The COST Act (H.R. 2188), introduced in March 2025, would require the Comptroller General (GAO) to analyze the costs of replacing light-duty gasoline vehicles in the Federal fleet with electric vehicles (including plug-in hybrids) and, separately, with flex-fuel ethanol (E85) vehicles. Each analysis must include the costs to deploy the necessary infrastructure nationwide for the applicable vehicle type and be published online within one year of enactment. In addition, the Act directs the Secretary of Energy to perform a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions analysis, using the GREET model developed by Argonne National Laboratory, for three vehicle types: conventional gasoline, E85-capable flex-fuel, and battery electric vehicles, with a report due to Congress within one year. The bill defines key terms (E85, Federal fleet, light-duty vehicle) and is intended to inform federal fleet purchasing decisions and related policy by comparing costs and environmental impacts of alternative propulsion options.
Key Points
- 1Requires GAO to analyze costs of replacing Federal fleet light-duty gasoline vehicles with electric vehicles (including plug-in hybrids) and to analyze costs of replacing them with flex-fuel ethanol (E85) vehicles.
- 2Each GAO analysis must include the necessary costs to deploy infrastructure for the relevant vehicle type across the nationwide Federal fleet.
- 3GAO must publish the cost analyses online within 1 year after enactment.
- 4The Secretary of Energy must conduct a lifecycle GHG emissions analysis (using the GREET model) for three vehicle types: conventional gasoline, E85-flex-fuel, and battery electric.
- 5The Secretary of Energy must report the lifecycle analyses to the specified House and Senate committees within 1 year of enactment.
- 6Definitions: E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), Federal fleet (federally owned/operated vehicles per the latest GSA report), light-duty vehicle (GVWR ≤ 8,500 pounds).