Recent Federal Actions
This list includes recent federal actions, such as Federal Register notices and rulemaking actions, agency directives or agency communications, that are all publicly available. These actions relate to alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction and fuel economy measures. When rulemakings are finalized, they will move to the list of Federal Laws and Incentives.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a request for nominations for the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Section 1413 Alternative Fuel Corridor Designation process. Under the FAST Act Section 1413, DOT designates national electric vehicle charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling corridors to improve mobility of alternative fuel passenger and commercial vehicles. Any state or local agency is invited to nominate an alternative fuel corridor for designation. The solicitation deadline is June 21, 2023. Projects along Round 7 alternative fuel corridors are not eligible for the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program.
For more information, including nomination criteria and instructions, see the FHWA Alternative Fuel Corridors website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol (E15) to be sold during the summer season. This is an extension of the previous waiver issued on April 28, 2023. On May 19, 2023, EPA extended the E15 waiver to exceed the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements for gasoline that are detailed in the Clean Air Act Section 211(h)(1) by 1 pound per square inch (psi) from May 21 through June 10, 2023. The waiver only extends to areas within the contiguous United States where the 1-psi waiver currently applies to gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol (E10). For more information, see the EPA 2023 Nationwide Fuel Waivers website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Request for Information for Zero-Emission Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Port Equipment, and Fueling Infrastructure Deployment in May 2023. Comments should detail the availability, market price, and performance of zero-emission trucks, zero-emission port equipment, electric charging and other fueling infrastructure needs for zero-emission technologies, and whether the components of these systems are manufactured in the United States.
Comments are due on or before June 5, 2023. For more information, see the EPA Clean Ports Program website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles in May 2023. The proposed rulemaking includes updated emissions standards for criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) for light-duty vehicles and medium-duty, Class 2b and Class 3, vehicles that would phase-in over model years 2027 through 2032. The proposed rulemaking also includes provisions regarding upstream emissions associated with zero-emission vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles in compliance calculations, battery durability and warranty requirements for light- and medium-duty plug-in vehicles, and updated program requirements related to aftermarket fuel conversions.
Comments on the proposed rulemaking are due on or before July 5, 2023. For more information, see the EPA Regulations for Emissions from Vehicles and Engines website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of GHG Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Phase 3 in April 2023. The proposed rulemaking includes new GHG emissions standards for heavy-duty highway vehicles starting in model year (MY) 2028 through MY 2032. It also revises specific GHG standards for MY 2027 that were established under EPA’s GHG Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles—Phase 2 rule. EPA is also proposing to add warranty requirements for batteries and other components of zero-emission vehicles and to require customer-facing battery state-of-health monitors for electric vehicles.
Comments on the proposed rulemaking are due on or before June 16, 2023. For more information, see the EPA Regulations for GHG Emissions from Commercial Trucks & Buses website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol (E15) to be sold during the summer season. E15 is granted a waiver to exceed the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements for gasoline that are detailed in the Clean Air Act Section 211(h)(1) by 1 pound per square inch (psi) from May 1 through May 20, 2023. The waiver only extends to areas within the contiguous United States where the 1-psi waiver currently applies to gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol (E10). For more information, see the EPA 2023 Nationwide Fuel Waivers website.
The U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury Department) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of Section 30D New Clean Vehicle Credit in March 2023. The proposed rulemaking provides guidance for critical material and battery component provisions, final assembly requirements, and other vehicle eligibility guidelines.
This action is the result of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-169), which amended the Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit (IRC 30D), now known as the Clean Vehicle Credit. For more information, see the IRS Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicle Credit website.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published the Final Rule on NEVI Standards and Requirements in February 2023. The final rule sets minimum standards for and requirements for projects funded under the NEVI Formula Program and certain federally funded publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging station construction projects. FHWA set standards within the following categories:
- Installation, operation, and maintenance of EV infrastructure;
- Interoperability of EV charging infrastructure;
- Traffic control devices and signage related to EV charging infrastructure;
- EV charging station data;
- EV infrastructure network connectivity; and
- Information on publicly available EV charging stations, pricing, availability, and accessibility.
This action is the result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58), which directed FHWA to develop minimum standards for NEVI-funded projects. For more information, see the FHWA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law website.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a Waiver of Buy America Requirements for EV Chargers in February 2023, which establishes a temporary waiver of Buy America requirements for EV charging stations. The waiver removes Buy America requirements under Federal Highway Administration regulations and the Build America, Buy America Act for the steel, iron, manufactured products, and construction materials in EV chargers. The Build America, Buy America Act was enacted by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58), which was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. Beginning March 23, 2023, the waiver applies to all EV chargers manufactured before July 1, 2024, with final assembly in the United States. DOT will begin phasing out waivers in July 2024.
Previously, in August 2022, DOT issued a Notice of Proposed Waiver of Buy America Requirements for EV Chargers to gather comments on EV charger manufacturing and assembly processes to the United States the proposed waiver.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) published a Notice of Proposed Waiver of Buy America Requirements for EV Chargers in August 2022, which seeks comment on modifying Buy America requirements for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The proposed change to the general applicability waiver would remove EV chargers and waive Buy America requirements under Federal Highway Administration regulations and the Build America, Buy America Act for the steel, iron, manufactured products, and construction materials in EV chargers. The Build America, Buy America Act was enacted by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (Public Law 117-58), which was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. Comments on the proposed waiver must be received by September 30, 2022.
Previously, in November 2021, DOT and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information on EV charger manufacturing and assembly processes to the United States. DOT and DOE were interested in the availability of EV chargers manufactured and assembled in the United States and whether they comply with applicable Buy America requirements. Comments on the RFI were due by January 10, 2022.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-169), which amends the Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit (IRC 30D), now known as the Clean Vehicle Credit, and adds a new requirement for final assembly in North America that takes effect on August 16, 2022. Additional provisions will go into effect on January 1, 2023. Further guidance on these provisions is forthcoming. Find more information about the credit from the Internal Revenue Service.
See a list of vehicles with final assembly in North America based on data submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and FuelEconomy.gov.
The build location of a particular vehicle should be confirmed by referring to its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) using NHTSA’s VIN decoder or an information label affixed to the vehicle.