[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18902]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 91-66; Notice 3]

 

Chrysler Corporation; Petition for Renewal of Temporary Exemption 
From Three Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

    Chrysler Corporation of Highland Park, Michigan, has petitioned for 
a renewal of NHTSA Temporary Exemption No. 92-1, expiring August 31, 
1994 (57 FR 27507) which was granted covering three Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards, for electric-powered multipurpose passenger 
vehicles (``TEVan''). As of June 10, 1994, the company has produced 52 
TEVans under the exemption. Its petition for renewal was accompanied by 
a copy of its original petition, and NHTSA interprets this as an 
indication that the company is repeating its original requests and 
arguments.
    The TEVan is an electrically driven version of the Dodge Caravan/
Plymouth Voyager multipurpose passenger vehicle. If the exemption is 
renewed, modifications will be made to production Dodge and Plymouth 
vans manufactured between September 1, 1994 and August 31, 1996. 
Although a successor to the current van will be introduced within this 
time frame, ``electric conversions of that new platform will not be 
ready for production initially'' and Chrysler is planning ``to produce 
the current TEVan versions until the new electric conversion units are 
ready for introduction.'' The TEVan was developed in cooperation with 
the Electric Power Research Institute, U.S. Advanced Battery 
Consortium, and the United States Department of Energy. The basis for 
the petition was that a temporary exemption would facilitate the 
development and field evaluation of a low-emission motor vehicle, as 
provided by 49 CFR 555.6(c). The vehicles use electric motors powered 
by nickel-iron or other equivalent batteries that replace the internal 
combustion engine. According to Chrysler, the TEVans meet the 
California Air Resource Board zero emission requirements, and are low-
emission vehicles as defined by section 123(g) of the National Traffic 
and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
    The TEVan differs from regular production vans as follows: the 
internal combustion engine, transmission, coolant system, power brakes, 
gasoline fuel system, and power steering system have been replaced by 
an electric drive motor, a nickel-iron or equivalent battery pack, a 
micro-processor based battery management system, a controller-
converter-charger unit, a two-speed manual/automatic transmission, and 
electric-motor-driven pumps for the vacuum power brakes and the 
hydraulically assisted power steering. Finally, the hot water heater/
defroster unit is replaced by an electric resistance type heating/
defrosting system.
    The TEVan is based on production vehicles certified as complying 
with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. However, it 
does not comply with the portions of the standards indicated below.
    1. Standard No. 101, Controls and Displays.
    S5.1. The TEVan is equipped with a state-of-charge gauge to serve 
as an indicator of reserve battery power, rather than the fuel gauge 
required by the standard.
    2. Standard No. 102, Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter 
Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect.
    S3.1.2. The requirement for transmission braking effect is met by 
regenerative braking, in which the electric motor becomes a generator, 
recharging the batteries and dissipating energy in the process. 
Regenerative braking can be switched off at the option of the driver to 
restore steering control on slippery surfaces.
    S3.1.3. The starter interlock mechanism is deleted since there will 
be no electric starting motor.
    S3.1.4. The automatic transmission shift mechanism is replaced with 
an electric switch control device that operates in a similar manner.
    3. Standard No. 105, Hydraulic Brake Systems
    S5.1. The performance of the service brake system is predicated on 
the use of the regenerative characteristic of the drive motor to 
augment the power-assisted hydraulic wheel brakes. The motor, driven 
through the transmission by the mass of the coasting vehicle, functions 
as a generator to dissipate energy through charging the drive 
batteries. Chrysler has never conducted tests using regenerative 
braking, however, tests of a conventionally powered weighted simulation 
of the TEVan indicate that the TEVan will meet the stopping distance 
requirements of S5.1.1. In the fade and recovery test, S5.1.4, the 
distance specified between the starting points of successive brake 
applications at 60 mph is 0.4 mile. The TEVan cannot accelerate to 60 
mph in that distance, so the test cannot be conducted as prescribed, 
but based on the performance of a simulated TEVan, the TEVan could 
comply if it could accelerate as specified.
    On TEVans equipped with anti-lock brake systems, the regenerative 
braking is disabled during hard stops that actuate the anti-lock 
feature of the brakes.
    According to the original petition, an exemption would facilitate 
the development and field evaluation of a low-emission motor vehicle by 
enabling the petitioner to develop the electric drive motor, battery 
controller, battery, and other subsystems to increase the efficiency 
and durability of future generations of electric vehicles.
    The petitioner requested extension of its exemption for a two-year 
period beginning September 1, 1994. In its original petition it argued 
that the exemptions will not unduly degrade the safety of the vehicles 
because the vehicles from which the TEVan is adapted are certified as 
conforming to the standards. Chrysler observes in its petition for 
renewal that its ``field experience to date would indicate no negative 
result if this extension was granted.''
    Finally, petitioner originally argued that granting the exemption 
would be in the public interest and consistent with the National 
Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act because it would accelerate the 
development of electrically-driven vehicles and related technology 
which could help to reduce the dependency on foreign oil.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition 
described above. Comments should refer to the Docket No. 92-1; Notice 3 
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: [30 days after 
publication of the notice in the Federal Register].

(49 U.S.C. 30113; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50, 501.8)

    Issued on July 29, 1994.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 94-18902 Filed 8-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P