Skip to Content
U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Federal Fleet Requirements

Federal fleets are subject to several statutory requirements, executive orders, and other policies. To help Federal agencies navigate these requirements, this page is organized into three sections:

Fleet Requirements by Regulation

The timeline below outlines Federal fleet requirements by regulation to demonstrate how Federal fleet requirements evolved over time. Both current and revoked/superseded regulations are included with all revoked requirements noted as such. Regulations include a summary with links to additional requirement information. The full text of this timeline is also available as a downloadable document.

1988: Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988 (AMFA)

Requirements: The first significant legislation to impose alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) requirements on Federal fleets. Required fleets to acquire "the maximum number practicable" of light-duty cars and trucks that were dedicated or dual-fuel vehicles powered by alcohol fuel or natural gas.

This regulation affects the following topics:

1990: Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

Requirements: Required all fleets to meet State Implementation Plan (SIP) requirements for the purchase of clean-fuel fleet vehicles under the Clean-Fuel Fleet Vehicle Program.

1991: Executive Order 12759

Requirements: Required the maximum number practicable of vehicles acquired by the Federal fleet to be AFVs (section 11). Revoked in 1994 and 1999 by subsequent executive orders.

1991: Interagency Committee for Alternative Fuels and Low-Emission Vehicles (INTERFUEL)

Actions: In response to the "Clean-Fuel Fleet Vehicle" program established by the Clean Air Act of 1990, Federal fleet managers began to work with each other to understand the statutory requirements.
Read More

1992: Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct 1992)

Requirements: Certain percentages of Federal light-duty vehicle acquisitions in metropolitan statistical areas must be AFVs. The current requirement of 75% of acquisitions became effective in 1999.

This regulation affects the following topics:

1993: Executive Order 12844

Requirements: Required agencies to adopt aggressive plans to exceed the AFV-acquisition requirements established under section 303(b) of EPAct 1992, and to report annually to DOE on their actions and progress (sections 1 and 6). DOE was tasked with preparing a consolidated annual report to the President and Congress on implementation of the Executive Order. Superseded by E.O. 13031.

1996: Executive Order 13031

Requirements: Required agencies to submit annual compliance reports and to advise the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on their compliance with EPAct 1992. Revoked by E.O. 13149.

1998: Energy Conservation and Reauthorization Act of 1998

Requirements: ECRA required that Federal fleets submit an annual report on compliance to Congress - this was not a requirement prior to the enactment of this legislation. Also, DOE was required to issue rulemaking to establish the biodiesel credit procedures.

This regulation affects the following topics:

2000: Executive Order 13149

Requirements: Required agencies to comply with EPAct 1992; reduce petroleum consumption 20% by 2005, use alternative fuel in AFVs more than 50% of the time the vehicles were in operation. Revoked by E.O. 13423.

2004: AFDC Expansion

Actions: DOE expanded the content of the AFDC beyond alternative fuels to cover the range of options useful to fleets for reducing petroleum use, including hybrid electric vehicles, higher fuel economy, reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT), truck idle reduction, and other measures.

2005: Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005)

Requirements: Section 701 of EPAct 2005 requires dual-fuel AFVs to use alternative fuel 100% of the time unless the agency receives a waiver from DOE due to unavailability or unreasonable expense of the alternative fuel.

This regulation affects the following topics:

2005: OMB Transportation Scorecards

Requirements: Agencies are required to submit planned petroleum reduction initiatives to OMB twice annually. These initiatives, along with compliance of EPAct 1992 and Executive Order 13423, are evaluated.

This requirement affects the following topics:

2007: Executive Order 13423

Requirements: Agencies are required to reduce annual petroleum consumption 2% annually and increase non-petroleum fuel use 10% annually through the year 2015, both relative to a 2005 baseline. Agencies must acquire plug-in hybrid vehicles when they are commercially available and reasonably priced.

This regulation affects the following topics:

2007: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007)

Requirements: Language similar to Executive Order 13423 is included in EISA 2007 Section 142 (DOE is required to conduct a rulemaking to clarify).

This regulation affects the following topics:

2008: OMB Transportation Scorecard Metric Modification

Requirements: Agencies are evaluated on the reduction of waivers received annually under Section 701 of EPAct 2005.

This requirement affects the following topics:

2008: National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 (NDAA 2008)

Section 30.B of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code provides definitions of each of these vehicles. EPAct 1992 AFV acquisition credits will be awarded to federal agencies for acquiring these newly defined AFVs beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2009.

This regulation affects the following topics:

2009: Executive Order 13514

Requirements: Agencies are now required to measure and develop an agency-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target for 2020 based on 2008 baseline. GHG reductions must include 'scope 1' and 'scope 2' emissions as well as exempt vehicles and equipment.

This regulation affects the following topics:

Back to top

Fleet Requirements by Topic

This section organizes Federal fleet requirements by topic, including:

Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Executive Order (E.O.) 13514 requires Federal agencies to inventory and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across three scopes through fiscal year (FY) 2020 (outlined in the greenhouse gas section). Agencies must consider fleet and transportation management during GHG inventory and mitigation processes. Specifically, Federal agencies must consider:

  • Reducing petroleum consumption in agency fleets of 20 or more by 2% each year through FY 2020 compared to a FY 2005 baseline.

