MotorVehicleRegs.COM

Regulatory and Legislative Tracking Reports for Vehicle Manufacturers and Suppliers

Since 1999, Kardos & Associates LLC has supplied the auto industry with the most comprehensive regulatory and legislative tracking reports available. We currently offer clients the following:

Motor Vehicle Safety & Emissions Regulatory Update (the REG UPDATE)

The REG UPDATE has been tracking US and Canadian regulatory activity impacting the auto industry for over twenty years. Regulations developed by the NHTSA, FMCSA, EPA, FCC, CARB, Transport Canada, and Environment Canada are the focus. For each rulemaking, the Reg Update provides a description of the rulemaking, comment deadlines, effective dates, a docket reference, and links to documents available online. Deadlines and critical path items are color-coded so that you can quickly identify what’s new and important. In addition to being an excellent tool for tracking regulatory activity, the Reg Update is a great archive of past actions. The report contains information on virtually every rulemaking affecting automakers from the past two decades. Approximately 400 pages in length.

U.S. Safety & Fuel Economy Regulatory & Legislative Update
The U.S. Safety & Fuel Economy Regulatory & Legislative Update provides a snapshot of the past month’s legislative and regulatory activities relating to safety, emissions and fuel economy. The report provides brief summaries of notices issued by DOT, EPA, CARB and others. With regard to federal legislation, the report covers newly introduced bills, information on committee hearings, etc. Activities at the state level pertaining to emerging technologies (e.g., automated vehicles, advance driver assistance systems, EVs and EV infrastructure, etc.) are also covered.

Federal Legislation Tracking Report
Our legislative tracking report focuses on matters relating to environment and energy, safety and fuel economy/climate change. The report covers two years-worth of bills (the length of each Congressional session) and includes summaries and status updates for each tracked bill. Links to bill text and related information are provided.

All of our reports are distributed monthly via email as a PDF. Subscribers also get access to an online archive of past reports.

For pricing, contact Dale Kardos at (202) 3064997 or [email protected]. For more information about Kardos & Associates LLC, see www.kardosllc.com.

For a PDF of this information, click here.

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Notice of Funding Opportunity for Automated Driving System Demonstration Grants

On Dec. 21, 2018, DOT announced up to $60 million in federal grant funding for projects that test the safe integration of automated driving systems (ADS) on the nation’s roadways. These grants aim to gather significant safety data to inform rulemaking, foster collaboration amongst state and local government and private partners, and test the safe integration of ADS on our nation’s roads. Grant applications are due in 90 days and must be submitted through www.grants.gov. Awardees will be announced in Spring 2019.

Goals of the ADS Demonstration grants:

• Safety: Test the safe integration of ADS into the nation’s on-road transportation system.
• Data for Safety Analysis and Rulemaking: Ensure significant data gathering and sharing of project data with USDOT and the public throughout the project in near real time.
• Collaboration: Work with innovative State and local governments and private partners to create collaborative environments that harness the collective expertise, ingenuity, and knowledge of multiple stakeholders.

To provide additional information on the ADS demonstration grants, USDOT will host an informational webinar on January 8, 2019.

More information about the ADS Demonstrations Grants is available on www.transportation.gov/av/grants, which includes contact information, FAQs, and link to the NOFO on www.Grants.gov. These resources contain the most comprehensive information about the program.

Questions on ADS Demonstration Grants, please submit to [email protected].

Department of Energy Announces New Funding to Advance Plug-in Electric Vehicle Technologies

On March 08, 2013, DOE announced more than $50 million in funding for new projects that will accelerate the development of advanced plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) technologies to increase vehicle fuel economy and improve performance. This new funding supports the Energy Department's EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, which aims to make PEVs as affordable to own and operate as today's gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 10 years, and will help to advance the technology goals outlined in the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge Blueprint.

The Energy Department will select new research projects that focus on lowering the cost and increasing the efficiency of PEV components, as well as the development of models and tools to predict these vehicles' performance and help improve fuel economy. The Department will fund projects across five major areas of research and development that cover 12 areas of interest, including:

• Advanced lightweighting and propulsion materials: Advanced materials are essential to reducing vehicle weight while maintaining performance and safety, especially in PEVs. Projects selected in this area will contribute to research in cast magnesium alloys, high-strength steel, and dissimilar material joining.
• Advanced battery development: Advances in battery technology can result in less expensive, more efficient batteries that can enable greater all-electric range. Projects selected in this area will improve cell chemistry, composition, and processing; contribute to battery modeling; or develop advanced electrolytes for next generation lithium-ion cells.
• Power electronics: Improving power electronics can lower the cost, improve the efficiency, and decrease the weight of electric traction systems in PEVs. Projects selected in this area will develop lower-cost inverters and capacitors that are capable of withstanding much higher temperatures than current technology and can be commercially manufactured.
• Advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems: Auxiliary loads like heating and cooling have a greater impact on the efficiency of PEVs than conventional vehicles. High efficiency heating and cooling systems can significantly increase all-electric driving range while providing a comfortable temperature for passengers. Projects selected in this area will develop and demonstrate technologies to reduce these auxiliary loads.
• Fuels and lubricants: Fuels and lubricants can increase the efficiency of both future vehicles and those already on the road. Projects selected in this area are expected to improve the fuel efficiency of light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

The Department will accept applications from industry, national laboratories, and university led-teams to address these challenges and enable technologies that will drive innovation in vehicle design.  For more information, click here.  

