[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24560-24561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9786]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Electric Vehicle 
Safety Technical Symposium

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Announcement of public symposium.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is 
announcing a technical symposium that will be held in Washington, DC on 
May 18, 2012 to discuss safety considerations for electric vehicles 
powered by lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The symposium will include 
brief NHTSA presentations outlining current agency research and 
activities related to Li-ion batteries and Li-ion battery-powered 
vehicles, as well as presentations by the Department of Energy, 
voluntary standards bodies, and automotive and battery manufacturers. 
Information on the date, time, location, and framework for this public 
event is included in this notice. Because of space limitations, 
registration by May 11, 2012 is highly recommended. There are no fees 
to register or to attend this event.

DATES: The symposium will be held on May 18, 2012, at the location 
indicated in the ADDRESSES section below. The symposium will start at 
8:30 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 4:30 p.m., local time. 
However, the symposium will continue beyond 4:30 p.m. if the presiding 
official believes that allowing the discussion to extend beyond that 
time would be beneficial. If you plan to attend the technical 
symposium, please follow the registration process described under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by May 11, 2012. Depending on the available 
space, registration may be accepted after that date.

ADDRESSES: The May 18, 2012 symposium will be held in the West Atrium 
of the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590. Registration. The meeting will be open to the 
public and will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Due to space limitations, pre-registration is highly recommended. If 
you would like to attend the symposium, please register by the date 
specified under the DATES section above, by visiting http://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/events/register.cfm and filling out the on-line 
form provided. To register, you will be required to provide your first 
and last name and an email address, and indicate whether you are a U.S. 
citizen. Please specify any requests for sign language interpretation, 
other auxiliary aids, or other reasonable accommodation by contacting 
Mr. Chris Morris, whose contact information is listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT, no later than May 11, 2012. Last minute requests 
will be accepted, but may be impossible to fulfill.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical issues: Mr. Charlie 
Case, NHTSA Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, telephone (202) 366-
5319, email address: [email protected].
    For logistical issues: Mr. Chris Morris, NHTSA Office of Vehicle 
Safety, telephone (202) 493-2218; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) is hosting a public technical symposium to 
discuss regulatory and safety considerations for lithium-ion (Li-ion) 
battery-powered vehicles.
    Electric vehicles show great promise as an innovative and fuel-
efficient option for American drivers. Significant research and other 
activities related to the safety of these vehicles are ongoing by 
NHTSA, the Department of Energy (DOE), vehicle and battery 
manufacturers, standards organizations, and others. The purpose of this 
symposium is to bring together relevant stakeholders to share 
information on the status of safety activities related to the use of 
Li-ion batteries in vehicles designed for on-road use.
    In recognition of the growth in the vehicle segment, NHTSA has been 
focusing increased attention on Li-ion battery safety. For example, the 
agency has been working with vehicle manufacturers to ensure they have 
appropriate post-crash protocols. Earlier this year, with the 
assistance of the National Fire Protection Association, DOE, and 
others, NHTSA issued interim guidance for consumers, emergency 
responders, and tow truck operators. This guidance was aimed at 
increasing awareness about the specific attributes related to Li-ion 
battery-powered vehicles and at identifying appropriate safety measures 
to be used in the event of a crash involving such a vehicle.
    At the same time, NHTSA is actively involved in developing a body 
of research regarding electric vehicle safety. The agency is assessing 
the performance and functional requirements of battery storage systems. 
NHTSA is conducting a detailed Failure Analysis approach to help the 
agency to identify the problems that can occur in Li-ion batteries and 
the severity of their occurrence. This will help NHTSA prioritize its 
research and potential rulemaking in this area.
    Technical Symposium Agenda. NHTSA expects that the following topics 
will be part of the symposium: NHTSA's ongoing research on Li-ion 
battery safety; DOE's perspective on Li-ion battery safety; an overview 
of industry voluntary standards applicable to Li-ion battery-powered 
vehicles; emergency response procedures relevant to Li-ion battery-
powered vehicles; and other safety issues, including those related to 
battery management systems, battery design parameters, and safety 
testing.
    Technical Symposium Procedures and Logistics. NHTSA will conduct 
the symposium informally. The symposium will include brief 
presentations from NHTSA, DOE, voluntary standards bodies, and 
automotive and battery manufacturers. There will be opportunities for 
attendees to ask questions of NHTSA and of the technical presenters.
    To attend this symposium, please follow the registration process 
described under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by the date specified 
under the DATES section. Pre-registration is highly recommended because 
of security and space limitation reasons. Depending on the available 
space, late registration may be accepted. After registration, NHTSA 
will send attendees follow-up

[[Page 24561]]

information regarding symposium day logistics (i.e., directions to the 
building, parking accommodations, etc.).
    For security purposes, government-issued photo identification is 
required to enter the Department of Transportation building. Non-U.S. 
citizens will be required to show passports. To allow sufficient time 
to clear security and enter the building, NHTSA recommends that 
symposium participants arrive 30 to 60 minutes prior to the start of 
the event.

    Issued on: April 18, 2012.
David L. Strickland,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-9786 Filed 4-19-12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P