H.R. 1685 authorizes $300 million each for 10 deployment communities for electric vehicles (EVs) and offers funding for federal technical assistance to the communities.  This bill also requires utilities to plan for EV charging infrastructure.  It creates a pilot program for the General Services Administration (GSA) to acquire one thousand EVs.   It reinstates previous levels of IRC § 30C tax credits for EV and charging station tax credits through 2014, and creates a DOE loan program for component suppliers.

Bill Details:

§ 3. Targeted Electric Drive Vehicles Deployment Communities Program

• This bill authorizes up $300 million each for up to 10 deployment communities, up to $3 billion.
• Each community will offer at least $2,000 in benefits to the first 50,000 consumers in the community who purchase electric drive vehicles. 
• At least one community will include demonstration of the deployment of heavy-duty electric drive vehicles.
• States, local governments, and tribes eligible for deployment community funding.

§ 4. Technical Assistance

• The bill authorizes $120m per year for five years, up to $10 million per recipient for non-deployment communities for assistance with the deployment of electric vehicles.

§ 5. Modification of Credit for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property for Vehicles Powered by Electricity

• This section extends the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (I.R.C. § 30C) for electric vehicle charging, offering a 50% charging station tax credit for up to $2,000 for homes and $50,000 for businesses, which had fallen to 30% for up to $1,000 and $30,000 respectively at the end of 2010.  The credit is currently set to expire at the end of 2011 but would be extended through 2014.

§ 6. Electric Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit Bonds

• This section offers additional tax-credit bonds and property bonds for refueling stations.

§ 7. Electric Drive Vehicle Infrastructure Planning

• The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 is amended to require electric utilities to plan for infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles, including smart grid integration, minimum standards and protocols, and charging infrastructure.

§ 8. Electric Drive Component and Infrastructure Manufacturing Loan Program

• The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a program to provide up to $1 billion in loans to eligible suppliers of EVs, vehicle components, and infrastructure.

§ 9. Loan Guarantees for Advanced Battery Purchases for Use in Stationary Applications

• The Secretary of Energy shall establish a program to provide loan guarantees for advanced battery purchasers.

§ 10. Federal Fleets

• The bill authorizes $45 million for a pilot program for the General Services Administrator to acquire one thousand commercially available EVs and the necessary qualified infrastructure.