A noise label for motor vehicles: towards quieter traffic
Regular paper
Ministry of the Environment
Monday 1 june, 2015, 11:00 - 11:20
0.8 Rome (118)
Abstract:
The ‘EU Regulation on the sound level of motor vehicles’ calls on the European
Commission to assess and develop vehicle noise labels and, if appropriate,
submit a legislative proposal to the European Parliament and the Council.
A noise label for motor vehicles would enable consumers to take noise
production into account in their purchasing decisions. It would raise consumer
awareness of the noise levels produced by, and experienced within, vehicles.
Moreover, the label will encourage manufacturers to develop quieter motor
vehicles.
A noise label should integrate both interior noise and external noise.
Existing EU Regulations establish maximum noise limits for motor vehicles and
road noise from tyres. An ISO standard defines noise levels within a vehicle.
All can provide a basis for a noise labelling system for vehicles.
The presentation explores preconditions for a noise label system for vehicles
and offers an model for a noise label for vehicles. A labelling system will be
described for (private) cars which relies on the award of points for interior
noise, powertrain noise, and tyre noise. A labelling system for other vehicle
categories is also explored.
The European Commission could use this model for noise labels for vehicles as
a stepping stone.