Jeff Bingaman: “PNGV represents the best of America's minds working together on one of the most important issues we face today. I again…”

“PNGV represents the best of America's minds working together on one of the most important issues we face today. I again thank Chairman Gorton, and Senator Byrd for their work on this bill and especially for the funding they've provided for energy conservation and PNGV. A public-private partnership to create a highly fuel-efficient car reached a major milestone earlier this year with the unveiling of concept vehicles, but the ability to meet both fuel-economy objectives and emission standards by a 2004 deadline remains a monumental challenge, says a new report from the National Academies' National Research Council. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new emissions standards for vehicle exhaust, which will be phased in beginning in 2004, are significantly more stringent than those that were in place when the public-private program, called the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), was initiated six years ago. All of the demonstrated concept vehicles--DaimlerChrysler's ESX3, Ford's Prodigy, and GM's Precept--use hybrid electric technology, which incorporates electric power from a battery with a small diesel engine. While the concept vehicles can achieve a fuel economy in the range of 70 to 80 miles per gallon, none meet the new emission standards.”