42 U.S.C. § 13233 — Data acquisition program

(a) No later than one year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary, through the Energy Information Administration and working with state, regional, and local authorities, had to set up a data collection program running in at least 5 geographically and climatically different regions of the U.S. This is meant to help people who want to manufacture, convert, sell, own, or operate alternative fueled vehicles or fueling facilities. The data must include (1) how many daily motor vehicle trips people make and how many miles per trip, including commuting, business, and recreational trips; (2) the Secretary's projections on the likeliest mix of alternative fueled vehicle use and other transit, including rail and mass transit; (3) cost, performance, environmental, energy, and safety data on alternative fuels and vehicles; and (4) other relevant demographic information and consumer preferences. (b) The Secretary must consult interested parties — including other federal agencies, manufacturers, public utilities, fleet owners and operators, and state or local governments — to decide what data to collect and analyze under subsection (a).