Archive
Apr 2012
UN ECE Regulation on EMC Updated to Cover Electric Vehicle Charging
The 04 series of amendments to UN ECE Regulation No. 10, which were published on 13th March 2012, introduce new requirements to specifically cover vehicles with an external electrical charging capability when they are recharging via an electrical connection to the mains electrical supply.
Mar 2012
New EU Regulation on Gear Shift Indicators Published
After many months of consultation and negotiation, the new EU Implementing Regulation for (EC) No. 661/2009 containing the technical requirements for gear shift indicators was published in the Official Journal on 31st January 2012. This new Regulation, EU Regulation No. 65/2012, contains both the design requirements for gear shift indicators and the detailed test procedures for assessing their performance.
Feb 2012
ECE Regulation on Commercial Vehicle Cab Safety Updated
On 4th January 2012, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) published an 03 series of amendments to Regulation No. 29 on commercial vehicle cab safety which introduced some significant amendments to the impact tests applicable to truck cabs.
Jan 2012
US Proposal to Amend 49 CFR Part 571 FMVSS 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention
On December 12, 2011 the NHTSA published a NPRM which proposes to standardize the operation of controls that are used to stop the vehicle engine or other propulsion system that do not involve the use of a physical key. This action also proposes to require that an audible warning be given to any driver who attempts to shut down the propulsion system without first moving the gear selection control to the Park position, exits a vehicle without having first moved the gear selection control to Park, or exits a vehicle without first turning off the propulsion system.
Dec 2011
EU Proposes New Regulation on Masses and Dimensions
At the Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles (TCMV) meeting on 13th October 2011, the European Commission presented their first draft of the new Implementing Regulation on masses and dimensions which not only combines the requirements from the two repealed Directives on masses and dimensions, but proposes numerous amendments to the requirements.
Nov 2011
New ECE Requirements on Tyre Noise and Rolling Resistance Published
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 117 was originally published in 2005 and introduced requirements on the maximum rolling sound emissions of tyres. In 2006, the 01 series of amendments to ECE Regulation No. 117 were published which added requirements on the minimum wet grip performance of Class C1 tyres (i.e. passenger car tyres approved to ECE Regulation No. 30). Now, the 02 series of amendments have been published which add requirements on the maximum rolling resistance of tyres and increase the stringency of the maximum rolling sound emissions requirements.
Oct 2011
USA Department of Transportation Takes Two Actions Relating to FMVSS 126 - Electronic Stability Control Systems (ESC)
Recently the USA Department of Transportation (DOT) has taken two actions relative to FMVSS 126 - Electronic Stability Control Systems (ESC). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a Final Rule responding to a Petition for Reconsideration regarding the harmonization of FMVSS 126 with Global Technical Regulation (GTR) 8 - Electronic Stability Control Systems, and they have issued a Request for Comments regarding their latest Technical Report on the Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control Systems for Car and Light Trucks & Vans (LTVs).
Sep 2011
USA Final Rule Amending the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) Safety Information on the Monroney (automobile price sticker) Label.
On July 29, 2011 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT), published a Final Rule (Vol. 76, Number 146 Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0025) which amended 49CFR Part 575 - Consumer Information by adding and clarifying safety information appearing on the Monroney label. This activity is part of the larger effort to improve consumer understanding of safety and environmental information for new car buyers. (Reference: NHTSA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also published a Final Rule modifying the fuel economy and environmental impact information in Part 575 (Vol. 76, Number 129 Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0087; July 6, 2011.)
Aug 2011
The USA issues a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 Rulemaking (Pedestrian Safety Act) and requests comments.
On July 12, 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT), published a Notice of Intent / Request for Scoping Comments (Docket No. NHTSA-2011-0100). NHTSA seeks public comment on a range of alternatives and the impacts to be considered in the Environmental Assessment (EA). They also want to identify the most important issues for an in-depth analysis involving the NHTSA pedestrian safety (PEDSAFE) standard for systems that emit a sound during certain operating conditions of electric and hybrid vehicles. The intent of the system is to aid visually-impaired and other pedestrians to detect the presence and operating conditions of the equipped vehicles.
Jul 2011
EU Regulation on Mandatory CO2 Emissions Limits for Light Commercial Vehicles Published
Since the publication of EC Regulation No. 443/2009, which introduced mandatory carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits for new passenger cars, negotiations have been ongoing within Europe to create an equivalent Regulation covering light commercial vehicles. These negotiations finally reached their conclusion on 31st May 2011 with the publication of EU Regulation No. 510/2011 which introduces mandatory carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits for new light commercial vehicles (i.e. vans, pick-ups, etc with a GVW not exceeding 3500 kg).