42 USC § 17241 - Lightweight materials research and development

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s17241"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 17241 - Lightweight materials research and development"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "17241"
section_name: "Lightweight materials research and development"
chapter_number: 152
chapter_name: "ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "ACCELERATED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT"
part_number: "E"
part_name: "Miscellaneous Provisions"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 651, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1694.)"
---


# § 17241. Lightweight materials research and development

**(a)** **In general** As soon as practicable after December 19, 2007, the Secretary of Energy shall establish a program to determine ways in which the weight of motor vehicles could be reduced to improve fuel efficiency without compromising passenger safety by conducting research, development, and demonstration relating to—

**(1)** the development of new materials (including cast metal composite materials formed by autocombustion synthesis) and material processes that yield a higher strength-to-weight ratio or other properties that reduce vehicle weight; and

**(2)** reducing the cost of—

**(A)** lightweight materials (including high-strength steel alloys, aluminum, magnesium, metal composites, and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites) with the properties required for construction of lighter-weight vehicles; and

**(B)** materials processing, automated manufacturing, joining, and recycling lightweight materials for high-volume applications.

**(b)** **Authorization of appropriations** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $80,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 651, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1694.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after , see , set out as a note under , The Congress.