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On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations (SOR/2003-2)

Regulations are current to 2024-11-26 and last amended on 2022-10-03. Previous Versions

On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations

SOR/2003-2

CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999

Registration 2002-12-12

On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations

P.C. 2002-2164 2002-12-12

Whereas, pursuant to subsection 332(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999Footnote a, the Minister of the Environment published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 30, 2002, a copy of the proposed On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations, substantially in the annexed form, and persons were given an opportunity to file comments with respect to the Regulations or a notice of objection requesting that a board of review be established and stating the reasons for the objection;

Therefore, Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to section 160 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999Footnote a, hereby makes the annexed On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations.

Interpretation

  •  (1) The following definitions apply in these Regulations.

    Act

    Act means the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. (Loi)

    adjusted loaded vehicle weight

    adjusted loaded vehicle weight means the numerical average of a vehicle’s curb weight and its GVWR. (poids ajusté du véhicule chargé)

    approach angle

    approach angle means the smallest angle, in a plan side view of a vehicle, formed by the level surface on which the vehicle is standing and a line tangent to the front tire static loaded radius arc and touching the underside of the vehicle forward of the front tire. (angle d’approche)

    auxiliary emission control device

    auxiliary emission control device means any element of design that senses temperature, vehicle speed, engine RPM, transmission gear, manifold vacuum, or any other parameter for the purpose of activating, modulating, delaying, or deactivating the operation of any part of an emission control system. ((dispositif antipollution auxiliaire))

    auxiliary power unit

    auxiliary power unit means a device that is installed on a tractor and that is equipped with a diesel engine to generate power for purposes other than propelling the tractor. (groupe électrogène d’appoint)

    basic vehicle frontal area

    basic vehicle frontal area means the area enclosed by the geometric projection of the basic vehicle, which includes tires but does not include mirrors or air deflectors, along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle onto a plane perpendicular to that axis. (surface frontale du véhicule de base)

    break-over angle

    break-over angle means the supplement of the largest angle, in the plan side view of a vehicle, that can be formed by two lines tangent to the front and rear static loaded radii arcs and intersecting at a point on the underside of the vehicle. (angle de rampe)

    CFR

    CFR means the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States, as amended from time to time. (CFR)

    Class I motorcycle

    Class I motorcycle means a motorcycle having an engine displacement of less than 170 cm3. (motocyclette de classe I)

    Class II motorcycle

    Class II motorcycle means a motorcycle having an engine displacement of 170 cm3 or more but less than 280 cm3. (motocyclette de classe II)

    Class III motorcycle

    Class III motorcycle means a motorcycle having an engine displacement of 280 cm3or more. (motocyclette de classe III)

    Class 2B vehicle

    Class 2B vehicle means a heavy-duty vehicle that has a GVWR of more than 3 856 kg (8,500 lb) but less than or equal to 4 536 kg (10,000 lb). (véhicule de classe 2B)

    Class 3 vehicle

    Class 3 vehicle means a heavy-duty vehicle that has a GVWR of more than 4 536 kg (10,000 lb) but less than or equal to 6 350 kg (14,000 lb). (véhicule de classe 3)

    complete heavy-duty vehicle

    complete heavy-duty vehicle[Repealed, SOR/2015-186, s. 1]

    crankcase emissions

    crankcase emissions means substances that cause air pollution and that are emitted to the atmosphere from any portion of the engine crankcase ventilation or lubrication systems. (émissions du carter)

    curb weight

    curb weight means, at the manufacturer’s choice, the actual or manufacturer’s estimated weight of a vehicle in operational status with all standard equipment, the weight of fuel at nominal tank capacity and the weight of optional equipment. (masse en état de marche)

    departure angle

    departure angle means the smallest angle, in a plan side view of a vehicle, formed by the level surface on which the vehicle is standing and a line tangent to the rear tire static loaded radius arc and touching the underside of the vehicle rearward of the rear tire. (angle de sortie)

    diesel engine

    diesel engine means a type of engine that has operating characteristics significantly similar to those of the theoretical Diesel combustion cycle. The non-use of a throttle during normal operation is indicative of a diesel engine. (moteur diesel)

    diesel heavy-duty vehicle

    diesel heavy-duty vehicle means a heavy-duty vehicle that is powered by a diesel engine. (véhicule lourd diesel)

    element of design

    element of design means, in respect of a vehicle or engine,

    • (a) any control system, including computer software, electronic control systems and computer logic;

