Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection: Delay of Effective Date

In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled "Regulatory Review Plan," published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2001, at 66 FR 7702, this action temporarily delays for 60 days the effective date of the rule entitled "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection," published in the Federal Register on September 27, 2000, at 65 FR 57980. That rule established a new Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) No. 305, "Electric-powered vehicles: electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection" addressing safety issues exclusive to electric vehicles (EVs). Except as noted in the next sentence, the standard applies to all EVs that have a propulsion power source greater than 48 volts and a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 4536 kg (10,000 lbs) or less. The standard does not apply to EVs to which FMVSS No. 500, "Low-Speed Vehicles," applies.