Monthly Regulatory & Legislative Tracking Reports Available for 2013 - Sign Up Now!

Since 1995, Dale Kardos & Associates, Inc. (DKA Inc.) has been supplying automakers, automotive suppliers and their trade associations with comprehensive detailed regulatory and legislative tracking reports.  Each month, DKA Inc. publishes the following three related, but uniquely-focused, tracking reports:

The Reg Update

The Reg Update is a monthly report that tracks the status of all North American regulatory activity concerning emissions, fuel economy (CO2) and safety (we track all regulatory actions of NHTSA, EPA, California Air Resources Board, Transport Canada, Environment Canada, and Section 177 States (i.e., states that have adopted CA’s Low Emission Vehicle program rules). For each rulemaking, the Reg Update provides electronic links to the latest official publications and includes information concerning comment period deadlines, anticipated future actions, projected implementation dates, and more.  In print since 1998, the Reg Update also serves as a tremendous archive of past actions. 

U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety and Legislative Update

The U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety & Legislative Update is a monthly report summarizing the past month’s legislative and regulatory activity concerning motor vehicle safety, emissions, and fuel economy/GHG issues.  The report provides brief summaries of and electronic links to key Federal Register notices, Congressional bills, public laws, NHTSA interpretation letters, recall listings, defect reports, NCAP test results, etc.  The report also covers financial incentive program announcements coming out of the Department of Energy, California and elsewhere.

Status of Motor Vehicle Related Legislation in the 113^th Congress

This report is devoted to keeping automakers and supplier up-to-date on the status of all legislation pending in the U.S. Congress that may potentially affect the auto industry.  We cover the introduction of all new bills and track their status over the course of the next two years.  We’ll provide updates on any official new activity related to the bill, increases in sponsorship, etc.  The report typically groups bills into the following categories:  Appropriations, Climate Change/GHG/Environment, Financial Incentive Programs, Biofuels and Flex Fuel Vehicles, Funding for Vehicle Development, Safety, Toxic Chemicals, misc.

 Report samples are available via the links below:

1.  Download REG UPDATE (SAMPLE - DEC 2012)

2. Download US Motor Vehicle Regulatory and Legislative Update (Dec 2012)

3. Download 111TH CONGRESS MOTOR VEHICLE LEGISLATION TRACKING SUMMARY (SAMPLE)

Pricing: The above reports can be purchased individually or at a discount (as a package).  A one year subscription is required (12 monthly updates).  For pricing and/or questions, please send an email to Dale Kardos ([email protected]).

Natural Gas Vehicle Funding Available

DOE, through the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), is making $30 million available to fund the development of transformational technologies that reduce the barriers to mass adoption of natural gas use in vehicles. Of particular interest are technologies that enable at-home refueling and low-cost, high energy density on-board storage for natural gas vehicles. To qualify for funding, Concept Papers must be submitted by March 26, 2012.  Companies needing assistance in responding to this funding solicitation can contact Dale Kardos & Associates, Inc via [email protected]. For more information on this funding opportunity, click here. 

Department of Energy Awards More Than $175 Million for Advanced Vehicle Research and Development

On August 10, DOE issued the following press release announcing awards for more than $175 million for advanced vehicle research and development. 

Department of Energy Awards More Than $175 Million for Advanced Vehicle Research and Development

August 10, 2011

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $175 million over the next three to five years to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies. The funding will support 40 projects across 15 states and will help improve the fuel efficiency of next generation vehicles. The projects will target new innovations throughout the vehicle, including better fuels and lubricants, lighter weight materials, longer-lasting and cheaper electric vehicle batteries and components, more efficient engine technologies, and more. This comprehensive approach to vehicle efficiency research and development will help ensure the technologies are available to help automakers achieve recently announced fuel efficiency standards.

Last month, the President announced historic fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks which will bring fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon by Model Year 2025 and which, combined with steps already taken by this administration, will save American families $1.7 trillion at the pump and reduce oil consumption by 12 billion barrels by 2025. Yesterday, the Administration announced of first-of-their-kind fuel-efficiency standards for work trucks, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles, which will save American businesses who operate and own these commercial vehicles approximately $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the program.

