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Bill

HR 8560

Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act

119th Congress Introduced by Debbie Dingell and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a centralized, multi-year federal program to accelerate advanced vehicle technologies, focusing on electrification, alternative fuels, safety, and workforce development.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 8560

Overview

HR 8560, the Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act, proposes a comprehensive, multi-year federal program to accelerate research, development, demonstration, and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies. The bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower vehicle manufacturing costs, and strengthen domestic capabilities in transportation energy and related infrastructure.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create a coordinated, cross-agency effort to advance innovative vehicle technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes.
  • Promote electrification, sustainable materials, improved batteries, hydrogen, biofuels, and other alternative propulsion pathways.
  • Address on-road and nonroad (aviation, rail, maritime) transportation energy and emissions in a cohesive framework.
  • Strengthen U.S. competitiveness in advanced mobility technologies and support domestic production and supply chains.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Sec. 2): Establishes terms for alternative fuels, extreme fast charging (80% in ~10 minutes), sustainable materials, Department of Energy (DOE), and Secretary of Energy.
  • Reporting (Sec. 3): Biennial (through 2031) reporting on activities, public-private partnerships, program milestones, funding plans, and technology adoption, with attention to U.S. manufacturing of products using developed technologies.
  • Advanced Vehicle Research and Development Program (Sec. 4):
    • DOE-led program to pursue electrification, materials, manufacturing, recycling, and other technologies across the vehicle supply chain.
    • Sets technical milestones and coordination with related acts and programs (e.g., EV-grid integration, critical material recycling).
    • Focus areas include electrified drivetrains, power electronics, batteries, lightweight materials, manufacturing efficiency, recycling, autonomous/connected infrastructure, and grid-vehicle integration.
    • Includes performance metrics and testing standards (in collaboration with NIST).
  • On-road Security (Sec. 5): Develops cybersecurity and physical security for vehicle-to-grid and connected vehicle ecosystems; includes a 5–10 year impact assessment of cybersecurity threats.
  • Vehicle Energy Storage System Safety (Sec. 6): Research and testing for safety/reliability of energy storage, including hydrogen tanks and safety protocols.
  • Advanced Vehicle Technologies Advisory Committee (Sec. 7): Establishes a 15+ member DOE advisory panel to review progress, investments, and program effectiveness; reports every 2 years, then at least every 3 years.
  • Medium- and Heavy-Duty Program (Sec. 8): Research, development, and demonstration for commercial, vocational, and transit vehicles; includes engines, electric drives, weight reduction, synthetic fuels, and charging/refueling infrastructure.
  • Technical Assistance to State/Local/Tribal (Sec. 9): Grants technical assistance to jurisdictions and public-private partnerships for deploying alternative fuels and infrastructure; authorizes $50 million per year (FY 2027–2031).
  • GATE Centers (Sec. 10): Establishes up to seven Graduate Automotive Technology Education Centers of Research Excellence to train engineers and test technologies beyond lab scale. Provisions emphasize diversity, regional benefits, and participation by minority-serving institutions; up to $8.3 million annually (FY 2027–2031).
  • Information Request (Sec. 11): DOE must issue a request for information within one year to identify barriers to alternative fuel delivery/distribution and grid integration; report in two years.
  • Energy Efficient Mobility Systems (Sec. 12): Research to understand and improve energy and mobility impacts of emerging technologies; focus on vehicle connectivity, grid integration, and energy-efficient, real-world operation.
  • Coordination (Sec. 13): Requires cross-agency collaboration (DOE offices, DOT, NIST, NSF, DOD, etc.) and federal-state-local coordination to leverage resources.
  • Appropriations and Funding (Sec. 14): Authorizes escalating funding from $530 million in FY 2027 to about $644 million in FY 2031 to support the broad program.

Who/what is affected

  • Federal agencies: DOE leads with input from multiple DOE offices and other agencies (DOT, NIST, NSF, DOD, etc.).
  • Private sector, academic institutions, and labor groups: Engage through partnerships, grants, and advisory participation.
  • State/local/Tribal governments: Potential recipients of technical assistance and infrastructure coordination.
  • Public and private fleets, manufacturers, and infrastructure developers: Beneficiaries of research, testing, and deployment programs.

Timelines and milestones

  • Biennial reporting through 2031 (Sec. 3).
  • Advisory committee established within 180 days of enactment (Sec. 7).
  • R&D and demonstration activities ongoing with milestones set by DOE (Sec. 4).
  • Funding appropriations span FY 2027–FY 2031, with stepped increases (Sec. 14).
  • RFI within 1 year; comprehensive reports due within 2 years (Sec. 11).

Overall, the bill codifies a centralized, multi-year federal program to accelerate advanced vehicle technologies, with emphasis on electrification, alternative fuels, safety, cybersecurity, and the development of a skilled workforce.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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