Energy policy motor vehicles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS was mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It requires that by 2012, at least 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel be blended into motor vehicle fuel sold in the U.S. 

The Alternative Motor Fuel Act of 1988 was the first major federal law in the United States to address alternative transportation fuel use. It was followed by the Clean Air Amendments Act of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which greatly expanded alternative fuel use mandates and fuel quality specifications. Over the past decade, transportation fuel and vehicle providers have struggled to comply with a bewildering array of federal government requirements. Despite some considerable successes and the presence of over 400,000 alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) on U.S. roads, their population remains at less than one half of one percent of the total motor vehicle fleet. Thus, the country remains nearly as far today from diversifying its transportation fuel and vehicle mix as it was 15 years ago. 

U.S. Department of Energy. 1996. "An Assessment of the Market Benefits of Alternative Motor Vehicle Fuel Use in the U.S. Transportation Sector Technical Report 14, Market Potential and Impacts of Alternative Fuel Use in Light-Duty Vehicles A 2000/2010 Analysis." DOE/PO-0042, Washington, DC U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Policy and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. January 1996. 

Lipman, T.E., Edwards, J.L., Kammen. D.M., (2004), Fuel Cell System Economics Comparing the Costs of Generating Power with Stationary and Motor Vehicle PEM Fuel Cell Systems , Energy Policy, Vol. 32, pp. 101-125... 

LEV II program (LEV = low-emission vehicles). The Tier II phase-in began in January 2004. By 2009, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), minivans, and pickup trucks have to meet the same emission standards as automobiles. For the first time, vehicles and fuels are treated as a single system. Tier II allows vehicle manufacturers to certify a mix of vehicles ( fleet ) if average NOx emissions for the fleet are less than 0.07 grams/mile (Bin 5). Tier II bins differ mainly in allowed NOx emissions. To obtain alternative motor vehicle credits, such as those described in the Energy Policy Act of 2004, ° hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles must meet or exceed Tier II, Bin 5 emission standards. 

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 requires NHTSA to set average fuel economy standards for motor vehicles. While this may be an important activity for NHTSA it is not specifically a safety program. 

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