Regulations/Standards

NHTSA official thanks engineers during SAE Congress keynote The nation's top safety administrator peppered his keynote address to SAE 2012 World Congress attendees with thank-you sentiments to engineers for solving complex problems. Read full story

Permits, prices are challenges for those building EV infrastructure Electric vehicles have support from governments and many corporations, but building an infrastructure to support them still poses many challenges. Installation costs are fairly high and licensing can be a challenge. Read full story

Engineers fear “draconian” 2025 particle-mass target for GDI engines The looming LEV III standards, which include a potential drop of particulate matter emissions to an almost imperceptible 1 mg/mi by 2025—loom like dark clouds over powertrain engineers working on gasoline direct injection (GDI) and diluted/lean-burn combustion technologies, as well as advanced diesels. Read full story

New CAFE regs could bring 'unintended consequences' for small cars OEMs need to prepare their customers’ expectations for new fuel-efficiency technologies aimed at meeting the 2017-25 CAFE standards, stressed an expert panel of engineers at the SAE 2012 World Congress. And the attribute-based standards could adversely impact sales of the smaller vehicle segments, the experts noted. Read full story

Wheelchair-accessible taxi exhibited in New York The MV-1 from Vehicle Production Group is a purpose-built body-on-frame vehicle for wheelchair use with an access ramp and greater interior room than converted taxis. Read full story

Editorial: Selling electrification Government EV mandates don't necessarily match with consumer demand, but hybrid enthusiasm among Gen Y consumers might swing future car buying in the electrified direction. Until then the regulatory authorities may need to help persuade a skeptical public. Read full story

Cadillac XTS first U.S. car with R-1234yf A/C The Cadillac model comes out in late spring, with ATS to follow in mid-summer also with R-1234yf. Paperwork regulatory issues delay production from DuPont-Honeywell joint venture plant in China. SAE committee chairman asks EPA to expedite approvals for service equipment. Read full story

National Academies offers ideas on NHTSA capabilities in vehicle electronics Though supportive of the decision by NHTSA, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to close its investigation related to cases of unintended acceleration in some Toyota models, an arm of the National Academies has issued a report describing as "troubling" NHTSA's inability to convincingly address public concerns about the safety of automotive electronics. Read full story

New standard a major milestone for biofuels The aviation industry is now deploying biofuels on commercial flights after years of demonstration test flights, but high costs will keep bookings few and far between for a few more years. Read full story