Auto makers are now rolling out CNG-equipped versions of some of their most popular models. This transition is occurring slowly—that’s encouraging, but Washington can accelerate the transition. We have identified a number of incentives to encourage broader acceptance of alternative- fuel vehicles such as NGVs without any cost to the taxpayer, and we are introducing a bill to do it.

Our legislation would expand regulatory incentives to produce alternative-fuel vehicles including plug-in electric hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells and NGVs. Under the federal government’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, auto makers can receive bonus credits toward their CAFE obligations for producing alternative-fuel vehicles.

The current National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statute allows only bi-fuel electric vehicles to be exempt from the annual bonus credit caps on fuel economy. Our bill would remove “alternative bi-fuel vehicles” from the annual bonus credit caps, which would boost production.

As an added incentive to buy them, the bill also gives states the flexibility to allow alternative-fuel vehicles to use high-occupancy-vehicle lanes on highways without passenger restrictions.