    • (b) any control system calibrations;

    • (c) the results of systems interaction; or

    • (d) any hardware items. (élément de conception)

    emission control system

    emission control system means a unique group of emission control devices, auxiliary emission control devices, engine modifications and strategies, and other elements of design used to control exhaust emissions from a vehicle. (système antipollution)

    engine family

    engine family means

    • (a) in respect of a company’s motorcycles,

      • (i) if they are covered by an EPA certificate, the grouping for which the EPA certificate was issued, or

      • (ii) if they are not covered by an EPA certificate, the grouping determined in accordance with section 420 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart E, of the CFR; and

    • (b) in respect of a company’s heavy duty engines,

      • (i) if they are covered by an EPA certificate, the grouping for which the EPA certificate was issued, or

      • (ii) if they are not covered by an EPA certificate, the grouping determined in accordance with section 24 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart A, of the CFR. (famille de moteurs)

    EPA

    EPA means the United States Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA)

    EPA certificate

    EPA certificate means a certificate of conformity to U.S. federal standards issued by the EPA under Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, of the CFR. (certificat de l’EPA)

    evaporative emission family

    evaporative emission family means, in respect of a company’s vehicles, for the application of evaporative emission standards, the grouping determined in accordance with section 1821 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart S, of the CFR. (famille d’émissions de gaz d’évaporation)

    evaporative emissions

    evaporative emissions means hydrocarbons emitted into the atmosphere from a vehicle, other than exhaust emissions and crankcase emissions. (émissions de gaz d’évaporation)

    exhaust emissions

    exhaust emissions means substances emitted into the atmosphere from any opening downstream from the exhaust port of a vehicle’s engine. (émissions de gaz d’échappement)

    family emission limit

    family emission limit means the maximum emission level established by a company for a test group, engine family or evaporative emission family. (limite d’émissions de la famille)

    Federal Test Procedure

    Federal Test Procedure means the test procedure described in sections 130(a) to (d) and (f) of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart B, of the CFR, which is designed to measure urban driving exhaust emissions and evaporative emissions over the EPA Light-duty Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule set out in Appendix I to part 86 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, subpart T, of the CFR. (Federal Test Procedure)

    fire fighting vehicle

    fire fighting vehicle means a vehicle that is designed to be used under emergency conditions to transport personnel and equipment and to support the suppression of fires and the mitigation of other emergency situations. (véhicule d’incendie)

    full useful life emission bin

    full useful life emission bin means the set of exhaust emission standards, measured using the Federal Test Procedure, that is set out in a horizontal row in the following tables and that is chosen by a company in respect of a test group, taking into account any compliance credits used by the company in accordance with section 1811 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart S, of the CFR, if applicable:

    • (a) in the case of light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles of the 2016 model year or an earlier model year, in Table S04-1 in section 1811 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart S, of the CFR;

    • (b) in the case of light-duty vehicles, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles of the 2017 model year or a later model year, in Table 2 in section 1811 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart S, of the CFR; or

    • (c) in the case of the following vehicles of the 2018 model year or a later model year:

      • (i) Class 2B vehicles, in Tables 2 and 5 in section 1816 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart S, of the CFR, or

      • (ii) Class 3 vehicles, in Tables 3 and 5 in section 1816 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart S, of the CFR. (série d’émissions de durée de vie totale)

