To: SOS_RFI @nist.gov 

From: SAE International 

Docket: 0909100442-0563-02 

Subject: Standardization feedback for Sub-Committee on Standards 

SAE International, the leading Ground Vehicle and Aerospace Standards development organization 

(SDO), welcomes the opportunity to provide comment on the issues posed in the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST) Request for Information. 

SAE International is a global society of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the 

aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE’s core competency is voluntary 

consensus standards development. 

With members in more than 100 countries throughout the world, the heart of SAE International’s activity is 

the creation of consensus standards. Some 14,000 mobility industry experts donate time to serve on SAE 

International committees. SAE International relies heavily on its members’ guidance and knowledge when 

developing standards. 

SAE International has created 2,600-plus Ground Vehicle Standards for the automotive, construction and 

agricultural equipment, heavy trucks, buses and specialty-vehicle industries. More than 7,000 experts 

provide data for standards on critical industry issues. 

In addition to Ground Vehicle Standards, SAE International’s Aerospace Standards’ repository includes 

6,800 documents and is the largest such collection in the world. More than 7,000 industry experts provide 

expertise for aerospace standards. 

SAE International is a non-biased global source of technical information that can be used by government 

decision makers as part of the process when formulating legislation or regulations related to safety, 

energy, and environmental issues in all forms of transportation. The information comes in many forms 

including peer-reviewed technical papers, workshop or symposia findings, technical standards, and 

cooperative research studies. The sources of the information include the best and brightest individuals 

from the private sector, academia and government both in the U.S. and throughout the world. 

Examples of SAE activities include: 

• SAE International develops more global aerospace standards used by the FAA and DoD than any 

other organization. These pertain to aircraft safety for design, maintenance and operations. 

• SAE’s global aerospace standards promote reduction of engine noise and emissions 

• SAE is at the forefront of efforts to standardize detailed technical aspects of modern satellitebased air traffic management. SAE works closely with not only the FAA NextGen office but also 

with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Single European Sky ATM 

Research Programme (SESAR) Joint Undertaking. 

• SAE has developed standards to address measurement of fuel economy for hybrid electric 

vehicles. 

• SAE has partnered with the U.S. EPA and the global automotive industry to research and select 

the next generation of refrigerants for mobile air conditioning systems. 
• SAE International is working with NHTSA, industry and consumer groups to develop solutions for 

the interaction of electric or hybrid electric vehicles with pedestrians. 

• SAE has recently published a group of standards involving Smart Grid interoperability including 

“J1772TM SAE Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler.” Work continues on other standards 

in this area. 

• SAE is working with other organizations and consortia such as ISO, IEC, utility companies, IEEE, 

EPRI, ZigBee Alliance, HomePlug Power Alliance, automotive OEMs and suppliers, and many 

others in the development of specifications and standards to address the requirements of the 

SmartGrid strategy. 

• SAE International is a leading standards organization identified in the Phase 1 NIST Framework 

and Roadmap for SmartGrid Interoperability Standards paragraph 5.13 for “Interoperability 

Standards to Support Plug-In Electric Vehicles.” 

SAE International makes the following comments regarding federal agency involvement in standards 

development: 

1) Establish standing, reoccurring meetings between SDOs and federal agencies. This will facilitate 

collaborative discussion on items of mutual interest such as standards opportunities, specific needs, 

and specific technologies. Though SAE International has been identified as a lead organization in 

SmartGrid interoperability standards development, the level of interaction between SAE International, 

NIST, the Department of Energy, and other federal agencies involved in the Smart Grid has been 

minimal with no formal meetings scheduled. SAE International welcomes the opportunity to meet on a 

regular basis with the federal agencies. This process will improve communication between SDOs and 

federal agencies allowing SDOs to focus their standards development activities to areas of greatest 

national interest and benefit. 

2) Availability of NIST assets to SAE International and other standards development organizations 

(SDOs) for use in mutually beneficial cooperative research projects. SAE International does not own 

any test facilities and equipment and contracts these on an as needed basis. SAE International 

proposes that NIST and other federal agencies establish a streamlined process whereby SDOs can 

make use of federal testing assets (facility, equipment, staff) required for standards development. 

3) Direct Funding of Standards Development Process. This includes not only the development of 

standards but also any testing that is required in the standard development process. SAE 

International is non-profit society that relies entirely on volunteers to serve on standards development 

committees. Any consultant fees, travel and other costs associated with standards development are 

funded directly by SAE International. As an example, ANSI has designated various SDOs as ISO 

Technical Advisory Groups or ISO Secretariats. As part of their ISO TAG and ISO duties, several of 

the Committee members are required to attend meetings in Europe but their companies would not 

underwrite their travel costs and SDOs do not have the funds to cover their travel costs as well. SAE 

International proposes that NIST investigate establishing a fund that SDOs can draw on for standard 

development related activities. To actively participate in the international standards harmonization 

and development process and continue to influence the world with US know-how, there needs to be a 

financial model developed with the help of US government agencies which protects US interests in 

global technical fora. 

 

In the Smart Grid area, SAE is not receiving any federal agency funding. SAE International would like 

to highlight the relationship that SAE International has with the Federal Highway Administration 

(FHWA) as a model of a SDO/federal agency co-operation. SAE International, along with several 

other SDOs, is currently under contract with the FHWA for standards development in the area of 
Intelligent Transportation Systems. This technology, named IntelliDrive, has been identified as a key 

technology by the US Department of Transportation. The agency recognized that common standards 

were required in order for the technology to gain a market foothold and widespread implementation. 

Similarly, SAE International would like to see relationships like between SAE International and FHWA 

evolve between all SDOs and federal agencies. 

4) Involvement of federal employees on standards committees. In spite of the direction given in 

documents such as OMB A-119, federal participation on non-government standards committees 

varies widely. Often this is a result of differing legal interpretations of federal regulations. Some 

agencies encourage their employees to participate, while others discourage it. A clear interpretation 

of pertinent federal rules that would encourage more consistent government participation would be 

very helpful, as it would strengthen the already effective partnership between SAE and federal 

agencies on so many aspects of vehicle safety, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility.