Standard Compliance

Through Standard Compliance, covered state and alternative fuel provider fleets may meet their Energy Policy Act (EPAct) requirements annually using one or more of the following petroleum reduction methods.

Covered state and alternative fuel provider fleets may meet their EPAct requirements each year through Standard Compliance by acquiring alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) as a percentage of their light-duty, non-excluded vehicle acquisitions. Excluded vehicles do not count toward a fleet's light-duty vehicle (LDV) count.

Fleets may also convert conventional vehicles to run on alternative fuel within 4 months of acquiring the vehicles.

Requirement for state fleets—75% of light-duty, non-excluded vehicles acquired annually must be alternative fuel vehicles.

Requirement for alternative fuel provider fleets—90% of light-duty, non-excluded vehicles acquired annually must be alternative fuel vehicles.

Covered state and alternative fuel provider fleets can earn credit toward compliance with their EPAct requirements by acquiring creditable non-AFV electric vehicles, which include neighborhood electric vehicles and the non-AFV versions of the following light-duty vehicles:

  • Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)
  • Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)
  • Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)

Covered fleets can meet EPAct requirements by investing in alternative fuel infrastructure, alternative fuel non-road equipment, or emerging vehicle technology.

  • Alternative fuel infrastructure is property used for the storage and dispensing of an alternative fuel into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle propelled by such fuel, or used for recharging motor vehicles or neighborhood electric vehicles propelled by electricity. In plain English, alternative fuel infrastructure is an alternative fueling station, a charging station, or a battery-exchange station.
  • Alternative fuel non-road equipment refers to mobile equipment that operates on alternative fuel, including but not limited to riding lawnmowers, forklifts, tractors, bulldozers, backhoes, front-end loaders, and rollers/compactors.
  • Emerging technology refers to a pre-production or pre-commercially available version of a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), medium- or heavy-duty electric vehicle, medium- or heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicle, neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV), or plug-in electric drive vehicle (PEV).

Read more about earning investment credits.

Covered state and alternative fuel provider fleets may meet part of their EPAct requirements each year by purchasing biodiesel in blends of 20% biodiesel (B20) or higher for use in medium- or heavy-duty vehicles.

Covered fleets can earn one credit for each 450 gallons of pure biodiesel (B100) they purchase for use each year and can use these credits to achieve up to 50% of their AFV-acquisition requirement. Biodiesel fuel providers may achieve up to 100% of their requirement. Only the pure biodiesel portion of a biodiesel blend counts toward biodiesel credit. Petroleum in biodiesel blends does not count for credit. Learn more about calculating biodiesel credits in the EPAct Biodiesel Credit Guidance.

Fleets may not bank or trade biodiesel credits. AFV credits, however, may be banked or traded, so fleets should apply biodiesel credits toward their AFV-acquisition requirement before applying AFV acquisitions. When pairing biodiesel credits with AFV acquisitions, fleets may end up with credits to bank or trade.

Covered state and alternative fuel provider fleets may meet EPAct requirements by using banked AFV credits or purchasing credits from other covered fleets.

Earning Credits

Covered fleets can earn AFV credits by acquiring excess light-duty alternative fuel vehicles, acquiring non-AFV electric vehicles, and investing in alternative fuel infrastructure, alternative fuel non-road equipment, or emerging technology. After satisfying their AFV-acquisition requirements, fleets also may earn AFV credits for acquiring medium- or heavy-duty AFVs and/or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that are not AFVs. Many fleets acquire more AFVs (and other creditable vehicles) than required in a single model year.

Banking Credits

After satisfying their AFV-acquisition requirements, covered fleets may bank excess credits for future use or sell or trade banked credits to other fleets.

Buying or Trading Credits

Credit trading is allowed between fleets that need to buy, sell, or trade banked credits. Learn more about credit trading.

After you locate a buyer or seller, use the proof of credit transfer form. This form requires the original signatures of the buyer and seller. DOE will notify the buyer and seller when the trade is approved.

Compliance Schedule

Find deadlines for model year 2024.

Reporting Tool

Covered fleets must submit a report to DOE by December 31 after each model year to document compliance with EPAct requirements.

Exemptions

Covered fleets may apply for an exemption from their AFV acquisition requirements.

For more information, review the EPAct Standard Compliance Guidelines.