Sound level of motor vehicles and of replacement silencing systems
PURPOSE: to improve the working of the internal market by establishing the administrative and technical requirements for the EU type-approval of all new vehicles of some categories with regard to their sound level and silencing systems.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) No 540/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the sound level of motor vehicles and of replacement silencing systems, and amending Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directive 70/157/EEC.
CONTENT: the Regulation lays down administrative and technical requirements for the EU type-approval of all new vehicles with regard to their sound level and of replacement silencing systems and components thereof, type-approved as separate technical units and intended for those vehicles.
The main elements of the Regulation are as follows:
New test methods: the Regulation instals a new test method to measure the sound levels of motor vehcles. The new method should be based on the test method published by the UNECE Working Party on Noise (GRB) in 2007 which incorporated a 2007 version of the standard ISO 362.
Some supplementary provisions on sound levels are introduced. Those provisions should establish preventive requirements intended to cover driving conditions of the vehicle in real traffic outside the type-approval driving cycle.
Limit values for vehicle sound levels - Annex III: the Regulation establishes new limit values for vehicles in categories M1-M3 (vehicles used for the carriage of passengers) and N1-N3 (vehicles used for the carriage of goods) spread over three phases. The first phase will enter into force on 1st July 2016.
Labelling and consumer information: vehicle manufacturers and distributors shall endeavour to ensure that the sound level of each vehicle in decibels (dB(a)), is displayed in a prominent position at the point of sale and in technical promotional material.
In the light of the experience gained in the application of this Regulation, the Commission shall, by 1 July 2018 carry out a comprehensive impact assessment on labelling conditions applicable to air and noise pollution levels, as well as on consumer information.
Based on the findings of that assessment, the Commission, if appropriate, shall submit a legislative proposal.
Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS): industry is currently developing Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) to compensate for the lack of audible signal in hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles. Such systems will be obligatory with a view to protecting blind people and vulnerable road users.
By 1 July 2019, manufacturers shall install AVAS in new types of hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles.
By 1 July 2021, manufacturers shall install AVAS in all new hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16.06.2014. the Regulatin shall apply from 01.07.2016.
DELEGATED ACTS: the Commission may adopt delegated acts in order to adapt certain requirements of the Annexes on technical progress. The power to adopt delegated acts shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years as from 16 June 2014. The European Parliament or the Council may object to a delegated act within a period of four months from the date of notification (this period can be extended for two months). If the European Parliament or the Council make objections, the delegated act will not enter into force.