Proposal originally by OICA (document GRB/2014/2) to update requirements for the noise test track from ISO 19844:1994 (i.e. Annex 8 of this Regulation) to ISO 10844:2011 and to allow for repaving of existing, non-compliant test tracks to meet the ISO 10844:2011 standards as adopted by the Working Party on Noise (GRB) at its 59th session. This change concerns the measurement of vehicle passing noise.

This proposal further refines and clarifies the 03 series of amendments to UN R51 from Informal Working Group on UN Regulations Nos. 51 and 59. The 03 series was proposed in document GRB/2014/5 which was amended and then adopted by the Working Party on Noise during its 60th session. The proposal includes special provisional limits for Chinese micro-vehicles which are being reviewed by Japan.

Proposal to clarify the wording of the 03 series of amendments to UN R51 as adopted by the World Forum in June 2015 (document WP.29/2015/62). The adopted wording could lead to the interpretation that sound levels measured on the left side of the vehicle are to be averaged with levels measured on the right side of the vehicle. The proposed new wording clarifies that the overall sound emission is assessed individually per vehicle side.

Proposal of extensive clarifications to UN R51 by the Informal Group on Additional Sound Emission Provisions (ASEP) in order to provide more consistent and unambiguous specifications for test procedures. Explanations of the proposed changes are provided in document GRB-65-25.

Extensive changes to UN R51 as developed mainly by the informal working group on Additional Sound Emission Provisions (ASEP II), but including further proposals submitted through GRB. All of these proposals were consolidated by GRB during its September 2017 session in Annex II to the session report. GRB intends to hold a final review of the changes, including whether they constitute a new series of amendments, during its January 2018 session, (i.e., prior to the March 2018 WP.29 session that will consider this document). The draft changes include proposals to

1. amend the scope to be design-neutral and reflect the driving situations covered by the Regulation;
2. highlight that ASEP apply to vehicles and their electric sound enhancement systems such as the Audible Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) and silencers equipped with an active cancelling system
3. update the “backfire” assessment procedure; and
4. clarify the gear ratio anchor point in Annex 7 as defined via Annex 3
5. Paragraph 1: The scope was originally drafted for the Annex 3 test which refers to normal urban driving. A proposed additional sentence covers the intention of Annex 7.
6. Paragraph 2.8.1.: Adopt the wording from standard ISO 362-1:2015 for clarity. If an electric motor is not operational during the type approval tests, then its power must not contribute to the calculation of the power to mass ratio (PMR).
7. Paragraph 2.24., table: Amendments regarding paragraph 2.2.7.4. of Annex 3 because paragraph 2.2.7.4. is new. Amendments also for line BB’ to reflect that the measurement will not end after line BB’. For the speeds vAA’, vBB’ and vPP’, a wrong reference coming from ISO was corrected.
8. Paragraph 2.27.: A new definition of “kickdown” was introduced since this term is used in this Regulation. With a large variety of products, it is unclear what “kickdown” exactly means. This definition is a design neutral approach and reflects the intention of Annex 3 and Annex 7.
9. Paragraph 2.28.: Prevention of downshift is a legal measure to ensure that the vehicle can be tested within the test conditions as specified by this Regulation.
10. Paragraph 3.3.: Deletion of meaningless sentence given the requirement that the vehicles have to be loaded in order to be able to achieve the urban driving conditions as described in paragraph 3.1.2.2. of Annex 3. The sentence has similarly already been deleted in Regulation (EU) No. 540/2014.
11. Paragraph 6.2.3.: Amend paragraph 11.6 to exempt vehicles with a serial hybrid drive train until July 2022 from ASEP since these vehicles do not have the internal combustion engine running within the control range of Annex 7 and therefore cannot yield valid test results.
12. Annex 1, Appendix 1: For the test method according to 3.1.2.1 the pre-acceleration length may differ per gear ratio. In this case, it is necessary to report the pre-acceleration length per gear ratio.
13. Annex 1, Appendix 2: Missing elements of the information document have been added, namely “0.2. type” and “3.2.6. pressure charger(s)”.
14. Annex 3, paragraph 2.1.: Lower temperatures will lead to slightly higher test results due to an increased tyre rolling sound. Thus, testing at lower temperatures will be a disadvantage for the manufacturer. If for practical reasons the manufacturer wishes to carry out tests at lower temperatures, this shall be accepted by the type approval authority.
15. Annex 3, paragraph 2.2.1.: For M1 and N1, the current provision has led to ambiguities about its meaning. The proposed new sentence clarifies the meaning. Further, the tolerances are broadened, as research shows, that the impact of the test mass can be neglected in a wide range. For M2, M3, N2 and N3, the current provision has led to ambiguities about its meaning. The proposed new sentence clarifies the meaning. If the test mass of the vehicle is equal to the target mass, the target mass shall be achieved with a tolerance of ±5 per cent according to equation (2) in paragraph 2.2.7.1. of Annex 3. Consequently this has to be valid also for the test mass mt. If the test mass of the vehicle is lower than the target mass according to equation (12) and (13) in paragraph 2.2.7.1. of Annex 3, the test mass shall be achieved with a tolerance of ±5 per cent. Concerning M2 and M3, for clarification and to avoid misunderstanding, the loading conditions for complete vehicles of category M2 (M > 3,500 kg) and M3 were aligned with the requirements for incomplete vehicles of category M2 (M > 3,500 kg) and M3. As a consequence, vehicles of category M2 (M ≤ 3,500 kg) have to be added to the table and their test mass requirement has to be aligned with those of vehicles of category M1 and N1.
16. Annex 3, paragraph 2.2.6.: add conditioning provisions for exhaust systems containing fibrous materials,
17. Annex 3, paragraph 2.2.7.1.: See the above justification for M2, M3, N2 and N3 in paragraph 2.2.1.
18. Annex 3, paragraph 2.2.7.4.: If a manufacturer does not produce vehicles with two axles only, he is not able to calculate the right test mass for his vehicles with more than two axles. For calculating the test mass, a vehicle with two axles has to be put on a scale to measure the unladen front axle load, mfa load unladen, and the unladen rear axle load, mra load unladen, for being able to calculate munladen as given in formula (3) of paragraph 2.2.7.1. of Annex 3. In addition, a new paragraph provides a procedure for calculating the test mass of a virtual vehicles with two axles, based on an existing vehicle with more than two axles, when a vehicle with two axles is physically not available to be put on a scale.
19. Annex 3, paragraph 3.1.2.1.: Proposal to extend the measurement to a position where misfiring is detectable. A redundant sentence is deleted per paragraph 2.2.4.
20. Annex 3, paragraph 3.1.2.1.4.1.(d): Clarify gear usage where one gear ratio is above 2 m/s² and the other below a_urban.
21. Annex 3, paragraph 3.1.2.1.4.1.: Clarify the proper setup for testing for vehicles with very short gear ratios.
22. Annex 3, paragraph 3.1.2.1.4.3.: Introduction of specifications for vehicles with only one gear ratio.
23. Annex 3, paragraph 3.1.2.1.5.: Simplify testing. With a fixed vehicle length, it is not necessary to adjust the test equipment (light barriers, pylons) for each vehicle.
24. Annex 3, paragraph 3.1.2.2.1..: Clarify the gear ratio selection procedures,
25. Annex 3, paragraph 3.2.3.: Reference correction
26. Annex 3, paragraph 3.2.5.3.: Reference correction
27. Annex 4, paragraph 1.: The performance of the fibrous material can be checked by completely removing the fibrous material. This reintroduces an option removed when Annex 5 of the 02 series of amendments was revised.
28. Annex 6, paragraph 2.1.: Proposal to simplify and clarify CoP. During the conformity of production procedures, neither the vehicle nor tyres will have a proper preconditioning. In many cases, the vehicles are foiled and parts may be missing as theft protection. It is very unlikely that the vehicles will have already the same performance as the type approval vehicle. This provision adopts the specifications from the revised ASEP provisions (Informal document GRB-65-26, Annex 7, para. 1). In addition, the range of masses was broadened in the same way as proposed for type approval.
29. Annex 6, paragraph 3.: Reference correction.

