[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10051-10052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3664]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2001-8809; Notice 1]


EGO Vehicles Inc.; Receipt of Application for Temporary Exemption 
From Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Nos. 119 and 120

    EGO Vehicles Inc. (``Ego''), a Delaware corporation located in 
Fairhope, Alabama, through counsel in San Francisco, California, has 
applied for a temporary exemption of its ``eGO'' motor driven cycle 
from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Nos. 119, New Pneumatic 
Tires for Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars, and No. 120, Tire 
Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars. The 
basis of the application is that an exemption would make easier the 
development or field evaluation of a low-emission motor vehicle and 
would not unreasonably lower the safety level of the vehicle.
    This notice of receipt of an application is published in accordance 
with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 30113(b)(2) and does not represent 
any judgment of the agency on the merits of the application.
    EGO seeks an exemption of two years from the requirements of 
Standards Nos. 119 and 120. Standard No. 119 establishes performance 
and endurance, marking, and treadwear indicators for motorcycle tires. 
Standard No. 120 establishes requirements for DOT-certified rims of 
certain sizes to ensure compatibility with DOT-certified tires of the 
same sizes. The eGO vehicle is not a motorcycle of conventional 
configuration, having a ``chassis design * * * similar to that of a 
large scooter, but it has handlebars, a seat and other components that 
make it more similar in appearance and operation to a bicycle.'' The 
eGO is powered by a single electric motor producing less than 2 
horsepower, and is therefore a ``motor driven cycle,'' a subcategory of 
motorcycle under NHTSA definitions and regulations. The speed of the 
eGO ``is limited by its controller and drivetrain configuration to less 
than 20 miles per hour.''
    EGO states that it has located ``many high-performance bicycle rims 
and tires,'' but that ``none of the

[[Page 10052]]

manufacturers of these components has certified these products as 
compliant with FMVSS 119 or 120.'' The most similar components that EGO 
has located are moped tires and rims. However, the ``performance 
capabilities of these tires and rims are excessive given the low 
weight, low speed, and limited range of the eGO. Further, the 
dimensions of these products are not compatible with the eGO's chassis 
design or braking system * * *.''
    EGO deems its only alternative to develop a specific tire and rim 
combination. However, testing ``would be an extremely high cost to bear 
for a manufacturer of a new and innovative low-emission vehicle that is 
still at an early stage of its product life.'' EGO argues that 
``amortizing the cost of testing over the limited number of vehicles 
sold would significantly increase the cost of this low-emission 
vehicle, reducing the market for the product and Petitioner's ability 
to evaluate its performance and market potential.''
    In EGO's opinion, an exemption would not unreasonably degrade the 
safety of the vehicle ``because Petitioner has selected the eGO's rims 
and tires based on stringent design criteria, considering the operating 
environment, gross vehicular weight, and top speed of the vehicle.'' 
Standard No. 119 ``seems especially inappropriate because the eGO 
cannot, by design, operate continuously for longer than approximately 
75 minutes, or be propelled at a speed greater than 20 mph.'' The 
endurance test (S6.1) ``simulates conditions that would never be 
encountered by the operator of the vehicle simply by nature of the 
vehicle's design and performance restraints.'' The purpose of Standard 
No. 120, in EGO's view ``is to assure that a consumer will be able to 
purchase a tire that fits a given rim, and that any tire purchased in a 
given size will fit a rim of that size.'' The petitioner believes it 
has achieved that purpose in the tires and rims it has selected for the 
eGO, and it will encourage owners ``to use the replacement rims that we 
specify in the documentation provided with the vehicle.''
    According to eGO, an exemption would be in the public interest as 
supporting an innovative low-cost, low-emission means of 
transportation. An exemption would be consistent with the objectives of 
traffic safety because the petitioner intends to comply with the 
regulations that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has promulgated 
for bicycles. The petitioner also points out that no tire and rim 
requirements are imposed by Standard No. 500, Low-speed Vehicles, on 
passenger-carrying vehicles with a slightly higher maximum speed (20 to 
25 mph).
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the 
application described above. Comments should refer to the docket number 
and the notice number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-
401, 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 
application will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the 
authority indicated below. Comment closing date: March 15, 2001.

(49 U.S.C. 30113; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50. and 
501.8)
    Issued on February 8, 2001.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-3664 Filed 2-12-01; 8:45 am]
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