Automakers, regulators agree to add auto-braking to cars by 2022

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and 20 automakers representing more than 99% of the U.S. sales market, have announced plans to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) standard on new cars by Sept. 1, 2022.

The automakers are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo Car USA.

In 2015, Audi, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo announced plans to include AEB in future cars, but that smaller commitment had no implementation date.

AEB systems help prevent crashes or reduce their severity by applying the brakes for the driver. On-vehicle sensors such as radar, cameras, or lasers detect an imminent crash, warn the driver, and apply the brakes if the driver does not take sufficient action quickly enough.

NHTSA estimates that the agreement will make AEB standard on new cars three years faster than could be achieved through the formal regulatory process. During those three years, according to IIHS estimates, the commitment will prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries.

“By proactively making emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles, these 20 automakers will help prevent thousands of crashes and save lives,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

IIHS chairman and CEO of American Family Insurance, Jack Salzwedel, says expanding use of the technology will allow insureres to “explore offering discounts or lower premiums to consumers who choose AEB-equipped vehicles.”

Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, adds, “The commitment made today has the potential to save more lives than almost anything else we can accomplish in the next six years.”

Consumer Reports will assist in monitoring automaker progress toward meeting the AEB commitment.

The commitment will make AEB standard on nearly all light-duty cars and trucks, 8,500 lb or lighter, beginning no later than Sept. 1, 2022. AEB will be standard on most trucks weighing between 8,501 lb and 10,000 lb beginning by Sept. 1, 2025.

The commitment takes into account the evolution of AEB technology, requiring functionality in line with research that shows such systems reduce crashes. But it does not stand in the way of improved capabilities that are emerging. Performance measures are based on real-world data showing that vehicles with this level of capability are avoiding crashes.

To encourage further development of AEB technology, NHTSA will accelerate its research on more advanced applications, including systems that reduce the risk of collisions with pedestrians. NHTSA plans to rate AEB systems and other technologies under its 5-Star Safety Ratings beginning in model year 2018. www.consumerreports.org; www.ntsa.gov; www.iihs.org

Safety regulations proposed for hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to update electrical safety requirements for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and mild hybrid vehicles.

“A key component of the department’s safety mission is ensuring that our regulations are up-to-date and provide the highest level of safety possible,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Today’s proposal not only boosts our efforts to increase fuel efficiency and energy security, it also builds on our efforts to encourage technology innovation.”

The NPRM proposes adding an optional method for post-crash electrical safety into the standard that involves physical barriers to prevent electric shock due to direct or indirect contact of high voltage sources. Current regulations only have post-crash electrical safety requirements. The NPRM seeks to expand the standard’s performance requirements by adopting the electrical safety requirements during normal vehicle operation that are specified in United Nations Global Technical Regulations. The NPRM also proposes an optional method of meeting electrical isolation requirements in certain conditions that would allow fuel cell vehicles to be offered for sale in the U.S.

The proposal would enable wider use of hydrogen fuel cell and mild hybrid vehicles – those that use electrical systems to supplement gasoline engines and boost efficiency. Toyota Motor North America and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers have submitted separate petitions to update the standard.

“Today’s proposal would provide more options in building safety into electric and fuel-cell cars and help automakers develop and sell more fuel-efficient vehicles,” says NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. www.nhtsa.gov

EPA releases data on truck fuel economy standards, requests comments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have released research on testing systems and truck performance and have requested new comments in April from companies facing new regulations set to be phased in between now and 2027.

Data sets include aerodynamic data from EPA testing labs, a report from the Southwest Research Institute on commercial truck fuel efficiency, research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and information on vocational trucks from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The data drop also includes revisions to the basic greenhouse gas emissions model (GEM) used to establish rules that are set to be finalized later this year. The GEM simulation tool includes bug fixes and updates simulation results on various fuel-saving techniques based on the test data. Efficiency strategy updates include transmission efficiency improvements, transmission shifting strategies, vocational vehicle drive weights, and axle loading changes.

Regulators still expect to have new fuel economy rules for heavy trucks by the summer. www.epa.gov