Archive
Dec 2022
Draft EU Regulation on Euro 7 Emissions Requirements Published
A draft version of the new EU Regulation specifying the Euro 7 emissions requirements that will apply to all M and N category vehicles was published on the European Commission’s "Better Regulation” web site on November 10, 2022 for public consultation. Unsurprisingly, this draft Regulation proposes reductions to the applicable exhaust emissions limits and evaporative emissions limits, and increases in the durability requirements to extend the time periods over which compliance with the emissions requirements must be assured. However, the draft Regulation also proposes the introduction of some more radical measures, such as imposing limits on the particulate emissions from brake and tyre wear, and requirements on the durability of traction batteries of electric vehicles.
Nov 2022
Updates to UN ECE Regulation on Hydrogen Fuel Systems Published
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 134 on hydrogen fuel systems was originally published in June 2015 and, although its scope covered all motor vehicles of categories M and N, the requirements specified within this Regulation were originally drafted to specifically cover light duty vehicles, such as passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Now that the fitment of hydrogen fuel systems to heavy duty vehicles, such as buses and heavy trucks, is becoming more commonplace, recently published Supplement 1 to the 01 Series of Amendments to UN ECE Regulation No. 134 introduces some alternative provisions into the Regulation to ensure that its requirements adequately cater for heavy duty vehicles.
Oct 2022
The Department of Transportation (DOT) Issued a Request for Information (RFI) Enhancing the Safety of Vulnerable Road Users at Intersections
The DoT is searching for data, information and ideas to make intersections safe for Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and vehicles. The request focuses on adapting existing and emerging automation technologies to refine and deploy real-time roadway intersection warning and safety systems to progress toward their goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries across the US transportation system. The RFI contains some very specific questions, but DoT is seeking input on any relevant ideas and work that commenters deem helpful.
Sep 2022
Scope of EU Regulations on Heavy Duty Vehicle CO2 Emissions Expanded
To allow for the full implementation and monitoring of the European Union’s policies on the reduction of CO2 emissions from heavy duty vehicles, it will be necessary to determine the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions performance of a wider range of heavy duty vehicles than is currently specified in EU Regulation No. 2017/2400. To address this situation, in August 2022, the European Commission published two new EU Regulations on this topic. EU Regulation No. 2022/1362 is a new Implementing Regulation which introduces requirements on the performance of heavy trailers and semi-trailers with regard to their influence on the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the motor vehicles towing those trailers. EU Regulation No. 2022/1379 is an Amending Regulation which expands the scope of (EU) 2017/2400 to include additional vehicle types, additional power train types and other CO2 emissions reducing technologies.
Aug 2022
NHTSA Issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Regarding Event Data Recorders (EDRs)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing to amend the regulation for Event Data Recorders (EDRs) to extend the recording period for timed data metrics from 5 seconds of pre-crash data at a frequency of 2Hz to 20s of pre-crash data at a frequency of 10Hz (i.e., increase from 2 samples per second to 10 samples per second).
Jul 2022
Updates to the EU Regulation on Heavy Duty Vehicle Emissions Proposed to Cover Vehicles using Pure Biodiesel
With the increased commercial availability of diesel fuels containing a higher proportion of biodiesel, e.g. (B20) ad (B30), and even pure biodiesel (B100), the European Commission have recognised that the EU Regulation on heavy duty vehicle emissions requires updating to cater for the use of such fuels. Therefore, On June 1, 2022, the European Commission published a draft Regulation containing proposed amendments to (EU) No. 582/2011 to introduce the necessary provisions.
Jun 2022
Draft Updates to the EU Regulation on Light Duty Vehicle Emissions Published
On May 23, 2022, the European Commission published a draft Regulation containing proposed amendments to (EU) 2017/1151 on light duty vehicle emissions. The package of amendments specified within this draft EU Regulation, which are referred to as "Euro 6e", are mostly refinements and clarifications to reflect technical development and experience gained in the application of the existing "Euro 6d" requirements. However, there are some amendments included in this "Euro 6e" proposal which have the effect of increasing the stringency of the applicable requirements.
May 2022
Draft EU Regulations on the Type Approval of Fully Automated Vehicles Published
The European Commission have recently published two draft EU Regulations which pave the way for the more widespread deployment of fully automated vehicles in Europe. One of them is a draft Implementing Regulation specifying uniform procedures and technical specifications for the type approval of the automated driving systems of fully automated motor vehicles. The other one is a draft Delegated Regulation proposing amendments to (EU) 2018/858 to permit the European Small Series Type Approval (EUSSTA) of fully automated motor vehicles.
Apr 2022
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Issued a Request for Comments (RFC) Regarding Adding Additional Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) Plus Other Updates
NHTSA published in the Federal Register a Request for Comments (RFC) on proposed actions to the NCAP (New Car Assessment Program). These actions include adding four new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technologies, a NHTSA plan to develop a new rating system, steps to list the crash avoidance rating information on the vehicle's window sticker (Monroney label), a NHTSA roadmap to update NCAP in phases over the next ten years, a request for comments on expanding NCAP to provide consumer information on safety technologies that could help people drive safer by preventing or limiting risky driving behaviour, and NHTSA's ideas for updating several programmatic aspects of NCAP.
Mar 2022
Draft EU Regulation on Administrative Fines for Type Approval Non-Compliance Published
EU Regulation No. 2018/858 introduced provisions which require the European Commission to carry out compliance verification activities on vehicles and components that are placed on the market in the European Union to ensure that production vehicles and components comply with the type approval requirements. If any non-compliances are identified during these activities, the European Commission is authorised to implement measures on the responsible economic operator to ensure that production vehicles and components are brought back into conformity and, where appropriate, to impose administrative fines. On January 27, 2022, the European Commission published a draft Delegated Regulation specifying the procedure and methods for the calculation and collection of such administrative fines.