Archive
Jun 2015
EU Regulation on eCall In-Vehicle Systems Published
On 19th May 2015, the European Union published a new Regulation, (EU) No. 2015/758, covering eCall in-vehicle systems. With effect from 31st March 2018, this new Regulation requires all new types of M1 and N1 category vehicle to be permanently fitted with an in vehicle eCall system that automatically contacts the emergency services via a mobile phone network if the vehicle is involved in a severe accident, providing the emergency services with the precise location of the vehicle via GPS and establishing a voice connection between the vehicle and the emergency services.
May 2015
EU Regulation on Advanced Emergency Braking Systems Updated
EU Regulation No. 661/2009 introduced a requirement for the mandatory fitment of advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS) to M2, M3, N2 and N3 Category vehicles and EU Regulation No. 347/2012 specified the technical and performance requirements that such systems must meet. However, (EU) No. 347/2012 did not include AEBS performance requirements for M2 Category vehicles and N2 Category vehicles with a GVW not exceeding 8,000 kg, as these had not been agreed at the time the Regulation was published. Since that time, suitable AEBS performance requirements for these vehicles have been agreed and EU Regulation No. 2015/562 introduces these new requirements into (EU) No. 347/2012.
Apr 2015
The NHTSA Issues Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Amend Seat Belt Anchorage Systems Regulation
Responding to Comments Received for the March 2012 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a Supplementary Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 210. This document outlines some test procedure changes and additions, to address issues that have resulted in compliance test discrepancies between manufacturers, and the NHTSA.
Mar 2015
The NHTSA Issues NPRM to Amend Child Restraint Regulations to Improve Ease of Use
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 225 and 213 to improve ease of use of lower and tether anchorages for child restraints with a vehicle anchorage system. These changes are being pursued to increase the correct use of child restraint anchorage systems and the correct use of child restraints with the ultimate goal of reducing injuries to restrained children in motor vehicle crashes.
Feb 2015
EU Regulation on Passenger Car Mandatory CO2 Emissions Limits Updated to Increase the Average Vehicle Mass Value
Compliance with EU Regulation No. 443/2009 on the CO2 emissions limits for new passenger cars is demonstrated using a formula specified within the Regulation. The formula utilises an average vehicle mass value, known as M0, that was defined when the Regulation was first drafted. Having recently reviewed the vehicle unladen mass values for all passenger cars registered within the EU during calendar years 2011, 2012 and 2013, the European Commission have determined that this average vehicle mass value (M0) needs to be increased from 1372 kg to 1392.4 kg to more accurately reflect the actual unladen mass of new passenger cars. This change has been introduced by EU Regulation No. 2015/6 and will be implemented from 1st January, 2016.
Jan 2015
European Union Proposes New Requirements on Real Driving Emissions
To address concerns that the real world emissions performance of light duty vehicles has not improved in line with the most recent reductions in the applicable type approval limits, especially regarding the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from diesel engined vehicles, the European Commission are proposing an update to the EU Regulation on light duty vehicle emissions. This update would add real driving emissions (RDE) tests where the vehicle is driven on real roads, under real world driving conditions with the vehicle's exhaust emissions being measured by a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) that is small and light enough to be fitted to the vehicle without it affecting the vehicle's performance.
Dec 2014
European Type Approval Requirements for Multi Stage Built Vehicles Updated
Although EC Directive 2007/46/EC on European type approval has always contained specific requirements for vehicles built in multiple stages, experience gained in the application of these requirements since European type approval became mandatory for non-M1 category vehicles has shown them to be inadequate. To address this situation, EU Regulation No. 1171/2014, which was published on 1st November 2014, amends the multi stage build requirements contained in 2007/46/EC to expand and more accurately define them.
Nov 2014
UN ECE Requirements on EMC for "Plug-in" Vehicles Updated
The 05 series of amendments to UN ECE Regulation No. 10 on electromagnetic compatibility were published on 16th October, 2014. This new series of amendments introduces requirements and test procedures for the testing of components used in the recharging system of vehicles with an external electrical recharging capability (i.e. battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) which are equivalent to the whole vehicle requirements and test procedures that were introduced by the 04 series of amendments.
Oct 2014
New Brazilian Resolution on Interior Material Flammability Published
In August 2014, a new Resolution on the flammability of interior materials was published by Brazil's National Traffic Council (CONTRAN). In this new Resolution, Resolution No. 498/2014, the applicability of the interior material flammability requirements has been extended to all types of motor vehicle, regardless of their seating capacity or GVW, and the maximum flame propagation rate has been reduced to 100 mm/min.
Sep 2014
The NHTSA Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which proposes to create a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 150 to require light vehicles to have Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication capability and to specify minimum performance requirements for V2V devices and messages.