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UN R53 Base text (04 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 53 (ECE R53) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of category L3 vehicles with regard to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices.

UN R53 — 04 series of amendments

Changes from 03 series of amendments (supplement 4)

Adopted at the WP.29 191st sessionEntry into force 2024-06-15
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What changed
  • Driving-beam and passing-beam headlamps must now be of classes of the 01 or later series of UN Regulation No. 149. The headlamp paragraphs for motorcycles now also use a maximum power limit of 11 kW.
  • Other devices, for example direction indicators, stop lamps, fog lamps and retro-reflectors, must now be type-approved to a named series of amendments.
  • New paragraph 11.12. sets the transitional provisions for the 04 series, with the dates 1 September 2028 and 1 September 2030.
Why
  • The 04 series aims to enable the phasing out of the installation of older lamps and devices.
  • Allowing only headlamps approved to the 01 series of UN Regulation No. 149 significantly increases the stringency of UN Regulation No. 53.
  • The 11 kW power limit is to make the provisions compatible with vehicles equipped with an electric powertrain.

Q1What changed84 changes

Maximum power limit of 11 kW for headlamps (paras. 6.1.1.1., 6.1.1.2., 6.2.1.1. and 6.2.1.2.)

Paragraphs 6.1.1.1. and 6.2.1.1. now apply to motorcycles having a cylinder capacity ≤ 125 cm3 and a maximum power ≤ 11 kW. Paragraphs 6.1.1.2. and 6.2.1.2. now apply to motorcycles having a cylinder capacity > 125 cm3 or a maximum power > 11 kW. Before, these paragraphs gave no power limit. A new footnote says that the power limits are based on maximum continuous rated power for electric propelled vehicles. For vehicles propelled with a combustion engine, they are based on maximum net power.

For motorcycles having a cylinder capacity ≤ 125 cm3 and a maximum power ≤ 11 kW
For motorcycles having a cylinder capacity > 125 cm3 or a maximum power > 11 kW
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Driving-beam headlamps and ADB to UN Regulation No. 149 (paras. 6.1.1., 6.1.6.1. and 6.16.1.1.)

For one or two driving-beam headlamps, paragraph 6.1.1.1. now lists only Class A, B, CS or DS of UN Regulation No. 149 (01 or later). Paragraph 6.1.1.2. now lists only one or two of Class A, B or DS, or two of Class CS, of the same series. The options for UN Regulations Nos. 1, 8, 20, 57, 72, 98, 112 and 113, and Classes D and ES of No. 149, are deleted. Paragraph 6.1.6.1. now refers to secondary driving-beams approved to UN Regulation No. 149, instead of Nos. 113 or 149. The primary driving-beam option is deleted from the lamps of which at least one must remain switched ON with the secondary driving-beam. Paragraph 6.16.1.1. now says the one ADB must be type-approved for category L3 vehicles to UN Regulation No. 149, 01 or later series.

One or two of approved type according to:One or two, type-approved according to Class A, B, CS or DS of the 01 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149.
One or two of approved type according to:One or two, type-approved according to Class A, B, or DS of the 01 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149.
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Passing-beam headlamps and bend lighting to UN Regulation No. 149 (paras. 6.2.1. to 6.2.6.1.)

For one or two passing-beam headlamps, paragraph 6.2.1.1. now lists only Class C, CS or DS of UN Regulation No. 149 (01 or later). Paragraph 6.2.1.2. now lists only one or two of Class C or DS, or two of Class CS, of the same series. The options for UN Regulations Nos. 1, 8, 20, 57, 72, 98, 112 and 113 are deleted. Classes A, B, D, ES and V of UN Regulation No. 149 are also deleted. In paragraphs 6.2.3.1.4., 6.2.5.7., 6.2.5.8. and 6.2.6.1. on bend lighting, “UN Regulation No. 113 or 149” is replaced with “UN Regulation No. 149”.

One or two of approved type according to:One or two, type-approved according to Class C, CS or DS of the 01 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149.
One or two of approved type according to:One or two, type-approved according to Class C or DS of the 01 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149.
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Direction indicator lamps (para. 6.3.2.)

One option for front indicators is category 1, 1a or 1b to UN Regulation No. 6 (01 or later) or No. 148 (00 or later). The other option for front indicators is category 11, 11a, 11b or 11c to UN Regulations Nos. 50 or 148 (00 or later series). One option for rear indicators is now category 2 to No. 6 (01 or later) or No. 148 (00 or later). The other option for rear indicators is category 12 to Nos. 50 or 148 (00 or later). Before, paragraph 6.3.2. named only categories 1 and 11 for front indicators, and no series of amendments.

