Technical Standards Document No. 500, Revision 1 - Low-Speed Vehicles

Publication Date: December 9, 2006
Effective Date:  December 9, 2006
Mandatory Compliance Date:  June 9, 2007

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Technical Standards Document 
Number 500, Revision 1

Low-Speed Vehicles 

Introduction

As defined by section 12 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, a Technical Standards Document (TSD) is a document that reproduces an enactment of a foreign government (e.g. a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard issued by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). According to the Act, the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations may alter or override some provisions contained in a TSD or specify additional requirements; consequently, it is advisable to read a TSD in conjunction with the Act and its counterpart Regulation. As a guide, where the corresponding Regulation contains additional requirements, a footnote indicates the amending subsection number.

TSDs are revised from time to time in order to incorporate amendments made to the reference document, at which time a Notice of Revision is published in the Canada Gazette Part I. All TSDs are assigned a revision number, with "Revision 0" designating the original version.

Identification of Changes

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Effective Date and Mandatory Compliance Date

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Official Version of Technical Standards Documents

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(Original signed by)

Director, Standards Research and Development
for the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities
Ottawa, Ontario

Technical Standards Document
Number 500, Revision 1

LOW-SPEED VEHICLES

S1. Scope

This Technical Standards Document (TSD) standard specifies requirements for low-speed vehicles.

S2. Purpose

The purpose of this TSD standard is to ensure that low-speed vehicles operated on the public streets and roads, and highways are equipped with the minimum motor vehicle equipment appropriate for motor vehicle safety.

S3. Applicability

[CONTENT DELETED] For applicability, see Schedule III and subsection 500(1) of Schedule IV to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations.

S4. [Reserved]

S5. Requirements

S6. General test conditions

Each vehicle must meet the performance limit specified in S5(a) under the following test conditions.

S6.1  Ambient conditions

S6.1.1  Ambient temperature.  The ambient temperature is any temperature between 0°C (32°F) and 40°C (104°F).

S6.1.2  Wind speed.  The wind speed is not greater than 5 m/s (11.2 mph).

S6.2  Road test surface

S6.2.1  Pavement friction.  Unless otherwise specified, the road test surface produces a peak friction coefficient (PFC) of 0.9 when measured using a standard reference test tire that meets the specifications of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E-1136, Standard Specification for a Radial Standard Reference Test Tire, in accordance with ASTM Method E-1337-90, Standard Test Method for Determining Longitudinal Peak Braking Coefficient of Paved Surfaces Using a Standard Reference Test Tire, at a speed of 64.4 km/h (40.0 mph), without water delivery (incorporated by reference; see 49 CFR 571.5).

S6.2.2  Gradient.  The test surface has not more than a 1-percent gradient in the direction of testing and not more than a 2-percent gradient perpendicular to the direction of testing.

S6.2.3  Lane width.  The lane width is not less than 3.5 m (11.5 ft).

S6.3  Vehicle conditions

S6.3.1  The test weight for maximum speed is unloaded vehicle weight plus a mass of 78 kg (170 pounds), including driver and instrumentation.

S6.3.2  No adjustment, repair, or replacement of any component is allowed after the start of the first performance test.

S6.3.3  Tire inflation pressure.  Cold inflation pressure is not more than the maximum permissible pressure molded on the tire sidewall.

S6.3.4  Break-in.  The vehicle completes the manufacturer’s recommended break-in agenda as a minimum condition prior to beginning the performance tests.

S6.3.5  Vehicle openings.  All vehicle openings (doors, windows, hood, trunk, convertible top, cargo doors, etc.) are closed except as required for instrumentation purposes.

S6.3.6  Battery powered vehicles.  Prior to beginning the performance tests, propulsion batteries are at the state of charge recommended by the manufacturer or, if the manufacturer has made no recommendation, at a state of charge of not less than 95 percent. No further charging of any propulsion battery is permissible.

S7. Test procedure