Minimum Sound Rules for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

Summary#

This is a proposed amendment to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations that would add Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 141 to require minimum sounds for hybrid and electric vehicles at low speeds. The proposal was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on April 24, 2021 and includes a public comment period of 75 days (ending July 8, 2021).

What it does#

• Adds CMVSS 141 — Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles to the federal safety rules for new vehicles.
• Requires hybrid and electric passenger cars, multi-purpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4 536 kg or less to produce minimum sounds at low speeds and when stationary or starting to move.
• Lets manufacturers choose to meet either the U.S. standard (FMVSS 141) or the U.N. standard (UN Regulation No. 138) when certifying vehicles for Canada.
• Incorporates those U.S. and U.N. test procedures by reference so vehicles are checked using agreed test methods (outdoor track or hemi-anechoic chamber options).
• Transport Canada would carry out compliance testing. The analysis assumes 3 to 5 tests per year (worst-case 5), with test costs estimated at $5,000 per outdoor track test or $7,700 per hemi-anechoic chamber test.
• The regulations would come into force on the day they are published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Who's affected#

• People who walk, use wheelchairs, or cycle near traffic — especially the blind and partially sighted — because these groups rely on vehicle sound to detect nearby traffic.
• Vehicle manufacturers and importers who sell hybrid and electric models in Canada. Most current models already comply with either the U.S. or U.N. rules, so manufacturers expect little or no extra cost.
• Government (Transport Canada), which would perform compliance testing and enforcement.
• Stakeholder groups that commented on the proposal include Regroupement des aveugles et amblyopes du Québec (RAAQ), Global Automakers of Canada, and the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association.

Why it matters#

• Quiet electric and hybrid vehicles are harder to hear at low speeds. Requiring a minimum sound helps people notice and judge the location and motion of such vehicles, which can reduce collisions with pedestrians and cyclists.
• The government says HEVs were involved in an estimated 19 fatalities and 991 injuries to pedestrians, and 3 fatalities and 523 injuries to cyclists, in Canada between 2013 and 2017. The rule aims to limit those risks going forward.
• Letting manufacturers choose the U.S. or U.N. standard keeps Canada aligned with major trading partners and reduces complications for makers who sell into multiple markets.
• Transport Canada estimates the incremental federal testing cost at about $289,483 in present value over a 10-year period. The department also expects little to no added cost for manufacturers because most models already meet one of the referenced standards.