A bill that would earmark funds for research and development of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies as well as create truck-specific programs within the Department of Energy (DOE) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) as the Vehicle Innovation Act (VIA), H.R. 4106.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the legislation in the Senate earlier this year with cosponsors Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Their bill was passed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as part of a larger package of energy legislation.

According to the Senate and House sponsors, VIA legislation will promote investments in research and development of clean vehicle technologies to create more fuel-efficient vehicles, reduce dependence on foreign oil and support American auto manufacturers and suppliers.

Rep. Dingell said the act would reauthorize the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program, which works with light-duty automobile and medium- and heavy-duty commercial truck manufacturers and suppliers to conduct research and development to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles.

She said examples of these technologies include mild hybrid, engine downspeeding, power pack modeling and testing, advanced boosting systems, new vehicle sensing and communication, hydrogen and natural gas refueling, and electric vehicle charging technology.

In addition, the bill includes provisions that would encourage the development and use of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications systems that have the potential to improve fuel efficiency and reduce traffic accidents and congestion.

“Our nation’s vehicle suppliers and manufacturers have made major advances in cutting-edge fuel efficiency technologies in the last decade, and we need to keep that progress going,” said Dingell. “The Vehicle Innovation Act will build on successful research programs that have resulted in large savings for consumers at the pump and keep the U.S. and Southeast Michigan in the lead in developing high-tech, energy efficient vehicles.”

“American auto manufacturers rely on emerging technologies and innovations to continue to grow and compete in the global economy, and we must make critical investments to develop and build those technologies here at home,” said Sen. Peters. “This legislation will provide sustainable funding to promote research and development of new vehicle innovations that will make the cars and trucks of the future cleaner, safer and more efficient.”

NTEA Executive Director Steve Carey praised VIA, stated that “for the work truck industry to compete globally and continue to meet the needs of vocational truck users, it will need to employ advanced technologies and deploy more alternatively fueled trucks. The Vehicle Innovation Act will support continued public-private partnerships and drive research that will keep us competitive and help us get more fuel-efficient trucks on the road.”

According to NTEA, VIA legislation “would support the science and industry needed to improve vehicle fuel economy and minimize petroleum use” yet is “technology-neutral — it develops and strengthens the tools for vehicle experts, without bias.”

NTEA also noted that activities under VIA would be carried out in partnership or collaboration with automotive manufacturers, heavy commercial, vocational and transit vehicle manufacturers, qualified plug-in electric vehicle manufacturers, compressed natural gas vehicle manufacturers, vehicle and engine equipment and component manufacturers, manufacturing equipment manufacturers, advanced vehicle service providers, fuel producers and energy suppliers, electric utilities, universities, national laboratories and independent research laboratories.

The Congressional sponsors said that the legislation is supported by a broad coalition of environmental groups and manufacturers including the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, the BlueGreen Alliance, the Auto Alliance, NTEA, the United Auto Workers, the League of Conservation Voters, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, the American Automotive Policy Council, the Electric Drive Transportation Association, Robert Bosch LLC, the Lord Corporation, Umicore,  Bergstrom, Magna International, Inc., and Dorman Products, Inc.