15 U.S.C. § 2702 — Definitions

Page 1942 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 2702 (2) advanced alternatives to existing auto- mobile propulsion systems could, with suffi- cient research and development effort, meet these long-term goals, and have the potential to be mass produced at reasonable cost; and advanced automobile propulsion systems could operate with significantly less adverse envi- ronmental impact and fuel consumption than existing automobiles, while meeting all of the other requirements of Federal law; (3) insufficient resources are being devoted to both research on and development of ad- vanced automobile propulsion system tech- nology; (4) an expanded research and development ef- fort with respect to advance automobile pro- pulsion system technology would complement and stimulate corresponding efforts by the pri- vate sector and would encourage automobile manufacturers to consider seriously the incor- poration of such advanced technology into automobiles and automobile components; and (5) the Nation’s energy and environmental problems are urgent, and therefore advanced automobile propulsion system technology should be developed, tested, demonstrated, and prepared for manufacture within the shortest practicable time. (b) It is therefore the purpose of the Congress, in this chapter to— (1)(A) direct the Department of Energy to make contracts and grants for research and development leading to the development of ad- vanced automobile propulsion systems within 5 years of February 25, 1978, or within the shortest practicable time consistent with ap- propriate research and development tech- niques, and (B) evaluate and disseminate in- formation with respect to advanced auto- mobile propulsion system technology; (2) preserve, enhance, and facilitate competi- tion in research, development, and production with respect to existing and alternative auto- mobile propulsion systems; and (3) supplement, but neither supplant nor du- plicate, the automotive propulsion system re- search and development efforts of private in- dustry. (Pub. L. 95–238, title III, § 302, Feb. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 78.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 95–238, title III, § 301, Feb. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 78, provided that: ‘‘This title [enacting this chapter and amending section 2451 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare] may be cited as the ‘Automotive Propul- sion Research and Development Act of 1978’.’’ § 2702. Definitions As used in this chapter, the term— (1) ‘‘advanced automobile propulsion sys- tem’’ means an energy conversion system, in- cluding engine and drive train, which utilizes advanced technology and is suitable for use in an advanced automobile; (2) ‘‘developer’’ means any person engaged in whole or in part in research or other efforts di- rected toward the development of advanced automobile technology; (3) ‘‘fuel’’ means any energy source capable of propelling an automobile; (4) ‘‘fuel economy’’ refers to the average dis- tance traveled in representative driving condi- tions by an automobile per unit of fuel con- sumed, as determined by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in ac- cordance with test procedures which shall be established by rule and shall require that fuel economy tests be conducted in conjunction with the exhaust emissions tests mandated by section 7525 of title 42; (5) ‘‘intermodal adaptability’’ refers to any characteristics of an automobile which enable it to be operated or carried, or which facilitate its operation or carriage, by or on an alter- native mode or other system of transpor- tation; (6) ‘‘reliability’’ refers to (A) the average time and distance over which normal auto- mobile operation can be expected without sig- nificant repair or replacement of parts, and (B) the ease of diagnosis and repair of an auto- mobile, its systems, and parts in the event of failure during use or damage from an accident; (7) ‘‘safety’’ refers to the performance of an automobile propulsion system or equipment in such a manner that the public is protected against unreasonable risk of accident and against unreasonable risk of death or bodily injury in case of accident; (8) ‘‘State’’ means any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (Pub. L. 95–238, title III, § 303, Feb. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 79.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 7525 of title 42, referred to in par. (4), was in the original ‘‘section 206 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 1857f–5)’’, meaning act July 14, 1955, ch. 360, § 206, as added Dec. 31, 1970, Pub. L. 91–604, § 8(a), 84 Stat. 1694, which was formerly classified to section 1857f–5 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and which is classi- fied to section 7525 of Title 42 pursuant to the general revision of the Clean Air Act by Pub. L. 95–95, Aug. 7, 1977, 91 Stat. 685. § 2703. Advanced systems program implementa- tion by Secretary of Energy (a) Establishment and conduct of program The Secretary of Energy shall establish, with- in the Department of Energy, a program to in- sure the development of advanced automobile propulsion systems within 5 years after Feb- ruary 25, 1978, or within the shortest practicable time, consistent with appropriate research and development technique. In conducting such pro- gram, the Secretary of Energy shall— (1) establish and conduct new projects and accelerate existing projects which may con- tribute to the development of advanced auto- mobile propulsion systems; (2) give priority attention to the develop- ment of advanced propulsion systems with ap- propriate attention to those advanced propul- sion systems which are flexible in the type of fuel used; and