Technical standards and requirement for bidirectional charging

(a) Regulations Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall issue regulations— (1) establishing technical standards for manufacturers of electric vehicles to standardize bidirectional charging technology; and (2) requiring that all new electric vehicles manufactured beginning in model year 2029 and thereafter be capable of bidirectional charging, including electric vehicles that are light-duty motor vehicles and school buses, except as exempted by the Secretary of Energy, as the Secretary determines appropriate. (b) Civil penalties (1) In general A person that violates a regulation issued under this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $21,000 for each violation. A separate violation occurs for each electric vehicle or item of electric vehicle equipment and for each failure or refusal to allow or perform an act required by this section and the regulations thereunder. The maximum penalty under this subsection for a related series of violations is $105,000,000. (2) Compromise (A) In general The Secretary of Energy may compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this section. (B) Relevant Factors in Determining Amount of Penalty or Compromise In determining the amount of a civil penalty or compromise under this section, the Secretary of Energy shall consider the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation. Such determination shall include, as appropriate— (i) the nature of the defect or noncompliance; (ii) knowledge by the person charged of its obligations under this section; (iii) the number of electric vehicles or items of electric vehicle equipment distributed with the defect or noncompliance; (iv) actions taken by the person charged to identify, investigate, or mitigate the condition; (v) the appropriateness of such penalty in relation to the size of the business of the person charged, including the potential for undue adverse economic impacts; (vi) whether the person has been assessed civil penalties under this section during the most recent 5 years; and (vii) other appropriate factors.