Safety Implications of Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery Systems

摘要

The report evaluates the safety implications of requiring onboard refueling vapor recovery systems on gasoline-powered passenger cars, light trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. Special attention is given to the analysis of the design considerations for a safe onboard system and other measures necessary to insure that the design considerations incorporated are capable of providing a high level of in-use fuel system integrity. Concerns over the potential safety implications of onboard systems have been raised. These concerns can be grouped into four general areas. These include requirements to pass the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety test, the effects of tampering and system defects, refueling operations, and in-use fuel system safety. All of these concerns are presented as well as design considerations for a safe system. In use fuel system safety is also presented as well as cost and leadtime considerations for implementating a safe system.