Mike Levin: “The better alternative for increasing SUV and light truck fuel economy from both an environmental and equity perspective…”

“The better alternative for increasing SUV and light truck fuel economy from both an environmental and equity perspective is aggressive investment in fuel efficiency research projects. The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, PNGV, provides an example of the pay-off from programs that harness the energy and ingenuity of government and business to achieve this policy goal. The goal of PNGV is to improve national manufacturing competitiveness, implement technologies that increase the fuel efficiency of and improve emissions for conventional vehicles, and develop technologies for a new class of vehicles with up to 80 mpg without sacrificing the affordability, utility, safety, and comfort of today's midsize family sedans. For the five years that this program has existed (it is currently in its sixth year), the average annual government contribution has been about $250 million per year. The average annual private sector contribution by the Big Three has been in excess of $900 million per year. PNGV fuel-efficient technologies, such as lightweight materials, advanced batteries, and fuel cell and hybrid electric propulsion systems, are already appearing on experimental concept vehicles shown by automakers at recent auto shows. Under PNGV, U.S. automakers will have production-ready prototypes by 2004. Some of the technology from this aggressive research will be transferable to the light duty truck fleet. I urge Members to vote against this resolution. I yield the floor.”