; (2) develop new materials to improve overall vehicle energy storage system safety and abuse tolerance; (3) perform abuse testing; (4) advance and perform testing techniques; (5) demonstrate detailed failure analyses; (6) mitigate vehicle energy storage cell and system failures, including hydrogen fuel storage tanks; and (7) develop crush-induced battery safety protocols and technical standards to improve robustness. 7. Advanced Vehicle Technologies Advisory Committee (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the Advanced Vehicle Technologies Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the advisory committee ) to advise the Secretary on vehicle technology and mobility system research advancements. The advisory committee shall be composed of not fewer than 15 members, including representatives of research and academic institutions, environmental organizations, industry, and nongovernmental entities, including relevant labor organizations and associations representing automobile manufacturers, who are qualified to provide advice on the research, development, and demonstration activities under this Act (in this section referred to as the DOE Vehicle Program ). (b) Assessment The advisory committee shall assess— (1) the current state of United States competitiveness in advancing vehicle technologies and mobility systems, including— (A) the scope and scale of United States investments in sustainable and advanced transportation research, development, and demonstration; and (B) the scope and scale of research, development, and demonstration activities to lower vehicle and fuel lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions; (2) progress made in implementing the DOE Vehicle Program, including progress toward meeting the technical milestones as determined by the Secretary pursuant to section 4; (3) the balance of research and development activities and funding across the DOE Vehicle Program