Glossary of Laws and Incentives Terms


Includes grants toward eligible project costs.

Tax Incentives

Includes tax credits and exemptions.

Loans and Leases

Includes direct loans, loan guarantees, and leases.


Includes rebates for the purchase of vehicles, sale of fuel, etc.


Exemptions from restrictions and requirements such as roadway weight limitations, parking fees, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane access, and vehicle inspections.

Registration or Licensing

Includes vehicle registration/licensing, fuel use and dispensing permitting, fuel production licensing, fuel dispenser labeling, and vehicle conversion certification requirements.

Fuel Production or Quality

Includes ASTM specifications and carbon intensity standards.

Driving or Idling

Vehicle operation regulations such as idling restrictions or limited access to roadways.

Acquisition or Fuel Use

Includes alternative fuel/advanced vehicle acquisition requirements and alternative fuel use requirements.


Biodiesel is produced from a range of vegetable oils and animal fats. Pure biodiesel (B100) or biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel can be used to fuel diesel vehicles.


Ethanol is made from various plant materials, such as corn. Ethanol is blended with gasoline to fuel vehicles (e.g., E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline).

Natural Gas

Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons. Natural gas can be stored onboard a vehicle as a gas (compressed natural gas, CNG) or a liquid (liquefied natural gas, LNG).

Propane (LPG)

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or propane, is a three-carbon alkane gas produced as a by-product of natural gas processing or crude oil refining.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen can be used to power fuel cells that generate electricity to run a vehicle's motor.

Fuel Economy or Efficiency

Fuel economy or fuel efficiency is the distance a vehicle travels per unit of fuel used and is commonly measured in miles per gallon (mpg).

Idle Reduction

Idle reduction is a decrease in the time or frequency that an engine runs while the vehicle is at rest.


Electric vehicles (EVs) use batteries or other energy storage devices to store electricity to power the vehicle's motor.

Fuel Taxes

Alternative fuel tax rates, primarily those that differ from conventional fuel tax rates.

Renewable Fuel Standard or Mandate

A renewable fuel standard requires that a specific percentage of the total fuel sold be renewable. A renewable fuel mandate requires that each gallon of fuel sold have a certain renewable content percentage.


Includes discounts/rate reductions, technical assistance, etc.


Includes requirements to promulgate rules, study groups/committees, etc.

Air Quality or Emissions

Includes vehicle emissions standards and regulations.

Climate Change or Energy Initiatives

Petroleum reduction initiatives and programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and promoting energy independence.

Aftermarket Conversions

Aftermarket conversions refer to original equipment manufacturer vehicles altered to operate on another fuel type, such as propane, natural gas, ethanol, or electricity.


Neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) are small electric vehicles typically limited to speeds of less and 35 miles per hour.


Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with the battery and electric motor of an electric vehicle.


Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are equipped with batteries that can be charged by plugging into an electrical outlet.


Includes emerging fuel types and additional technologies.

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles are also known as driverless or self-driving cars.

Private Business

Personal Vehicle Owner or Driver

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Operator

Alternative Fuel Purchaser

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Manufacturer or Retrofitter

Government Entity