[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12785]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 25, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 91-61; Notice 3]
U.S. Electricar, Inc.; Receipt of Petition for Renewal of
Temporary Exemption From Five Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
U.S. Electricar Corporation of Sebastopol, California, has
petitioned for renewal of NHTSA Temporary Exemption No. 92-3 from five
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (see 57 FR 30997). At the time
the exemption was granted, the petitioner was known as Solar Electric
Engineering, Inc. As of the date of its petition, 70 vehicles had been
sold under the Exemption.
Exemption No. 93-2 expires on June 1, 1994. The petition for
renewal of the exemption was received on March 31, 1994. In accordance
with agency regulations, when a petition for renewal has been filed not
later than 60 days before the termination date of an exemption, the
exemption does not terminate until the Administrator grants or denies
the petition for renewal (49 CFR 555.8(e)).
Notice of receipt of the petition is published in accordance with
agency regulations on the subject and does not represent any judgment
of the agency on the merits of the petition (49 CFR 555.7(a)).
The basis of U.S. Electricar's original petition and its petition
for renewal is that a temporary exemption would facilitate the
development and field evaluation of a low emission motor vehicle.
Renewal is sought for the same portions of the same five standards as
are covered by the original exemption. These are paragraphs S4.2 and
S4.3 of Standard No. 103 Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems,
``the service brake requirements of S5.1 and the parking brake
performance requirements of S5.2'' of Standard No. 105 Hydraulic brake
Systems, paragraph S3.3 of Standard No. 201 Occupant Protection in
Interior Impact, Standard No. 204 Steering Control Rearward
Displacement, and paragraphs S4.1.4.1 and S4.2.2 of Standard No. 208
Occupant Crash Protection.
Under the original exemption, petitioner converted Ford Escorts,
Chevrolet S-10 pickup trucks ``and other FMVSS-compliant vehicles'' to
electric power. It has now substituted conversions of Geo Prizm sedans
for Ford Escorts. Although the vehicles to be converted are certified
by their original manufacturers to conform to all applicable Federal
motor vehicle safety standards, the modifications that Electricar
performs add weight to the converted vehicle and may affect its
compliance with the standards. Until it has satisfied itself that the
conversions conform, petitioner has requested appropriate exemptions.
The modifications that petitioner performs include removal of the
internal combustion engine and fuel system modification or replacement
of the transmission and installation of an electric propulsion system
and battery pack. Springs, shock absorbers, tires and other components
are removed and replaced with new, heavier-duty equipment as required
to accommodate the weight of the battery pack added to the vehicle. An
electric heater defroster is installed and an electric vacuum pump for
the vacuum-assisted brake system is added to the vehicle.
The electric vacuum pump is intended to improve brake performance
and has been developed during the term of the current exemption.
Petitioner has also implemented a ``Safety Development Program'' using
vehicle crashworthiness computer simulation and physical testing.
Preliminary results from a frontal barrier crash test of the S-10
conversion indication compliance with Standard No. 208 under these
conditions ``without ejection of batteries or spillage of battery
electrolyte.'' The company has also been field testing an electrical
safety system which ``ensures that the primary battery pack remains
electrically isolated from the vehicle chassis, and de-energizes the
system'' if the condition is violated.
Electricar asserts that an exemption would not unreasonably degrade
motor vehicle safety as electric vehicles are intended for urban use
and are therefore generally operated at lower speeds. Under a renewed
exemption the company will continue its safety development and field
evaluations with a view to ensuring that its vehicles fully comply
before the end of the renewed exemption period.
Finally, the petitioner argues that renewal of the exemption would
be in the public interest and consistent with the objectives of the
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Its vehicles reduce air
pollution at street level and lessen the dependence of the United
States on importation of petroleum.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the Docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
All comments received before the close of business on the comment
closing date indicated below will be considered, and will be available
for examination in the docket at the above address both before and
after that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the
closing date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the
petition will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the
authority indicated below.
Comment closing date: June 24, 1994.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1410; delegations of authority at 49 CFR
1.50 and 501.8
Issued on: May 19, 1994.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 94-12785 Filed 5-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