    GVWR

    GVWR means the gross vehicle weight rating specified by a manufacturer as the maximum design loaded weight of a single vehicle. (PNBV)

    HC + NOX

    HC + NOX means the sum of the hydrocarbon and NOX exhaust emissions. (HC + NOX)

    heavy-duty engine

    heavy-duty engine means an engine designed to be used for motive power in a heavy-duty vehicle, other than a medium-duty passenger vehicle, Class 2B vehicle or Class 3 vehicle. (moteur de véhicule lourd)

    heavy-duty vehicle

    heavy-duty vehicle means an on-road vehicle that has a GVWR of more than 3 856 kg (8,500 lb). (véhicule lourd)

    heavy light-duty truck

    heavy light-duty truck means a light-duty truck 3 or a light-duty truck 4 that has a GVWR of more than 2 722 kg (6,000 lb). (camionnette lourde)

    light-duty truck

    light-duty truck means an on-road vehicle that has a GVWR of 3 856 kg (8,500 lb) or less and that

    • (a) is designed primarily for the transportation of property or is a derivative of a vehicle that is designed for that purpose;

    • (b) is designed primarily for the transportation of persons and has a designated seating capacity of more than 12 persons; or

    • (c) is available with special features that enable it to be operated and used off-road, the special features being four-wheel drive and at least four of the following characteristics that are calculated when the vehicle is at curb weight and on a level surface with the front wheels parallel to the vehicle’s longitudinal centreline and the tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure:

      • (i) an approach angle of not less than 28°,

      • (ii) a break-over angle of not less than 14°,

      • (iii) a departure angle of not less than 20°,

      • (iv) ground clearances of not less than 17.8 cm (7 in.) under the front and rear axles, and

      • (v) a ground clearance of not less than 20.3 cm (8 in.) under any point other than the front or rear axle. (camionnette)

    light-duty truck 1

    light-duty truck 1 means a light light-duty truck that has a loaded vehicle weight of 1 701 kg (3,750 lb) or less. (camionnette de type 1)

    light-duty truck 2

    light-duty truck 2 means a light light-duty truck that has a loaded vehicle weight of more than 1 701 kg (3,750 lb). (camionnette de type 2)

    light-duty truck 3

    light-duty truck 3 means a heavy light-duty truck that has an adjusted loaded vehicle weight of 2 608 kg (5,750 lb) or less. (camionnette de type 3)

    light-duty truck 4

    light-duty truck 4 means a heavy light-duty truck that has an adjusted loaded vehicle weight of more than 2 608 kg (5,750 lb). (camionnette de type 4)

    light-duty vehicle

    light-duty vehicle means an on-road vehicle that is designed primarily for the transportation of persons and has a designated seating capacity of not more than 12 persons. (véhicule léger)

    light light-duty truck

    light light-duty truck means a light-duty truck 1 or a light-duty truck 2 that has a GVWR of 2 722 kg (6,000 lb) or less. (camionnette légère)

    loaded vehicle weight

    loaded vehicle weight means the sum of the vehicle’s curb weight and 136 kg (300 lb). (poids du véhicule chargé)

    medium-duty passenger vehicle

    medium-duty passenger vehicle means a heavy-duty vehicle that has a GVWR of less than 4 536 kg (10,000 lb) and that is designed primarily for the transportation of persons but does not include any vehicle that

    • (a) is a truck that is incomplete because it does not have a primary load carrying device or container attached;

    • (b) has a seating capacity of more than 12 persons;

    • (c) is designed to seat more than 9 persons behind the driver; or

    • (d) is equipped with an open cargo area (for example, a pick-up truck box or bed) of 183 cm (72 in.) in interior length or more or with a covered box not readily accessible from the passenger compartment. (véhicule moyen à passagers)

    model year

    model year means the year, as determined under section 5, that is used by a manufacturer to designate a model of vehicle or engine. (année de modèle)

    motorcycle

    motorcycle means an on-road vehicle with a headlight, tail light and stoplight that has two or three wheels and a curb weight of 793 kg (1,749 lb) or less. (motocyclette)

