[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 29]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR610.64]

[Page 1008-1009]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 610_FUEL ECONOMY RETROFIT DEVICES--Table of Contents
 
                    Subpart F_Special Test Procedures
 
Sec. 610.64  Track test procedures.

    (a) Cases may arise where it will be necessary to evaluate the fuel 
economy effects of a retrofit device on a test track, because the effect 
of the device cannot be adequately tested using the chassis dynamometer 
procedures. (An obvious example is a device that changes the aerodynamic 
drag of the test vehicle.) In such cases, testing will be performed on a 
dry, level, smooth-surfaced test track for such dimensions that the 
speeds required by the city and highway fuel economy tests may be safely 
achieved.
    (1) Because aerodynamic drag is not a linear function of velocity, 
it will be necessary to limit testing to times when the wind velocity is 
less than 5 mph, with gusts less than 10 mph.
    (2) Testing will also be limited to ambient temperatures between 
60[deg] and 90 [deg]F, and to times when the ambient temperature remains 
reasonably constant during individual tests. Temperature differences 
between tests of baseline and retrofit configurations will also be 
minimized.
    (3) Exhaust emissions will not be measured during track testing.
    (4) Fuel economy of a vehicle running on a track will be measured 
using either a volumetric or gravimetric procedure approved by the 
Administrator.
    (5) Vehicle speed and distance will be measured with a ``fifth 
wheel'' type of device. Suitable apparatus will be used to generate a 
permanent record (strip chart recorder, etc.) of the vehicle speed 
versus time.
    (b) City fuel economy test. Although essentially the same procedures 
will be used for track testing as for dynamometer testing, some 
modifications will

[[Page 1009]]

be necessary to insure safe operation of the test vehicle and to adjust 
to the requirements of track testing.
    (1) An assistant to the driver will be necessary to steer the 
vehicle, so that the driver will not be distracted from following the 
speed-time schedules used in the Federal test procedure.
    (2) The test vehicle will be preconditioned within the same time 
constraints given in Sec. 610.43(a)(1)(ii). Preconditioning may take 
place either on the track or on a dynamometer. The 12-hour soak after 
preconditioning will take place in an area where the ambient temperature 
will remain within the 60[deg] to 90 [deg]F range, indoors, if 
necessary.
    (3) The vehicle will be transported to the test track without being 
started. If the distance from soak area to track is no greater than one-
quarter mile, then the vehicle may be pushed or towed to the track. 
Otherwise the vehicle must be transported by truck or trailer.
    (4) Fuel economy will be determined by either a gravimetric or 
volumetric method.
    (c) Highway fuel economy test. The highway test will follow the city 
fuel economy test in the same manner as in dynamometer tests (Sec. 
610.43(b)). Fuel economy will be measured by gravimetric or volumetric 
methods.
    (d) Steady state tests. Steady state tests on the track will be run 
in the same manner as on the dynamometer except that fuel economy will 
be measured by gravimetric or volumetric methods.