Two front indicators (category 1 as specified in UN Regulation No. 6 or 148 or category 11 specified in UN Regulation No. 50 or 148).Two front indicators, type-approved as category 1, 1a or 1b according to the 01 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 6, or to the 00 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation 148; or category 11, 11a, 11b or 11c according to the 00 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation Nos. 50 or 148.
Two rear indicators (category 2 as specified in UN Regulation No. 6 or 148 or category 12 specified in UN Regulation No. 50 or 148).Two rear indicators, type-approved as category 2 according to the 01 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 6, or to the 00 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 148; or category 12 according to the 00 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation Nos. 50 or 148.

Stop lamps and rear-registration-plate illuminating device (paras. 6.4.1. and 6.5.1.)

One option for stop lamps is now a category S1 device to UN Regulation No. 7 (02 or later) or No. 148 (00 or later). The other option is a stop lamp for category L vehicles to UN Regulations Nos. 50 or 148 (00 or later series). The optional category S3 device must now be to No. 7 (02 or later) or No. 148 (00 or later). The rear-registration-plate illuminating device must now be category 2 to Nos. 50 or 148 (00 or later series). Before, these paragraphs named no series of amendments.

One or two approved , type-approved as a category S1 device according to the 02 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 7 , or 148 to the 00 or stop lamp according subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 50 148; or as a stop lamp for category L vehicles according to the 00 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation NoNos. 50 or 148.
Optional one approved , type-approved as a category S3 device according to the 02 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 7 , or to the 00 or subsequent series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 148.
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Position lamps, retro-reflectors, fog lamps and daytime running lamp (paras. 6.6.1. to 6.13.2.)

Front and rear position lamps must now be type-approved to UN Regulation No. 7 (02 or later) or Nos. 50 or 148 (00 or later). Non-triangular rear and side retro-reflectors must be Class IA or IB to UN Regulation No. 3 (02 or later) or No. 150 (00 or later). Front fog lamps must now be Class “F3” to UN Regulation No. 19 (03 or later series) or No. 149 (00 or later). Rear fog lamps must now be type-approved to UN Regulations Nos. 38 or 148 (00 or later series). Daytime running lamps must now be type-approved to UN Regulations Nos. 87 or 148 (00 or later series); before, no series was named.

One or two if coloured white;
Two (one per side) if coloured amber.
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Transitional provisions for the 04 series (para. 11.12.)

New paragraph 11.12. sets the transitional provisions for the 04 series of amendments. From 1 September 2028, Contracting Parties need not accept preceding-series type approvals first issued after 1 September 2028. Until 1 September 2030, they must accept preceding-series type approvals first issued before 1 September 2028. From 1 September 2030, they need not accept preceding-series type approvals and extensions thereof. Notwithstanding paragraph 11.12.4., they must continue to accept them for vehicles not affected by the changes of the 04 series (para. 11.12.6.). They may grant type approvals, and must continue to grant extensions, to any preceding series (paras. 11.12.7. and 11.12.8.).

Transitional provisions applicable to the 04 series of amendments
As from the official date of entry into force of the 04 series of amendments, no Contracting Party applying this Regulation shall refuse to grant or refuse to accept type approvals under this Regulation as amended by the 04 series of amendments.
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Q2Why it changed

Proposed by
Informal Working Group on Simplification of Lighting and Light-Signalling Regulations (IWG SLR)
Working party
GRE, 88th session (April 2023)

Reasons

  • IWG SLR prepared the text with the aim to enable the phasing out of the installation of older lamps and devices. The proposal is based on the initial request by the expert of the European Commission at the 85th GRE session. The request was to modify the transitional provisions of the new 01 series of amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 148, 149 and 150.

    Sources (3)
    “with the aim to enable the phasing out of the installation of older lamps/devices”
    “This proposal is based on the initial request by the expert of the European Commission at the eighty-fifth session of GRE”
    “to modify the transitional provisions of the new 01 series of amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 148, 149 and 150”

  • IWG SLR agreed that the most practical way was to prescribe the 01 series changes in the lighting installation regulations. In particular, they go into the individual specifications of each function (paragraph 6). The European Commission requested to specify which device regulations, and which series of amendments, are allowed for each single function in installation regulations. The proposal reflects this request.

    Sources (3)
    “IWG SLR agreed that the most practical way to introduce changes made to the 01 series of the UN Regulations Nos. 148, 149 and 150 was to prescribe them in lighting installation regulations”
    “the European Commission requested to specify which device regulations (and their corresponding series of amendments) are allowed for each single function in installation regulations”
    “This proposal reflects the request by the European Commission.”