"The Department of Energy is investing in new advanced technologies that will significantly improve vehicle fuel economy, save consumers money, and create skilled jobs for Americans," said Secretary Chu. "Investments in the next generation of autos will strengthen our economy and lead to a more fuel-efficient, clean energy future."

The funds will leverage additional investments by the grantees to support projects totaling more than $300 million. The selections announced today focus on eight approaches to improving vehicle efficiency:

• Advanced fuels and lubricants: Eight projects awarded to improve fuels and lubricants that will enable optimal performance of advanced combustion engines.
• Light-weighting materials: Five projects awarded to accelerate commercial availability of lighter weight vehicles using advanced materials that dramatically reduce vehicle weight while maintaining the highest safety standards.
• Light weight multi-material prototype: Two projects awarded to design, build, and test a light-weight vehicle that is 50% lighter than a baseline light-duty vehicle. These projects are being undertaken as part of the Clean Energy Dialogue with Canada.
• Advanced cells and design technology for electric drive batteries: Twelve projects awarded to develop high energy or high power batteries for electric vehicles that should significantly exceed existing state-of-the-art technologies in terms of performance and/or cost.
• Advanced power electronics and electric motor technology: Four projects awarded to develop the next generation of power inverters and electric motors to meet demanding performance targets while achieving significant cost reductions.
• Thermoelectric and enabling engine technology: Three projects awarded to improve the efficiency of thermoelectric devices to convert engine waste heat to electricity. Selections of projects to develop early-stage enabling engine technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions are expected in September.
• Fleet efficiency: Five projects awarded to develop and demonstrate fuel efficient tire and driver feedback technologies that will improve efficiency of the passenger car and commercial fleet.
• Advanced vehicle testing and evaluation: One project awarded to conduct laboratory and field evaluations of advanced technology vehicles and related infrastructure, while developing new or modified test procedures.

Read the full list of award winners.

 

New DOE Funding Opportunity Announced

Today, DOE issued the attached Notice of Intent to Issue FOA No. DE-FOA-0000239 entitled, “FY2010 Vehicle Technologies Program Wide Broad Agency Announcement.” 

DOE expects to issue the FOA in or around the February 2010 timeframe.  The Department envisions awarding multiple financial assistance awards in the form of cost-shared grants/cooperative agreements.  The estimated period of performance for each award will be approximately 2-3 years. 
 
The following areas are expected to be covered by the FOA:

Area of Interest 1: Advanced Fuels and Lubricants Technologies

Subtopic 1(a): Fuels and Lubricants for Advanced Combustion Regimes

Subtopic 1(b): Direct Petroleum Displacement by Liquid Alternative Fuels for CI Engines in Transportation

Subtopic 1(c): Higher efficiency natural gas (CNG, LNG) engines and vehicle platforms for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses.

Area of Interest 2: Lightweighting Materials

Subtopic 2(a): Low Cost Development of Magnesium from a Domestic Source
 
Subtopic 2(b): Demonstration Project for a Multi-material Light Weight Vehicle as part of the Clean Energy Dialogue with Canada

Subtopic 2(c): Development of Low Cost Carbon Fiber

Area of Interest 3: Hybrid and Electric Systems R&D for Advanced Energy Storage and Electric Drive Technologies

Subtopic 3(a): Develop Advanced Cells for Electric Drive Vehicle Batteries

Subtopic 3(b): Improve Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Design

Subtopic 3(c):Modular, Scalable Inverter for Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Electric Traction Drives

Subtopic 3(d): Motors Using No Rare Earth Permanent Magnets for Advanced EDV Electric Traction Drives

Area of Interest 4: Advanced Thermoelectric and Enabling Technologies for Energy Efficient Powertrains

Subtopic 4(a): Solid State Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Devices

Subtopic 4(b):Enabling Technologies for Engine and Powertrain Systems

New DOE Funding for EV Batteries, Biofuels and Carbon Capture

On December 7th, DOE Secretary Chu announced a second round of funding opportunities for transformational energy research projects that will be made available through the Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).  This round of funding focuses specifically on three areas of technology representing new approaches for biofuels, carbon capture, and batteries for electric vehicles:

Areas of focus included under today’s funding opportunity include:

Electrofuels. ARPA-E is seeking new ways to make liquid transportation fuels - without using petroleum or biomass - by using microorganisms to harness chemical or electrical energy to convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuels. Many methods of producing advanced and cellulosic biofuels are under development to lessen our dependence on petroleum and lower carbon emissions. Most of the methods currently under development involve converting biomass or waste, while there are also approaches to directly produce liquid transportation fuels from sunlight and carbon dioxide, typically using photosynthesis. The objective of this topic is to develop an entirely new paradigm for the production of liquid fuels that could overcome the challenges associated with current technologies. Although photosynthetic routes show promise, overall efficiencies remain low. ARPA-E requests innovative proposals which can overcome these challenges through the utilization of metabolic engineering and synthetic biological approaches for the efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to liquid transportation fuels. ARPA-E specifically seeks the development of organisms capable of extracting energy from hydrogen, from reduced earth-abundant metal ions, from robust, inexpensive, readily available organic redox active species, or directly from electric current. Theoretically such an approach could be 10 times more efficient than current photosynthetic-biomass approaches to liquid fuel production.

