Kewet Industri; Petition for Renewal of Temporary Exemption From Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 Publication: Federal Register Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Byline: Barry Felrice Date: 12 January 1995 Subject: American Government • Electric Vehicles • Safety Topic: Kewet El-Jet

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3026-3027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-750]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 92-58; Notice 3]


Kewet Industri; Petition for Renewal of Temporary Exemption From 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208

    Kewet Industri of Hadsund, Denmark, has petitioned for a two-year 
renewal of its temporary exemption from the automatic restraint 
requirements of Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash 
Protection. The exemption, NHTSA Temporary Exemption No. 93-1, was 
published on February 10, 1993, and expired on January 1, 1995 (58 FR 
7905). The basis of the petition is that a continued exemption would 
facilitate the development and field evaluation of a low-emission motor 
vehicle and would not unreasonably lower the safety level of the 
vehicle.
    This notice of receipt of the petition is published in accordance 
with agency regulations on the subject and does not represent any 
judgment by the agency about the merits of the petition.
    Kewet manufactures a passenger car called the El-Jet. The vehicle 
is powered by on-board rechargeable batteries which drive an electric 
traction motor. The El-Jet, which produces no emissions, is therefore a 
``low-emission motor vehicle'' within the meaning of NHTSA's authority 
to provide temporary exemptions.
    In 1992, Kewet argued that the granting of a temporary exemption 
would facilitate the development of an electric vehicle industry in the 
United States. The vehicle is so small that it could serve as a 
replacement for the 3-wheel Cushman type meter reader vehicle in 
municipal fleets. It provides greater safety for the operator at a 
substantially lower price. Further, an exemption would promote learning 
and exchange of information between the [[Page 3027]] Danish electric 
vehicle industry and the U.S. one. Finally, the El Jet would 
demonstrate the commercial viability of a ``neighborhood electric 
vehicle.''
    Petitioner also argued that an exemption would not unreasonably 
degrade the safety of the vehicle. The El-Jet is equipped with a 3-
point restraint system, and will otherwise comply with all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards. It complies with all current 
European motor safety standards and has passed a crash test at 50 kph 
(30 mph). Its top speed is only 40 mph, reducing the risk of injury. 
Although Kewet expected to be able to provide a driver's side air bag 
in all cars manufactured after September 1993, the target date is now 
the 1996 model year. Originally, Kewet projected sales of 30 to 50 
vehicles through 1993; in actuality, sales in 1994 as of August 30 were 
``less than 35.''
    In Kewet's opinion, a temporary exemption would be in the public 
interest and consistent with traffic safety objectives because it is a 
participant in the Advanced Research Projects Agency Electrical Vehicle 
Testing Program. It comments that ``[p]roviding test data to the 
national testing program . . . is an important development to the 
electric vehicle industry.'' Kewet does not feel that lack of an air 
bag ``has been a safety hazard'' because of the El-Jet's low top speed, 
and intended non-freeway use. The vehicle is equipped with lap and 
torso belts, and employs ``steel roll cage construction.''
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition 
described above. Comments should refer to Docket No. 92-58; 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 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: February 13, 1995.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30113; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50 and 501.4.

    Issued on January 5, 1995.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 95-750 Filed 1-11-95; 8:45 am]
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