HR 4690 — 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act

Summary

21st Century Transportation Fuels Act This bill addresses provisions related to high-octane fuel, renewable fuels, and vehicle fuel efficiency. Among other things, the bill establishes a national octane standard that requires automobile manufacturers to design motor vehicles to operate using gasoline that has a research octane number of 95 or higher, addresses the limitations on Reid vapor pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) that are placed on gasoline during the summer ozone season, and revises requirements for calculating Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) credits earned by a passenger automobile manufacturer for exceeding minimal required CAFE standards in a particular model year.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html October 16, 2019

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds new requirements for light-duty vehicles and their fuel regarding octane specification and warranty, while changing definitions and marketing practices for high-octane fuels.

• 42 U.S.C. 7521

  SEC. 220. OCTANE SPECIFICATION. (a) Applicability.--This section applies with respect to any motor vehicle (other than a motorcycle) that is introduced into commerce that-- (1) is a light-duty vehicle or light-duty truck; (2) is a model year 2023 or later motor vehicle; and (3) uses gasoline for propulsion or any other operation of the motor vehicle, including the engine thereof.

  Introduces new regulations for light-duty vehicles and their fuel, starting from the model year 2023.

• 42 U.S.C. 7521

  (b) Warranty Requirements.--The manufacturer of a motor vehicle described in subsection (a) shall warrant to the ultimate purchaser and each subsequent purchaser that each such motor vehicle is designed-- (1) to operate with gasoline containing up to and including 20 percent ethanol; and (2) to meet the design requirements under subsection (c).

  Creates warranty requirements for manufacturers to ensure vehicles can operate with E20 fuel.

• 42 U.S.C. 7521

  (c) Design Requirements.--The manufacturer of a motor vehicle described in subsection (a) shall-- (1) design each such motor vehicle-- (A) to operate using gasoline that has a research octane number of 95 or higher; and (B) to improve fuel economy connected to the use of gasoline that has a research octane number of 95 or higher;

  Mandates vehicle designs to accommodate high-octane gasoline for improved fuel economy.

• 42 U.S.C. 7521

  (d) Infrastructure Requirements.--Any gasoline retailer selling gasoline for dispensing into motor vehicles described in subsection (a) shall incorporate into the retailer's dispensing equipment such devices or elements of design as are determined by the Administrator to be-- (1) necessary for compatibility with the motor vehicle design requirements under subsection (c)(2); and (2) technically and economically feasible.

  Requires gasoline retailers to update dispensing equipment to handle high-octane fuel.

• 42 U.S.C. 7521

  (e) Misfueling. (1) Prohibitions against tampering and defeat devices for motor vehicles.-- In lieu of applying section 203(a)(3) with respect to this section, the following shall apply: (A) No person shall-- (i) remove or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle pursuant to subsection (c)(2) prior to its sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser; or (ii) knowingly remove or render inoperative any such device or element of design after such sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser.

  Establishes prohibitions against tampering with vehicles equipped for high-octane fuel.

• 42 U.S.C. 7550

  and 208 → 208, and 220

  Updates the definition section to include the new section on octane specification.

• 42 U.S.C. 7550

  (12) Research octane number.--The term `research octane number' has the meaning given such term in section 201 of the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act.

  Defines 'research octane number' in line with the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act.

• 15 U.S.C. 2821

  SEC. 206. HIGH EFFICIENCY FUEL AND VEHICLE MARKETING REQUIREMENTS.

  Adds a new section focused on marketing requirements for high-efficiency fuels.

Action History

1. October 16, 2019

   Introduced in House

2. October 16, 2019

   Introduced in House

3. October 16, 2019

   Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

4. October 17, 2019

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.

Sponsors

• Bill Flores · Primary

Subjects