 Innovative Materials & Processes for Advanced Carbon Capture Technologies (IMPACCT). Coal-fired power plants currently generate approximately 50% of the electricity in the United States. While coal is a cheap and abundant resource, the continued reliance upon coal as an energy source could potentially have serious consequences in terms of global warming. The objective of this topic is to fund high risk, high reward research efforts that will revolutionize technologies that capture carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants, thereby preventing release into the atmosphere. ARPA-E seeks to complement existing DOE efforts in the field of carbon capture, led by the Office of Fossil Energy and National Energy Technology Laboratory, by accelerating promising ideas from the basic research stage towards large-scale demonstrations and ultimately, commercialization. Areas of interest include: low-cost catalysts to enable systems with superior thermodynamics that are not currently practical due to slow kinetics; robust materials that resist degradation from caustic contaminants in flue gas; and advanced capture processes that dramatically reduce the parasitic energy penalties and corresponding increase in the cost of electricity required for carbon capture.

Batteries for Electrical Energy Storage in Transportation (BEEST). In this topic, ARPA-E seeks to develop a new generation of ultra-high energy density, low-cost battery technologies for long electric range plug in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs). The development of high energy, low cost batteries represents the critical barrier to wide-spread deployment of EVs, which if achieved would have a profound impact on U.S. oil security, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic growth. The ambitious goals for this program are largely based upon the aggressive long term EV battery goals set forth by the United States Automotive Battery Consortium, a public-private collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy and leading U.S. automotive companies. If successful, new battery technologies developed under this program will give electrified light-duty vehicles range, performance, lifetime, and cost required to shift transportation energy from oil to the domestically powered U.S. electric grid. ARPA-E's objective is to fund high-risk, high reward research efforts that will promote leadership in this emerging EV battery market.

To submit a concept paper, please visit: https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. For more information about ARPA-E and previously announced awards please visit: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/.

Senator Stabenow, Congressman Peters Announce Legislation to Support the Development of Advanced Technology Vehicles in America

On December 7th, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and U.S. Congressman Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009 (S.2843). The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act will provide funding to the U.S. Department of Energy for advanced vehicle research and development. The funding will be available through competitive grant awards for small, medium, and large manufacturers and suppliers that develop technologies to improve the energy efficiency of vehicles. These efforts include hybrid and electrical systems; advanced batteries and energy storage devices; hydrogen and natural gas systems; refueling and recharging infrastructure; and other advanced vehicle technologies. It will also expand the development of more fuel-efficient medium and heavy duty commercial trucks.

More DOE Vehicle-Related Technology Awards Announced

On November 18^th, DOE announced $104.7 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for eight new projects to establish research and testing facilities at seven DOE National Laboratories.  The projects are in the areas of carbon fiber manufacturing and processing technologies, advanced battery prototype fabrication and testing facilities, and integrated building systems development.  With regard specifically to the carbon fiber and battery projects, the awards are as follows:

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, TN) will receive $34.7 million for carbon fiber manufacturing and processing to construct the Carbon Fiber Technology Center.  The Center will investigate novel manufacturing processes and alternative feedstocks in order to lower the cost of carbon fiber from the current $10-$20 per pound to under $5 per pound.
• Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne, IL) will receive $8.8 million to construct three battery research and development facilities:  a Battery Prototype Cell Fabrication Facility, a Materials Production Scale-Up Facility, and a Post-Test Analysis Facility.
• Idaho National Laboratory (Idaho Falls, ID) will receive $5 million to establish a High Energy Battery Test Facility.  The High Energy Battery Test Facility will possess capabilities that will enable development of low cost batteries that meet real world performance requirements. 
• Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, NM) will receive $4.2 million to modify and enhance its Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory. Abusive testing includes such conditions as over charging, over discharge, short circuits, fire and external heat exposure. The improved battery abuse testing facilities will possess capabilities critical for developing low cost batteries that meet real world performance requirements.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, CO) will receive $2 million to establish a Battery Thermal and Life Test Facility. The Battery Thermal and Life Test Facility will enable researchers to develop lower cost, more robust battery thermal management systems and battery designs.