Section 141 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 also covers GHG reductions by prohibiting Federal agencies from acquiring light-duty vehicles (LDVs) and medium-duty passenger vehicles that are not low GHG-emitting vehicles.

Back to top

Petroleum Consumption Reduction

E.O. 13514 requires a reduction of petroleum consumption in agency fleets of 20 or more by 2% each year through FY 2020 compared to a FY 2005 baseline. This expands upon previous requirements, including:

  • E.O. 13423 requires Federal agencies with 20 or more vehicles located in the U.S. to decrease annual petroleum consumption by 2% each year through FY 2015 compared to a fiscal year 2005 baseline.

  • EISA 2007 Section 142 requires Federal agencies to decrease annual petroleum consumption by 20% from FY 2005 to FY 2015. Rulemaking is currently underway for this section.

Back to top

Alternative Fuel Use

EISA 2007 Section 142 requires Federal agencies with 20 or more vehicles located in the U.S. to increase annual alternative fuel use 10% each year through FY 2015 compared to a FY 2005 baseline. A rulemaking on this requirement is currently under development.

Section 701 of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 requires Federal dual-fueled alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) to use alternative fuels unless the Secretary of Energy determines that an agency qualifies for a waiver. Agencies submit waiver requests to DOE in June of each year using the Federal Automotive Statistical Tool (FAST). Waivers are granted for vehicles operated by an agency in a particular geographic area in which:

  • The alternative fuel required for use in the vehicle is not reasonably available (within a 5 mile or 15 minute drive of the vehicles' garaged location) as certified to the Secretary by the head of the agency.

  • The cost of the alternative fuel required for use in the vehicle is unreasonably more expensive compared to a gallon of gasoline as certified to the Secretary by the head of the agency.

EPAct 2005 Section 701 also requires the Secretary to monitor compliance by all such fleets and report annually to Congress on the extent to which the requirements are being achieved. The report shall include information on annual reductions in petroleum consumption and the problems, if any, encountered in acquiring alternative fuels. This report is available in the fleet reporting section.

Back to top

Vehicle Acquisition

EPAct 1992, as amended by the Energy Conservation Act (ECRA) of 1998 and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), set statutory requirements for the acquisition of AFVs by Federal agencies. Starting in FY 2000, 75% of LDV acquisitions in covered fleets must be AFVs. Vehicles that weigh less than 8,500 pounds GVWR are considered LDVs.

  • EPAct 1992 requirements apply to fleets of 20 or more LDVs that are centrally fueled or capable of being centrally fueled and are primarily operated in a metropolitan statistical area (MSA)/ consolidated metropolitan area (CMSA). Vehicles heavier than 8,500 pounds GVWR or not located or operated primarily in a covered MSA or CMSA are exempt from these requirements. Law enforcement, emergency, and military tactical vehicles are also exempt.

  • Compliance with EPAct 1992 is met by AFV acquisition credits, which are granted based on the number of AFVs acquired and the quantity of biodiesel fuel used.

    • Federal fleets earn one credit for every bi- or flexible-fuel AFV acquired.
    • An additional credit is earned for acquiring dedicated AFVs as these vehicles operate exclusively on alternative fuels.
    • Three credits are earned for dedicated medium duty vehicles.
    • Four credits are earned for dedicated heavy-duty vehicle acquisitions.
    • Fleets also earn one credit for every 450 gallons of neat biodiesel (B100) or 2,250 gallons of B20 (20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel) used.

E.O 13423 requires Federal agencies to use plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) when commercially available at a cost reasonably comparable, based on life-cycle cost, to non-PHEVs.

EISA of 2007 Section 141 prohibits Federal agencies from acquiring LDVs and medium-duty passenger vehicles that are not low greenhouse gas (GHG)-emitting vehicles.

Back to top

Infrastructure Development

EISA 2007 Section 246 directs Federal agencies to install at least one renewable fuel pump at fleet fueling centers under their jurisdiction by January 1, 2010, and to provide annual reports on their progress in meeting this requirement. All Federal fleet fueling centers that consume less than 100,000 gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) of a single conventional fuel type per year are exempt from this requirement.

Back to top

Agency Fleet Planning

EISA 2007 Section 142 requires Federal agencies to develop executable plans to meet statutory and E.O. fuel consumption requirements and to report annually to DOE on their progress toward meeting the goals laid out in this plan. DOE is also directed to establish interim milestones to assess annual agency progress.

Back to top

Agency Sustainability Planning

E.O. 13514 establishes a fleet component to the overall agency sustainability plan to achieve E.O. 13514 sustainability goals and targets for FY 2011 through FY 2021. The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) links to each agency's sustainability plan.

Back to top

Reporting

EPAct 1992 (as amended by ECRA 1998) requires Federal agencies to report to Congress annually on Federal fleet compliance. These reports are due by February 15 of each year.

Back to top

Guidance

The following guidance documents are offered to help meet fleet management goals and requirements:

Back to top