleets that own, operate, lease or control at least 50 light-duty vehicles (8,500 lbs. or less) are covered. Of the fleet vehicles, 20 or more must be operated primarily within a metropolitan statistical area with a population of at least 250,000 people. The vehicles must also be centrally fueled or capable of being centrally fueled.

Fleets meeting all three of these requirements must make a certain percentage of their new vehicle purchases alternative fuel vehicles. EPAct recognizes the following alternative fuels: methanol, ethanol and other alcohols; blends of 85 percent or more of alcohol with gasoline; natural gas and liquid fuels domestically produced from natural gas; biodiesel; liquefied petroleum gas (propane); coal-derived liquid fuels; hydrogen and electricity.

As a result of EPAct, DOE established the Alternative Fuel Transportation Program. The AFTP includes public outreach and commercialization programs at DOE that relate to alternative motor fuels and alternative fuel vehicles. The following programs are part of AFTP.

• Federal Fleet Program: EPAct gave DOE the responsibility for monitoring a program for vehicle acquisition and alternative fuel use in the federal fleets. Under Section 303 of EPAct, federal fleets must acquire a specified number of alternative fuel vehicles each year, as a percentage of their annual light-duty vehicle acquisitions.
• State and Alternative Fuel Provider Program: Sections 501 and 507 of EPAct require DOE to manage a regulatory program covering state and alternative fuel provider fleets. Status of the fleets in the State and Alternative Fuel Provider Program are reported both quarterly and annually.
• Private and Local Fleet Rulemaking Program: Section 507 gave DOE the authority to evaluate the potential for covering private and local fleets under a regulatory program for vehicle acquisition, similar to the State and Alternative Fuel Provider Program. DOE is currently evaluating their options under this authority.
• Alternative Fuel Petitions Program: This program establishes new fuels as alternative fuels and evaluates these fuels. Under this program, the public can petition DOE, with sufficient technical data, for the addition of a new fuel to the list of alternative motor fuels.
• Replacement Fuel Program: Section 502 of EPAct requires DOE develop a program to promote the use of alternative fuels in light-duty motor vehicles. DOE is currently evaluating its options under this authority.
• Transit Bus Program: Section 410 of EPAct gave DOE the authority, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation, to develop and implement programs to promote the use of alternative fuels in transit busses. DOE and DOT are currently evaluating their options under this authority.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Energy's EPAct Web site.

Published: March 31, 2003