---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 13271"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "13271"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/13271"
units:
  - "Chapter 134 — Energy Policy"
  - "Subchapter IV — Electric Motor Vehicles"
---

# §13271. Definitions


For the purposes of this subchapter—

- (1) the term “antitrust laws” means the Acts set forth in [section 12 of title 15](/usc/15/12.md);
- (2) the term “associated equipment” means equipment necessary for the regeneration, refueling, or recharging of batteries or other forms of electric energy used to power an [electric motor vehicle](#4) and, in the case of [electric-hybrid vehicles](#5), such term includes nonpetroleum-related equipment necessary for, and solely related to, the demonstration of such vehicles;
- (3) the term “discount payment” means the amount determined pursuant to [section 13283 of this title](/usc/42/13283.md);
- (4) the term “electric motor vehicle” means a [motor vehicle](/usc/42/13211.md?p=13) primarily powered by an electric motor that draws current from rechargeable storage batteries, fuel cells, photovoltaic arrays, or other sources of electric current and may include an [electric-hybrid vehicle](#5);
- (5) the term “electric-hybrid vehicle” means a vehicle primarily powered by an electric motor that draws current from rechargeable storage batteries, fuel cells, or other source of electric current and also relies on a non-electric source of power;
- (6) the term “eligible metropolitan area” means any Metropolitan Area (as such term is defined by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to [section 3504 of title 44](/usc/44/3504.md)) with a 1980 population of 250,000 or more that has been designated by a [proposer](#10) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) for a demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under this subchapter, except that the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may designate an area with a 1990 population of 50,000 or more as an eligible metropolitan area;
- (7) the term “infrastructure and support systems” includes support and maintenance services and facilities, electricity delivery mechanisms and methods, regulatory [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of investment in [electric motor vehicles](#4) and [associated equipment](#2), consumer education programs, safety and health procedures, and battery availability, replacement, recycling, and [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7), that may be required to enable electric utilities, manufacturers, and others to support the operation and maintenance of [electric motor vehicles](#4) and [associated equipment](#2);
- (8) the term “[motor vehicle](/usc/42/13211.md?p=13)” has the meaning given such term under [section 7550(2) of this title](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2);
- (9) the term “non-Federal person” means an entity not part of the Federal Government that is either—
  - (A) organized under the laws of the United States or the laws of a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) of the United States; or
  - (B) a unit of [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) or local government;
- (10) the term “proposer” means a [non-Federal person](#9) that submits a proposal to conduct a demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under this subchapter;
- (11) the term “price differential” means—
  - (A) in the case of a purchased [electric motor vehicle](#4), the difference between the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of such [electric motor vehicle](#4) and the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of a [comparable conventionally fueled motor vehicle](/usc/42/13211.md?p=4); and
  - (B) in the case of a leased [electric motor vehicle](#4), the difference between the monthly lease payment of such [electric motor vehicle](#4) over the life of the lease and the monthly lease payment of a [comparable conventionally fueled motor vehicle](/usc/42/13211.md?p=4) over the life of the lease; and
- (12) the term “user” means a person or entity that purchases or leases an [electric motor vehicle](#4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–486, title VI, § 601, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2899.)