United States Department of Transportation
i
Electric Drive Vehicle Systems: Suggested Changes to Large Truck and Motorcoach Regulations and Inspection Procedures
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2015-09-01
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By Lowell, Dana
[PDF-614.88 KB]
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Abstract:This report provides recommendations for changes to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs),
North American Standard (NAS) inspection procedures, and Out-of-Service (OOS) criteria that are needed to
accommodate and facilitate the use of commercial vehicles with high-voltage electric drive systems. Such vehicles
include battery-electric vehicles, vehicles with hybrid-electric drive systems (including plug-in hybrids), and
vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell engines. In addition to providing specific recommendations for changes, this report
summarizes the process used to arrive at the recommendations, which included a literature review and gap analysis,
industry site visits and consultations, and a formal peer review process.
Because most of the commercial vehicles now in service have only low-voltage electrical systems (12/24 volts direct
current [VDC]), the current FMCSRs, NAS inspection procedures, and OOS criteria do not address the unique
safety aspects of high-voltage systems (less than 60 VDC or greater than 30 volts alternating current [VAC]) when
present on a vehicle. The purpose of this project was to identify necessary changes to the current FMCSRs and
inspection procedures, if any, to address the unique safety requirements associated with high-voltage vehicle
systems, and to improve the overall safety of commercial vehicle operations by ensuring that commercial vehicles
with high-voltage drive systems meet appropriate safety criteria while operating on public roads.
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