Transport Canada
Under the
authority of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act
A Canada Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 141 – Minimum Noise Requirements for Hybrid and
Electric Vehicles would aim to improve the safety of vulnerable road users,
especially the visually impaired, by making sounds cyclists and pedestrians can
hear and recognize. [1]
Both the United States and United Nations have adopted minimum noise requirements for HEVs.
Canada’s regulations would incorporate FMVSS 141 and UN Reg. 138 by ambulatory reference, as equal alternatives. While the two standards are not the same, they both give pedestrians cues they can hear, so they know there is a vehicle operating nearby.
Companies would have to show they comply to either standard, for all HEV passenger cars, multi-purpose passenger cars, trucks, buses, and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4 536 kg or less.
Transport Canada is proposing to allow companies to install noise systems meeting either the United States or United Nations technical requirements. Giving companies the choice provides benefit to the visually impaired, at minimal cost.
This is an informal consultation process before publishing any potential regulatory proposal in the Canada Gazette Part I. If this regulation proceeds, it would come into force on September 1, 201X a minimum of 1 year after appearing in the Canada Gazette, Part 2.
All HEV passenger and multi-purpose passenger
cars, trucks, buses, and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4 536 kg or
less manufactured on or after this date, would have to comply with the technical
requirements for a low speed noise making system.
[1] U.S. Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 14, 2016 / Rules and Regulations, page 90416 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/14/2016-28804/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-minimum-sound-requirements-for-hybrid-and-electric-vehicles
[2] E / ECE / 324 / Rev. 2 / Add. 137 – E / ECE / TRANS / 505 Rev. 2 / Add. 137 / October 24, 2016 / Regulation No. 138 https://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs121-140.html