Archive
Oct 2020
The NHTSA/DOT issue Interim Final Rule and Request for Comments Regarding Delay of FMVSS 141 Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
NHTSA has published an Interim Final Rule along with a Request for Comments in response to a petition asking for relief in meeting phase-in and full compliance dates for FMVSS 141 - Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. Assembly and supplier part plants that were shut down due to COVID-19 precautions are causing issues in meeting the projected timing for compliance. Initial NHTSA response is a 6 month delay in compliance dates for FMVSS 141.
Sep 2020
EU Proposes Revisions to the Post 2020 Average CO2 Monitoring Requirements for Light Duty Vehicles
As specified in Regulation (EU) 2019/631, the average CO2 emissions targets applicable to passenger car and light commercial vehicle manufacturers will switch from being based on New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) figures to being based on Worldwide Harmonised Light Duty Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) figures from January 1, 2021. On August 4, 2020, the European Commission published a draft Regulation proposing amendments to (EU) 2019/631 to further facilitate the transition to WLTP based average CO2 emissions targets.
Aug 2020
New UN ECE Regulations on Cyber Security and Software Updates Adopted
At the 181st session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) in June 2020, two new draft UN ECE Regulations relating to vehicle electronic systems were adopted. The first of these new draft Regulations, now designated ECE 155-00, introduces requirements on the cyber security of onboard vehicle electronic systems and on the cyber security management systems that vehicle manufacturers must have in place. The second new draft Regulation, now designated ECE 156-00, introduces requirements on software updates to in-service vehicles, including "over the air" software updates, and on the software management systems that vehicle manufacturers must have in place.
Jul 2020
New Chinese Standards on Electric Vehicles and Batteries Published
As part of an exercise to update the safety requirements applicable to electrically powered vehicles, China has recently published three new Chinese standards. GB 38031-2020 is a new standard covering safety requirements for electric vehicle batteries, which replaces two existing GB/T standards, GB 18384-2020 is a new standard covering safety requirements for electric vehicles, which replaces three existing GB/T standards and GB 38032-2020 is a completely new standard introducing specific safety requirements for electric and hybrid electric buses.
Jun 2020
Updates to ECE Regulation on Lighting Installation Adopted
At the 180th session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) in March 2020, an 07 Series of Amendments to UN ECE Regulation No. 48 on lighting installation were adopted. This new Series of Amendments introduces revised requirements on daytime running lamps and on the automatic switching between daytime running lamps and dipped beam headlamps to clarify their application. In line with the requirements introduced by EU Regulation No. 2019/2144 on General Safety, this new Series of Amendments also mandates the fitment of an emergency stop signal to all motor vehicles.
May 2020
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Proposes Revisions to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs) to Accommodate Automated Driving Systems (ADS)
In the March 30th Federal Register (Vol. 85; No.61) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a proposal to modify many of the 200 Series Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to accommodate vehicles with Automated Driving Systems (ADS). The objective is to maintain current occupant protection performance, eliminate unnecessary barriers, keep current regulatory text structure and remain technology neutral. NHTSA has requested feedback for this proposal by May 29, 2020.
Apr 2020
Taiwan Delays the Introduction Dates for Certain New Safety Requirements
In January 2020, the Taiwanese Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) issued an updated version of their Motor Vehicle Safety Testing Regulations which included a number of amendments that delay the dates from which compliance with the latest safety requirements become mandatory. The requirements that are affected by these delayed introduction dates include those mandating the fitment of daytime running lamps, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS), speed limiters, brake assist systems (BAS) and electronic stability control (ESC) systems.
Mar 2020
USDOT Expands Autonomous Vehicle Support and Requests Comments
The Office of the Secretary for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued Automated Vehicles 4.0: Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies, and released a Request for Comments on the new document in the February 6, 2020 Federal Register. Part of the efforts covered in the document is to expand the scope to include 38 relevant US Government components. Also included in the report are 10 AV technology principles.
Feb 2020
New ECE Regulation on Blind Spot Information Systems Published
On January 13, 2020, a new United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation on Blind Spot Information Systems for the detection of bicycles, ECE Regulation No. 151, was published. This new Regulation applies to heavy trucks, i.e. N2 category vehicles with a GVW exceeding 8,000kg and all N3 category vehicles, and requires them to be fitted with a system which informs the driver when bicycles are in close proximity to the vehicle and warns the driver when a potential collision with a bicycle is detected.
Jan 2020
New EU General Safety Regulation Published
The long awaited new EU General Safety Regulation was finally published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 16th December 2019 as EU Regulation No. 2019/2144. This new Regulation repeals and replaces the existing EU General Safety Regulation, (EC) No. 661/2009, and requires the mandatory fitment of a number of new safety technologies, such as advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS), emergency lane keeping systems and driver drowsiness and attention detection systems.