Biden administration focuses on EVs, ADAS
The Biden Administration released a $5.8 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2023, taking the first step in the lengthy budget process. The budget proposal builds on the investments made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed last year, by allocating $105 billion to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“The investments in the president’s budget make traveling safer, easier, cleaner, and more affordable for the American people,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “From roads, tunnels, and bridges, to airport and port improvements, electric vehicle chargers, safe bike lanes, and more, we are building a first-rate transportation system for all Americans.”
Included in the budget are important projects for independent vehicle repair shops related to vehicle safety, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicle deployment, and emissions reductions.
The budget includes $49.8 million for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Research program, which studies vehicle improvements and other technical advances that can better protect people in a crash and reduce the likelihood of crashes. Portions of the $49.8 million will go toward advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems (ADS) research that facilitates innovation and development of new tests, tools, and procedures to properly evaluate the safety of new technologies surrounding highly and fully automated vehicles.
In the proposal, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is allocated $1 billion in advance appropriations to work with the newly formed Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to implement the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. This program will assist states in creating a network of convenient, affordable, reliable, and equitable electric vehicle charging stations along the Interstate Highway System to build designated alternative fuel corridors.
The FHWA budget also includes $400 million to implement the new Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants Program, which is designed to further increase electric vehicle charging access in locations throughout the country through competitive grants, and $1.3 billion for the Carbon Reduction Program, which will provide formula grants to states to reduce transportation emissions.
The budget proposal aligns with President Biden’s climate and energy goals and includes $27.5 million in funding for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program and $14.5 million for the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). In August 2021, NHTSA responded to President Biden’s Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment by amending the fuel economy standards for vehicles model year 2024-2026 to require increased stringency for fuel efficiency standards.
In addition to investments in transportation infrastructure, technology, and safety, the president’s budget proposal also includes $303 million — a $118 million increase from the 2022 funding level — targeted for registered apprenticeships in technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation. The budget proposal also includes $200 million in funding for a new career-connected high schools initiative. This program will support competitive grants to partnerships of local education agencies, institutions of higher education, including community colleges, and employers to better integrate high schools and postsecondary education to improve career outcomes for students.
The release of the president’s budget proposal is the kickoff for the months-long budget process. Lawmakers can now begin crafting the legislation that will make up the 2023 federal budget, using President Biden’s proposal to guide them in the administration’s priorities.
