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The NVH performance of electric vehicles is a key indicator of vehicle quality, being the structure-borne transmission predominating at low frequencies. Many issues are typically generated by high vibrations, transmitted through different paths, and then radiated acoustically into the cabin. A combined analysis, with both finite-element and multi-body models, enables to predict the interior vehicle noise and vibration earlier in the development phases, to reduce the development time and moreover to optimize components with an increased efficiency level. In the present work, a simulation of a Hyundai electric vehicle has been performed in IDIADA VPG with a full vehicle multibody (MBD) model, followed by vibration/acoustic simulations with a Finite elements model (FEM) in MSC. Nastran to analyze the comfort. Firstly, a full vehicle MBD model has been developed in MSC. ADAMS/Car including representative flexible bodies (generated from FEM part models).

Studies in the EU and the USA found higher deformation and occupant injuries in frontal crashes when the vehicle was loaded outboard (frontal crashes with a small overlap). Due to that, in 2012 the IIHS began to evaluate the small overlap front crashworthiness in order to solve this problem.A set of small overlap tests were carried out at IDIADA’s (Institute of Applied Automotive Research ) passive safety laboratory and the importance of identifying the forces applied in each structural element involved in small overlap crash were determined. One of the most important structural elements in the small overlap test is the wheel. Its interaction in a small overlap crash can modify the vehicle interaction at the crash, which at the laboratory the interaction is with a barrier. That interaction has a big influence at the vehicle development and design strategy.

South East Asia is one of the regions with highest traffic-related fatality rates worldwide −18.5 fatalities per 100.000 inhabitants-. In response to that, governments of ASEAN countries are currently introducing new regulations, which will help to improve the road safety standards in the region. This paper reviews new safety regulations in force of following ASEAN countries: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. General safety trends promote the approach to international standards as well as the adoption of UNECE regulations. In fact, the 1958 agreement was signed by Thailand and Malaysia in 2006. Besides, Malaysia has gradually adopted fifty-three UNECE regulations so far and is currently considering the inclusion of twenty-four more. After the success of other NCAP organizations, the ASEAN NCAP assessment program was established in 2011.

In a near future, platooning could become one of the most accessible strategies to help reduce the consumption of fuel and the emissions of toxic gases in the atmosphere, while also adding safety to the users and generating a better traffic flow. Nowadays, the auto industry and the governments are facing enormous challenges to reduce the amount of pollution in the atmosphere, to decrease the dependency on fossil fuels to generate energy and to increase safety on the highways. Several approaches are made, such as bio-fuels, hybrid and electric vehicles, engine downsizing and new modes of transportation that are more versatile and environmentally friendly. The downside is that most of this efforts are costly and require time and expense to be put to work. Platooning is an alternative option to minimize the impact to the environment profiting from the aerodynamic effects that occur naturally around a moving vehicle.

Durability is one of the most important goals in the current state-of the-art design of new vehicles. Usually the durability performance is validated by the vehicle manufacturers driving directly the prototypes in field or through endurance schedules on proving ground fatigue surfaces. The validation procedure driving directly in field is very expensive and time-consuming. The reliability and accuracy of validations in proving ground surfaces are many times unknown, mainly because such endurance schedules are not fitted to the market (driving conditions and type of roads) and historically are based on empirical procedures. This paper discusses how IDIADA has developed a methodology to design accelerated durability schedules which obtain less expensive and fast durability validation procedures, as well as being reliable and fitted to the market and durability targets.