Novi Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – To strengthen the United States' global competitiveness in the face of growing competition with China, Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) introduced the Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act. The bill accelerates innovation, promotes sustainable mobility solutions, and ensures the nation's leadership in advanced automotive technologies.This legislation makes significant investments in mobility R&D to lower costs of EVs while substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions at every stage.

“In recent years, China has emerged as a formidable force in the EV market – China has a 5.5x lead over the US in high-impact battery research,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11). “The Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act helps our nation rise to this occasion by investing in new mobility technology research to address challenges across the vehicle supply chain and charter groundbreaking discoveries here in America. I am thrilled to introduce this legislation that positions Michigan at the center of unlocking solutions that ultimately lead us all to a safer, more affordable, and cleaner mobility future.”

“If America and our domestic automotive industry is to remain a global leader in vehicle technologies and mobility, we must continue to make robust investments in R&D to empower our greatest minds, our greatest companies, and our greatest workforce to collaborate and develop the advanced manufacturing processes and vehicles of the future,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06). “Innovation is a core strength of the U.S. as we create good-paying domestic jobs, combat the climate crisis, and bring down costs for consumers. I am proud to partner on this important legislation to keep Michigan and our nation at the forefront of the future of mobility.”

“We applaud Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell for introducing this important legislation to bolster research, development and security of advanced vehicle technologies,” said Governor Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council. "This legislation provides another important tool for the United States as it looks to harness the power of advanced vehicle technologies to help ensure the materials American Automakers need are more available domestically."

“The rise of electric vehicles and other forms of clean transportation provides us with the opportunity to make the U.S. a global leader in clean transportation innovation and manufacturing—but only if we seize this moment and ensure that the transportation technologies and fuels of tomorrow are made here in America. The Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act will do just that, providing critical federal funding to help us unlock new vehicle technologies, train up the next generation of scientists and engineers, and ultimately decarbonize every mode of transportation,” said Ryan Fitzpatrick, Senior Director for the Climate and Energy Program at Third Way. “Third Way applauds Congresswoman Stevens for her leadership on reducing transportation’s climate impacts and we look forward to continuing to work with her to put American workers, universities, and manufacturers front and center of the new clean economy.”

“Auto Innovators thanks Reps. Stevens and Dingell for introducing the Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act and her commitment to American innovation,” said John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. “This is a smart strategy to leverage government R&D resources to develop the transformative transportation, infrastructure and fuel innovations that will help define next-generation mobility.”

The Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act reauthorizes the advanced vehicle technologies program for R&D at the Department of Energy (DOE) for vehicle fueling, energy storage, and workforce development. The bill focuses on comprehensive R&D challenges across the mobility supply chain, including a non-road transportation program focused on overcoming barriers to transformational technologies for aviation, rail, and maritime applications. In addition, the bill creates a DOE grant program to establish the Graduate Automotive Technology Education Centers of Excellence to provide future generations of engineers and scientists with the skills to overcome technical barriers and help commercialize the next generation of advanced automotive technologies.

Provisions include:

·      Analyzing the energy implications and opportunities of advanced mobility solutions, communication, and connectivity among vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians, and the electrical grid 

·      Improving vehicle batteries for extremely fast charging and wireless charging capabilities, and efficiencies to lower costs

·      Exploring efficient use, substitution, and recycling of critical materials in vehicles, such as rare earth elements or precious metals that are at risk of supply chain disruption

·      Testing advanced battery safety protection systems for high voltage power and heat

·      Enabling technologies for flexible manufacturing facilities that can accommodate different vehicle battery chemistries 

·      Increasing the production rate and decreasing the cost of advanced battery and hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing and hydrogen fueling infrastructure

·      Advancing biofuel technologies

·      Boosting higher efficiency manufacturing processes, such as additive manufacturing, to produce sustainable lightweight materials for fabrication, assembly, and use

·      Leveraging machine learning for manufacturing and additive manufacturing optimization

·      Advancing computing systems, including energy efficient systems, and connectivity for vehicular on-board, off-board, and edge computing applications

·      Informing and educating the public on the energy outcomes of automation and connected vehicle technologies, connected infrastructure, and mobility applied sensors to build trust 

The Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act is endorsed by the American Automotive Policy Council, Third Way, American Trucking Association, NC Clean Energy Technology Center, and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

Original source can be found here.