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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice today announced a settlement with Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services and affiliated companies (as a group, GWRSI*) for violation of Clean Air Act (CAA) locomotive regulations. The complaint, also filed today, alleges that GWRSI’s locomotives with rebuilt engines failed to meet applicable EPA emission standards, and that GWRSI did not perform required emissions-related maintenance or keep records of maintenance performed.
The locomotives at issue in this settlement burn diesel fuel which produces significant emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter. NOx is a contributor to the formation of summer ozone, and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns has been shown to cause lung damage and cancer. Continue reading
Crash Course – Euro NCAP on 2022 Safety Tests
The Chinese are coming with crash worthy vehicles. Click for more info.
Euro NCAP* released its annual Year in Numbers today where it looks at the highs and lows, as well some of the emerging trends that have appeared during 2022 testing. Perhaps 2022 will be remembered as a record year because Euro NCAP has never conducted as many safety tests or have so many new companies in the program. The addition of Austria and Norway as new members also increased Euro NCAP’s geographic coverage. During 2022, overall, Euro NCAP published a total of 73 safety ratings, of which 67 were for brand-new car models, including 65 models with the lowest safety specification and two ratings for models with optional equipment , plus six for variants of previously tested models.
However, AutoInformed thinks the emerging fresh data on electric vehicles is the most notable result. As in 2021, the EV market continues to expand quickly. During 2022, full electric vehicles made up 22 out of 65 new models, or 34%. Specifically, five out of six Euro NCAP’s Best in Class winners were electric. Europe’s bestselling car the Tesla Model Y and new Model S both achieved Top Scores in Euro NCAP. Perhaps this is a good thing because Tesla’s autopilot is a dismal safety failure on the road, as class action suits in the US attest. Also, since EVs are heavier, it remains to be seen how they affect other non-EVs when the two types collide – so-called crash compatibility. (Two Tesla Recalls – Self Driving Software, Seat Belt Warning) Continue reading →