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Hybrid III 10 Year Old Dummy

On November 24, 2010 NHTSA published a notice in the Federal Register at 75 FR 71648 proposing to amend FMVSS 213 regarding a Hybrid III 10 year old test dummy that the agency seeks to use in the compliance test procedures of the standard. This notice (an SNPRM) supplements a 2005 NPRM and a 2008 SNPRM previously published in this rulemaking.  In the 2005 NPRM, in response to Anton's Law, NHTSA proposed to adopt the 10-year-old child test dummy into FMVSS 213 to test child restraints for older children. Subsequently, to address variation that was found in dummy readings due to chin-to-chest contact, NHTSA published the 2008 SNPRM to propose a NHTSA-developed procedure for positioning the test dummy in belt-positioning seats. Comments on the SNPRM objected to the positioning procedure, and some suggested an alternative procedure developed by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). This latest SNPRM proposes to use the UMTRI procedure to position the test dummy rather than the NHTSA-developed procedure.  In the notice, NHTSA states that the 10-year-old child dummy may sometimes experience stiff contact between its chin and upper sternal bib region which may result in an unrealistically high value of the head injury criterion (HIC)referenced in the standard.  As a result, NHTSA is proposing that the dummy's HIC measurement will not be used to assess the compliance of the tested child restraint. The SNPRM also proposes other amendments to FMVSS 213, including a proposal to permit NHTSA to use, at the manufacturer's option, the Hybrid II or Hybrid III versions of the 6-year-old test dummy, and a proposal to use the UMTRI procedure to position the Hybrid III 6-year-old and 10-year-old dummies when testing belt-positioning seats.

Comments on the SNPRM are due January 24, 2011, however, comments on NHTSA reinstating a provision in FMVSS 213 that permitted NHTSA to use, at the manufacturer's option, the Hybrid II or Hybrid III versions of the 6-year-old dummy in compliance testing should be received by December 24, 2010.

ZEV Amendments Outlined by CARB Staff

CARB staff outlined today changes planned for the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulation.  Based on the changes being considered, battery electric vehicles would likely comprise about 3% of the vehicles sold in CA by large volume manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, GM, Chrysler and Ford).  Because of the regulation, this percentage is expected to increase to about 19% by 2025.  Per the reg change, many more manufacturers would be subject to the ZEV regulation (companies like VW, BMW, Daimler, Hyundai, Mazda and Kia).  These intermediate volume manufacturers, however, would be allowed to comply by producing Transitional Zero Electric Vehicles or TZEVs.  TZEVs must be fueled by either electricity or hydrogen, certified to CARB's Super Low Emission Vehicle regs, and carry a battery warranty of 10 years/150,000 miles and an emissions warranty of 15 years/15,000 miles.  TZEVs will earn 1/2 a ZEV credit.  Under the plan, vehicles known as PZEVs and AT PZEVs (i.e., vehicles like the current Toyota Prius) will no longer qualify for ZEV credits after 2017MY.

 

CARB to Hold LEV III Workshop on November 16

On November 16, CARB will hold a workshop to discuss modifications to California regulatory programs affecting light and medium duty motor vehicles.  In addition to addressing GHG standards for the 2017-2025 timeframe, CARB will also be presenting proposed amendments to the ZEV regulations.  The workshop will be held in El Monte, Ca (9am to 5 pm).  The workshop will be accessible online viahttp://www.calepa.ca.gov/broadcast/?BDO=1. For a copy of the workshop notice and agenda, click here.