    NMHC

    NMHC means non-methane hydrocarbon exhaust emissions. (HCNM)

    NMOG + NOX

    NMOG + NOX means the sum of the non-methane organic gas exhaust emissions and the NOX exhaust emissions. (GONM + NOX)

    nominal fuel tank capacity

    nominal fuel tank capacity means the volume of the fuel tank specified by the manufacturer to the nearest three eighths of a litre (one tenth of a U.S. gallon). (capacité nominale du réservoir à carburant)

    NOx

    NOx means oxides of nitrogen, which is the sum of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide contained in a gas sample as if the nitric oxide were in the form of nitrogen dioxide. (NOx)

    on-road vehicle

    on-road vehicle means a self-propelled vehicle designed for or capable of transporting persons, property, material or permanently or temporarily affixed apparatus on a highway, but does not mean a vehicle that

    • (a) cannot exceed a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) on a level paved surface;

    • (b) lacks features customarily associated with safe and practical highway use such as a reverse gear, unless the vehicle is a motorcycle, a differential, or safety features required by federal or provincial laws;

    • (c) exhibits features that render its use on a highway unsafe, impractical, or highly unlikely, such as tracked road contact means or inordinate size; or

    • (d) is a military vehicle designed for use in combat or combat support. (véhicule routier)

    Otto-cycle engine

    Otto-cycle engine means a type of engine that has operating characteristics that are significantly similar to those of the theoretical Otto combustion cycle. The use of a throttle during normal operation is indicative of an Otto-cycle engine. (moteur à cycle Otto)

    Otto-cycle heavy-duty vehicle

    Otto-cycle heavy-duty vehicle means a heavy-duty vehicle that is powered by an Otto-cycle engine. (véhicule lourd à cycle Otto)

    rounded

    rounded means rounded in accordance with the rounding method described in section 6 of the ASTM International method ASTM E 29-93a, entitled Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications. (arrondir)

    static loaded radius arc

    static loaded radius arc means a portion of a circle whose centre is the centre of a standard tire-rim combination of a vehicle and whose radius is the distance from that centre to the level surface on which the vehicle is standing, measured with the vehicle at curb weight, the wheel parallel to the vehicle’s longitudinal centreline, and the tire inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. (arc du rayon sous charge)

    test group

    test group means, in respect of a company’s vehicles other than its motorcycles,

    • (a) if they are covered by an EPA certificate, the grouping for which the EPA certificate was issued; and

    • (b) if they are not covered by an EPA certificate, the grouping determined in accordance with section 1827 of Title 40, chapter I, subchapter C, part 86, subpart S, of the CFR. (groupe d’essai)

    tractor

    tractor means a heavy-duty vehicle that has a GVWR of more than 11 793 kg (26,000 lb) and that is manufactured primarily for pulling a trailer but not for carrying cargo other than cargo in the trailer. (tracteur routier)

    useful life

    useful life, in respect of a vehicle or engine, means the period of time or use, whether full or intermediate, during which an emission standard applies as set out in the CFR. (durée de vie utile)

  • (2) Standards that are incorporated by reference in these Regulations from the CFR are those expressly set out in the CFR and shall be read as excluding

    • (a) references to the EPA or the Administrator of the EPA exercising discretion in any way;

    • (b) alternative standards related to fleet averages, other averages, emission credits, small volume manufacturers, or financial hardship; and

    • (c) standards or evidence of conformity of any authority other than the EPA and, in the case of the standards referred to in paragraph 12(b), the California Air Resources Board.

  • SOR/2006-268, s. 1
  • SOR/2013-8, s. 1
  • SOR/2015-186, s. 1
  • SOR/2018-98, s. 63
  • SOR/2022-204, s. 1
 

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