MotorVehicleRegs.COM

Fuel Economy Label Information for 2012 Model Year

On August 8, 2011, EPA issued a “Dear Manufacturer” letter (CISD-11-11) discussing the following:

• Information necessary to print fuel economy labels;
• Instructions for submitting information to EPA for the Fuel Economy Guide for alternative-fueled vehicles, CNG vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and sport utility vehicles;
• Instructions and guidance for manufacturers who voluntarily wish to use the new 2013 labeling requirements for 2012 vehicles;
• The timetable for inclusion of fuel economy label values in the 2012 model year Fuel Economy Guide.

For a copy of the letter, click Download CISD-11-11.

 

EV Shock Protection

On July 29, 2011 NHTSA will publish a final rule responding to petitions for reconsideration of a 2010 final rule that amended the electrical shock protection requirements to facilitate the development and introduction of fuel cell vehicles and the next generation of hybrid and battery electric powered  vehicles.  This new final rule addresses issues raised in the petitions for reconsideration relating to the scope and applicability of the standard, the definitions in the standard, the retention requirements for electric energy storage/conversion systems, the electrical isolation requirements, the test specifications and requirements for electrical isolation monitoring, the state-of-charge of electric energy storage devices prior to the crash tests, a proposed protective barrier compliance option for electrical safety, the use of alternative gas to crash test hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and a proposed low-energy compliance option for electrical safety.    

The effective date of this final rule is September 1, 2011 with optional early compliance.   

NHTSA contact: Ms. Shashi Kuppa, Office of Crashworthiness Standards (telephone:  202-366-3827).

Docket reference: NHTSA-2011-0107 

 

Proposed E10 Cert Spec

Air Resources Board staff has posted an updated proposed E10 certification fuel specification on California Certification Fuel Development webpage. Staff is proposing to update specifications for certification fuel for on-road gasoline vehicles; the proposed specifications will be considered by our Board together with proposed Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) III standards later this year. The updated proposed E10 certification fuel can be found here:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/gasoline/certfuel/Proposed_E10_Certification_Fuel_v8.0.pdf

The new California Certification Fuel Development webpage can be found here:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/gasoline/certfuel/certfuel.htm

 

Regulatory and Legislative Tracking Reports

From the desk of Dale Kardos,

Since 1995, Dale Kardos & Associates, Inc., has been helping automotive clients all over the world ensure compliance with safety, fuel economy and emissions regulations.  We currently offer three monthly tracking reports that are designed to help everyone from the compliance expert to the busy CEO stay informed and up to date on the latest regulatory and legislative activities affecting motor vehicle manufacturers.  Our tracking reports are released on a monthly basis and they can be purchased individually or as part of a package.  Here’s a short summary of what they entail:

  1) The Reg Update: This is the report that we are best known for.  It’s the "must have" for the guy who's responsible for compliance.  It’s the report that documents well over a decade’s worth of tracking U.S. and Canadian rulemaking proceedings concerning safety, emissions and fuel economy.  Subscribed to by nearly every major automaker doing business in the U.S., the report is intended for the compliance professional.  It has two main functions: 1) it will help you stay on top of the latest regulatory activities; and 2) it’s there waiting for you when you need to research an older rulemaking (be it from last year or ten years ago).  It contains links to virtually every important NHTSA, CARB, EPA, and Transport Canada proposal or final rule published in the past decade. 

 2) The U.S. Motor Vehicle Regulatory and Legislative Update: Intended for the corporate executive, this report summarizes the past month’s regulatory and legislative activities affecting motor vehicle manufacturers.  It covers Congress, EPA, NHTSA, CARB, DOE, and occasionally other agency actions.  It’s typically about 5 pages.  Spend five minutes reading this report each month and you’ll be completely up to date on all new legislative and regulatory activity affecting the auto industry.

3) A Report on the Status of Motor Vehicle Related Legislation in the 112^th Congress: Similar in style to the Reg Update, only this report is specific to federal legislation affecting the auto industry.  As new legislation is introduced each month, it gets added to the report and so, not unlike the Reg Update, it grows with every monthly update.  And as the legislative session proceeds, we update the report to reflect the latest status for each of the bills we are tracking. The legislation is organized by category (e.g., financial incentives, energy and environment, alt fuel vehicles, safety, trade, etc.).

If you are interested in learning more about these reports, please give us a call or send us an email and we’ll be happy to forward you samples and give you our latest pricing.  Contact Dale Kardos at (202) 567-2926 or dale.kardos@motorvehicleregs.com.