Archive
Dec 2017
EU Proposes Post 2020 CO2 Emissions Targets for Light Duty Vehicles
The European Commission have recently published a draft Regulation proposing average CO2 emissions targets to be applied to light duty vehicles for the period beyond 2020. This new Regulation would repeal and replace the current EU Regulations on average CO2 emissions targets applicable to both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles with effect from 1st January 2020 and proposes the introduction of CO2 emissions targets that are reduced by 15% from 2025 and by 30% from 2030.
Nov 2017
NHTSA and the U.S. DOT Update Voluntary Guidance Policy for Automated Vehicles
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are continuing their quest to support the introduction of automation technologies that hold the promise of fulfilling the NHTSA's mission of reducing the number of injuries and fatalities on our roads. After issuing Federal Automated Vehicles Policy (FAVP) in September 2016 and welcoming comments and feedback, they used that feedback to generate Automated Driving Systems 2.0 - A Vision for Safety in September 2017. They are again receiving written comments and have scheduled a public meeting for November 6th to directly receive feedback for further refinement of the guidance document for manufacturers and state governments.
Oct 2017
EU Updates Requirements on Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS)
EU Regulation No. 2017/1576, which was published on 19th September 2017, amends EU Regulation No. 540/2014 on the sound levels produced by motor vehicles to introduce new requirements on acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS). The new requirements on AVAS introduced by this EU Regulation are aligned with, and in many instances specifically reference, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 138 on quiet road transport vehicles (QRTV) with regard to their reduced audibility.
Sep 2017
ECE Clarifies Anti-Lock Brake System Deactivation Switch Requirements for Motorcycles
On 26th July 2017, an 04 series of amendments to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 78 covering the braking requirements for all L category vehicles was published. This series of amendments introduces some new requirements to specify the conditions where it is permissible to fit an anti-lock braking system deactivation switch and the operational requirements that such switches must comply with.
Aug 2017
New EU Regulations on Light Duty Vehicle Emissions Published
On 7th July 2017, five important new EU Regulations on light duty vehicle emissions were published in the Official Journal of the European Union. These new EU Regulations covered the replacement of the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) with the Worldwide Harmonised Light Duty Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), the introduction of a new evaporative emissions test procedure and the extension of the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) requirements to cover the measurement of particulate number (PN) emissions.
Jul 2017
Updated ECE Requirements on Automatically Commanded Steering Functions Proposed
To address the rapid development and deployment of advanced driver assistance systems that has occurred in the last couple of years, the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) has recently adopted an 02 series of amendments to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 79 on steering systems. This 02 series of amendments introduces new and revised requirements to cover park assist systems, remote control parking systems, lane keep assist systems and corrective steering functions.
Jun 2017
Amendments to EU Requirements on Access to Repair and Maintenance Information Proposed
At a Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles (TCMV) meeting on 11th May 2017, the European Commission presented draft amendments to both the light duty vehicle and heavy duty vehicle emissions Regulations to update the requirements on the access to repair and maintenance information (RMI). The proposed changes would require RMI information to be provided in accordance with the technical specifications of the latest ISO standard on this subject, ISO 18541, and require usage of the SERMI scheme for the accreditation, approval and authorisation of independent operators requiring access to information on vehicle security features.
May 2017
Draft Indian Standard on New Mandatory Safety Features Published
In October 2016, the Indian Ministry of Transport and Highways published a proposal to mandate the fitment of speed warning devices, safety belt reminders, manual overrides for central locking systems, driver's air bags and vehicle reverse parking alert systems to M1 category vehicles, i.e. passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles. Since then, the Indian Automotive Industry Standards Committee (AISC) have been drafting a new Indian Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) to cover the technical requirements for these systems and, on 6th April 2017, a draft version of this new AIS was published.
Apr 2017
Expanded ECE Requirements on Safety Belt Reminder Fitment Proposed
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 16 on safety belts and restraints systems currently mandates the fitment of a safety belt reminder system to the driver’s seating position of M1 category vehicles, i.e. passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles with less than 10 seats. However, in an attempt to improve safety belt usage rates, an 07 series of amendments to UN ECE Regulation No. 16 was recently adopted by the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) which extends the mandatory safety belt reminder system fitment requirements to other seating positions and to other categories of vehicle.
Mar 2017
European Commission Guidance Document on "Defeat Devices" Published
To address the highly publicised "emissions scandal", the European Commission have instigated a number of changes to the European Union's legal requirements on emissions over the past 18 months. The latest of these is a Commission Notice, which was published on 26th January 2017, providing guidance to the European Type Approval Authorities on the measures that they should be implementing to ensure that they identify the presence of potential "defeat devices".