Proposal to add indoor testing, including ISO 362-3, as an alternative to the type approval tests in Annex 3. In addition, UN R51 allows the use mechanical or electronic devices to control the gear shifting and measures to avoid accelerations greater than 2.0 m/s². However, the measures are not defined and the manufacturer or technical service is not obliged to document the methodology in the test report. This proposal introduces a table with examples for devices and measures for reference and would require documentation of methodology used.

Proposal to address comments on the adopted Supplement 4:

1. align the flowchart in the appendix to Annex 3, Figure 3c with the amendment to paragraph 3.1.2.1.4.1 (c) of Supplement 3 to the 03 series
2. amend Appendix to Annex 3, Table 1 to limit to pure electric vehicles the options to either use mechanical or electronic devices to control the gear shift or take measures to avoid accelerations greater than 2.0 m/s² (GRB/2018/2 and GRB-67-17)
3. under Annex 7, paragraph 5.2., align the principle of testing between automatic and manual transmission having more than 5 gears.

Proposal to correct a reference in Supplement 3 to the 03 series of amendments, to introduce transitional provisions in line with the transitional provisions in Supplement 3, and to reintroduce a sentence deleted by mistake in Supplement 4 to the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 51.

Proposal for clarifications and corrections, including an update to reference ISO 5130:2019.

Introduces Real Driving Additional Sound Emission Provisions (RD-ASEP) for vehicles of categories M1 and N1 covering driving conditions outside of normal driving with higher accelerations and vehicle speeds up to 100 km/h

Proposal from GRBP to introduce a preliminary real-driving sound emissions test procedure for the purpose of collecting experience on the new test and evaluation concept, add provisions to reduce sound measurement uncertainties, to extend the transitional period until the end of 2023 for micro-vans and micro-trucks, and to otherwise clarify and improve the text.

Proposal to introduce measures to reduce variability across assessments and to bring the latest ISO 10844 standard test surface into the Regulation. The proposal includes editorial corrections and clarifications based on the 03 series of amendments to UN R51 up to Supplement 7 (GRBP/2023/12) subject to review and approval during the January 2023 GRBP session.

Proposal for corrections and clarifications concerning power definition, calibration, temperature correction and Reference sound assessment.

Proposal to cover all types of electric vehicles (xEVs) in the provisions of ASEP (Annex 7) in UN Regulation No. 51.

Proposal to introduce a “default mode”, to specify requirements to be applied to the emission of Enhanced Exterior Sound (EES), with the corresponding transitional provisions, and to draw a limit curve to introduce electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles that can be propelled without an internal combustion engine operating in the scope of ASEP (Annex 7).

Proposal to update references to the latest version of standard ISO 362-3 (Indoor testing).

Proposal to replace references to GTR 21 by references to UN R177.

Proposal to address electric vehicle enhanced sound issues in the short term until the new 04 series of amendments enters into force.