Sen. John Barrasso - Ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Sen. John Barrasso - Ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Barrasso, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), along with Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Mike Lee (R-UT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), introduced the Recalculating Electric Vehicle Efficiency for Accuracy and Legitimacy (REVEAL) Act today.
The proposed legislation aims to mandate the Secretary of Energy to adopt more precise criteria when determining the “petroleum-equivalent average fuel economy” for electric vehicles (EVs). This figure is used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for automakers. The bill seeks to prevent any manipulation of these calculations that could indirectly mandate EV production.
“No administration should be able to rig efficiency calculations for electric cars,” stated Senator Barrasso. “The REVEAL Act would prevent the Secretary of Energy from using these faulty calculations to prohibit the sale of gas or diesel-powered cars or trucks. This is a needed step to help fight against the Biden administration’s continued manipulation of the auto market and put Americans back in the driver’s seat.”
Senator Lummis added, “If this administration wants to erode consumer choice and force EVs on the people of Wyoming, then the Department of Energy needs to hold these vehicles to the same standards as their gas-powered counterparts. The benefits of EVs appear illusionary at best, and our bill forces this administration to be transparent by compelling the DOE to more accurately measure the relative efficiency of EVs so the Biden administration can no longer hide behind its unsubstantiated environmental platitudes.”
Senator Lee voiced his support stating, “I'm proud to support Senator Barrasso's REVEAL Act, a crucial step to ensure that federal agencies provide accurate, unbiased information about the efficiency of electric vehicles. For years, federal agencies have exaggerated the fuel efficiency of EVs to artificially promote their adoption by American drivers. It's time to hold our government accountable and ensure Utahns have accurate information to choose the best vehicle for their needs—not the preferences of Washington bureaucrats.”
“The Biden administration continues to push onerous EV-mandates that distort the auto market and limit consumer choice,” said Senator Hoeven. “Our legislation would ensure that federal agencies use realistic measurements, such as range and cold weather performance when evaluating an auto manufacturer’s fleet-wide compliance with fuel economy standards. Doing so will help ensure Americans can get a vehicle that fits their needs and falls within their budget.”
The REVEAL Act outlines several requirements for calculating EV fuel economy:
- Ensure that weight and class comparisons between EVs and gasoline/diesel-fueled vehicles are direct.
- Consider conservation needs for critical minerals used in battery manufacturing.
- Account for extreme temperatures and battery degradation impacts on efficiency.
- Coordinate with the Secretary of Transportation for incorporating new calculation methods into CAFE standards.
Click here to read the bill text.
Alerts Sign-up