COST Act

This legislation mandates two critical analyses to inform future federal transportation policy regarding vehicle electrification and alternative fuels. It requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a detailed cost analysis for replacing gasoline-powered light-duty federal vehicles with either electric vehicles , including plug-in hybrids, or flex-fuel ethanol vehicles . This analysis must encompass all necessary infrastructure deployment costs nationwide, and its findings must be published online within one year of the Act's enactment. Concurrently, the Secretary of Energy must perform a lifecycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions for different vehicle types, utilizing the GREET model. This analysis will compare emissions from a conventional gasoline vehicle , an E85 capable flex-fuel vehicle , and a battery electric vehicle . A report on these findings must be submitted to relevant congressional committees within one year, providing crucial data on environmental impact.