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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. 91-66; Notice 4]

Chrysler Corporation; Grant of Application for Renewal of

Temporary Exemption From Three Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

Chrysler Corporation of Highland Park, Michigan, applied 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 had produced 52 TEVans

under the exemption. Its application for renewal was accompanied by a

copy of its original petition, and NHTSA interpreted this action as an

indication that the company intended to repeat its original requests

and arguments.

Notice of the application was published on August 3, 1994, and an

opportunity afforded for comment (59 FR 39631). This notice grants a

renewal of the exemption.

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 within

the meaning of 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 (now 49 U.S.C. 30113(a)).

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.

No comments were received on the petition.

In order to grant the renewal of an exemption originally provided

under 49 U.S.C. 30113(b)(3)((B)(iii) (formerly 15 U.S.C.

1410(a)(1)(C)), the Administrator must find that the temporary

exemption would ``make the development or field evaluation of a low-

emission motor vehicle easier and would not unreasonably lower the

safety level of that vehicle,'' and that the exemption is consistent

with the public interest and 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 Motor Vehicle

Safety. The applicant has argued that the exemption would enable it to

continue to develop the components of the vehicle to increase the

efficiency and durability of future generations of electric vehicles.

NHTSA concurs with this argument. It is probable that an exemption

would permit the use of the vehicles under varied conditions of climate

and terrain, testing those components for durability and life.

Petitioner has also argued that safety is not compromised because

the vehicles from which the TEVan is adapted are certified as

conforming to the standards. The inability of the TEVan to meet two of

the standards from which exemption is requested, Standards Nos. 101 and

102, appears only technical in nature, as systems and instruments are

provided that are the equivalents of those in gasoline-powered

vehicles. As for Standard No. 105, the petitioner on the basis of

simulated tests of weighted vehicles, judges that the stopping distance

requirements will be met. It is NHTSA's experience that regenerative

braking can provide a drag on the vehicle's forward motion when the

foot is removed from the accelerator; this, coupled with foot brake

activation should ensure adequate stopping capability.

It is manifestly in the public interest to accelerate the

development of electrically-driven vehicles, not only to reduce

reliance on oil, no matter where it originates, but also to reduce the

level of harmful emissions in the environment. Because of the minimal

impact on safety of the renewal of this exemption, NHTSA considers that

an exemption is consistent with the objectives of Chapter 301.

In consideration of the foregoing, it is hereby found that renewal

of NHTSA Temporary Exemption No. 92-1 for a further two years would

make the development or field evaluation of a low-emission vehicle

easier, and would not unreasonably lower the safety level of that

vehicle, and that renewal of this exemption would be in the public

interest and consistent with the objectives of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301

Motor Vehicle Safety. Accordingly, Chrysler Corporation is hereby

granted a renewal of NHTSA Temporary Exemption No. 92-1, beginning

September 1, 1994, and expiring August 31, 1996, from providing a fuel

gauge as required by paragraph S5.1 of 49 CFR 571.101 Motor Vehicle

Safety Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays, from paragraphs S3.1.2,

S3.1.3, and S3.1.4 of 49 CFR 571.102 Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.

102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and

Transmission Braking Effect, and from paragraph S5.1.4 of 49 CFR

571.105 Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems.

(49 U.S.C. 30113; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50)

Issued on: December 14, 1994.

Ricardo Martinez,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 94-31188 Filed 12-19-94; 8:45 am]

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