Archive
Nov 2015
Amendments to the EU General Safety Regulation Proposed to Update the List of UN ECE Regulations that Apply on a Compulsory Basis
At a Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles (TCMV) meeting held on 6th October, 2015, the European Commission submitted a proposal to amend the General Safety Regulation, (EC) No. 661/2009, to update the list of UN ECE Regulations that apply on a compulsory basis to include their latest published amendment levels and to update the list of type approvals to repealed EC Directives that remain valid for type approval purposes.
Oct 2015
Proposal to add Particulate Matter Measurement into the EU Heavy Duty In-Service Emissions Testing Requirements
At a Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles (TCMV) meeting held on 10th September, 2015, the European Commission submitted a proposal to amend the implementing Regulation on heavy duty emissions, (EU) No. 582/2011, to expand the requirements on portable emissions measuring systems (PEMS) testing. Currently, only gaseous emissions (i.e. carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx)) are measured during PEMS testing, but the European Commission are now proposing to also measure the mass of particulate matter (PM) emissions during PEMS testing.
Sep 2015
New ECE Regulation on Electric Vehicles of Category L Adopted
To compliment ECE 100.02, which covers safety requirements for vehicles of categories M and N equipped with an electric powertrain, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) have now developed an equivalent Regulation covering L category vehicles, i.e. motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles. This new Regulation, which has been allocated the number ECE 136, was formally adopted by the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) at their 166th session in June 2015.
Aug 2015
ECE Regulation on the Prevention of Fire Risks Updated to Mandate Rear Impact Testing
The 03 series of amendments to UN ECE Regulation No. 34 on the prevention of fire risks were published on 22nd June 2015. This new series of amendments requires all M1 and N1 category vehicles with a maximum mass not exceeding 2,800 kg to be subjected to a rear impact test at 48 - 52 km/h and to comply with specific maximum fuel leakage rates during and after the impact test.
Jul 2015
The NHTSA Issues Final Rule to Add New Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 136 Electronic Stability Control Systems for Heavy Vehicles
On June 23, 2015 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register that establishes a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 136, Electronic Stability Control Systems for Heavy Vehicles. It is intended to reduce rollover and loss of directional control of truck tractors and large buses. It requires the affected vehicles to be equipped with an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system that meets the equipment and performance criteria of the new standard. Based on the data analysis research, NHTSA has determined that ESC systems can be 40 to 56 percent effective in reducing first-event untripped rollovers and 14 percent effective in eliminating loss-of-control crashes caused by severe oversteer or understeer conditions. The effective date of this rule is August 24, 2015 (implementation date depends on vehicle configuration) and petitions for reconsideration of this Final Rule must be received not later than August 7, 2015.
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.