Minimum Sound Testing of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles
- Download(s)
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2025-06-27
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Sharma, Vinay
- Larocque-Legros, Marc-André
- Weston, Cole
- Schulte, Andrew
- Christenson, Martha
- Rooney, Anne
- Publisher
- SAE International-Society of Automotive Engineers International
Alternative title
Essais du bruit minimal des véhicules électriques moyens et lourds
Abstract
The acoustic performance of seven vehicles was evaluated according to Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 141 (CMVSS 141), which governs minimum required sound levels for hybrid and electric vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4536 kg (10,000 lb) or less. To better understand the sound profiles of medium-duty electric vehicles (MDEVs) and heavy-duty electric vehicles (HDEVs), the sound emissions of two light-duty electric vehicles (LDEVs), one MDEV, three HDEVs, including an electric transit bus, and one heavy-duty internal combustion engine (HD ICE) vehicle were compared. The sound emissions of the MDEV and HDEVs were quieter than the HD ICE vehicle and comparable to that of the LDEVs equipped with auxiliary speakers. The MDEV with its auxiliary speaker turned off and all three HDEVs without auxiliary speakers met CMVSS 141 requirements in reverse gear and at speeds of 20 km/h and 30 km/h. The MDEV, though not subject to CMVSS 141, failed to meet the minimum sound requirement at stationary when its auxiliary speaker was deactivated. Similarly, the electric transit bus did not meet sound requirements at stationary and 10 km/h, highlighting the potential of acoustic vehicle alert systems (AVAS) in enhancing the detectability of quiet vehicles.
Plain language summary
Canada’s minimum sound rules only apply to light duty hybrid and electric vehicles, not medium and heavy duty ones. Tests showed that some electric trucks and buses are as quiet as electric passenger cars, sometimes quieter when stopped or moving slowly. Added sound systems could be used to make them easier to hear.
Subject
- Transport,
- Electric vehicles,
- Road safety,
- Trucking industry,
- Trucks,
- Clean technology
Keywords
- Minimum sound testing,
- MDEV Medium duty electric vehicles,
- HDEV Heavy duty electric vehicles,
- CMVSS 141 Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 141,
- FMVSS 141 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 141,
- UN ECE United Nations Economic Commission Europe Regulation 138
Rights
Pagination
1-9
Peer review
Yes
Identifiers
- ISSN
- 0148-7191
Sponsors
Transport Canada
Citation(s)
Sharma, V., Larocque-Legros, M., Weston, C., Schulte, A. et al., "Minimum Sound Testing of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles," SAE Technical Paper 2025-01-5044, 2025, https://doi.org/10.4271/2025-01-5044.