NHTSA published its minimum-sound rule for hybrid and electric vehicles on December 14, 2016. The final standard concerns pedestrian detection, particularly for blind and visually impaired people. Its scope and timetable need separate readings: a rule's publication does not mean every vehicle mentioned in the rulemaking must meet it that day. [2016-28804][2013-00359]
The operative application section covers electric and qualifying hybrid passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses with gross vehicle weight ratings no greater than 4,536 kilograms, or 10,000 pounds. It also covers electric and hybrid low-speed vehicles. A qualifying hybrid can propel itself in normal travel in a forward gear or reverse without its internal combustion engine running. [2016-28804][2013-00359]
The January 14, 2013 proposal was broader. Its summary included medium and heavy trucks and motorcycles, as well as buses. That document is useful for identifying what was considered, but the adopted application section controls the final boundary. In particular, narrowing the proposal did not remove all buses: qualifying light buses still fall within the final text. [2016-28804][2013-00359]
The original final rule specified February 13, 2017 for effectiveness, September 1, 2018 for initial phased compliance and September 1, 2019 for full compliance. These are the dates stated in that historical publication, not a present-day compliance guide. Both sources belong to the same rulemaking; neither supplies an independent measurement of crashes prevented after implementation. [2016-28804][2013-00359]
Source documents
- Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicleshttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-14/html/2016-28804.htm
- Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicleshttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-01-14/html/2013-00359.htm