  • An IMMA analysis showed that the main technical changes of the 01 series were in UN Regulation No. 149. These changes were for road illumination devices, namely all classes of passing-beam and driving-beam headlamps. Allowing only headlamps approved to the 01 series of No. 149 implies phasing out a number of headlamp classes that are nowadays widely used. This significantly increases the stringency of UN Regulation No. 53, so a new 04 series with transitional provisions is necessary.

    Sources (4)
    “the International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA) conducted an in-depth technical analysis of the new requirements introduced by the 01 series of the three UN device Regulations”
    “it was evident that the main technical changes were introduced into UN Regulation No. 149 for road illumination devices, namely all classes of passing-beam and driving-beam headlamps”
    “The proposed amendments will result in allowing only the installation of headlamps approved to the 01 series of UN Regulation No. 149, which implies phasing out a number of headlamp classes which are nowadays widely used.”
    “Such a restriction significantly increases the level of stringency of UN Regulation No. 53, and it is therefore necessary to create a new 04 series with its corresponding transitional provisions.”

  • The transitional period corresponds to the proposal by Czechia and Germany for a new 04 series, adopted at the 87th GRE session. The words “and extensions thereof” were added for clarification, to avoid different interpretations of the conditions. This was a specific request of the expert from the European Commission.

    Sources (3)
    “The transitional period corresponds to the proposal by Czechia and Germany for a new 04 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 53 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2022/15), adopted at the eighty-seventh session of GRE.”
    “The words “and extensions thereof” have been added”
    “for clarification, to avoid different interpretations of the conditions. This is a specific request made by the expert from the European Commission.”

  • The experts from Czechia and Germany said that the cylinder capacity threshold implicitly assumes an internal combustion engine. It is necessary to adapt the provision to make it compatible with electric propulsion systems. It is a widely extended practice to complement the 125 cm3 threshold with a maximum power limit of 11 kW. The proposal says the 125 cm3 threshold should be retained as an additional limit for internal combustion engines, to avoid discrepancies with existing legislations.

    Sources (4)
    “The current threshold to differentiate low- and high-performance motorcycles is based on the cylinder capacity, which implicitly assumes that the vehicle propulsion system is an internal combustion engine.”
    “it is necessary to adapt this provision to ensure compatibility with electric propulsion systems”
    “It is a widely extended practice to distinguish low- and high-performance motorcycles by complementing the threshold of 125 cm3 with an additional maximum power limit of 11 kW.”
    “to avoid generating discrepancies with existing legislations all over the world, the cylinder capacity threshold of 125 cm3 should be retained as an additional limit for internal combustion engines”

Document trail

  1. 2022-07ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2022/15Proposal by the experts from Czechia and Germany for a new 04 series
  2. 2023-02ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2023/4IWG SLR proposal that incorporates the text of the proposal by Czechia and Germany
  3. —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/88GRE session report, para. 10: adopted subject to removal of the square brackets, keeping the text inside
  4. 2023-08Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/91Text that GRE sent to WP.29 and AC.1
  5. 2023-11WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1175Adopted at the 191st session (session report, para. 180)
  6. 2024-06-15In forceC.N.245.2024.TREATIES-XI.B.16.53UN depositary notification

Q3Who is affected

Vehicle manufacturer

  • Check the cylinder capacity and maximum power of the motorcycle against paragraphs 6.1.1.1., 6.1.1.2., 6.2.1.1. and 6.2.1.2.
  • For the 11 kW limit, use maximum continuous rated power for electric vehicles and maximum net power for combustion engines.
  • Fit driving-beam headlamps of the UN Regulation No. 149 classes (01 or later series) that paragraphs 6.1.1.1. and 6.1.1.2. name.
  • Fit passing-beam headlamps of the UN Regulation No. 149 classes (01 or later series) that paragraphs 6.2.1.1. and 6.2.1.2. name.
  • If you fit an ADB, use one approved for category L3 vehicles to UN Regulation No. 149, 01 or later.
  • Use indicators, stop lamps, position lamps, fog lamps, daytime running lamps and retro-reflectors type-approved to the named series.
  • Plan 04 series approvals against 1 September 2028 and 1 September 2030 in paragraphs 11.12.2. to 11.12.4.

Component supplier

  • Have motorcycle headlamps type-approved to Class A, B, C, CS or DS of UN Regulation No. 149 (01 or later).
  • Have bend lighting units type-approved as part of the passing-beam to UN Regulation No. 149, not No. 113.
  • Have ADB for category L3 vehicles type-approved to the 01 or later series of UN Regulation No. 149.
  • Have category S1 stop lamps type-approved to UN Regulation No. 7 (02 or later) or No. 148 (00 or later).

Technical service / Approval authority

  • Check the cylinder capacity and maximum power of the motorcycle to apply paragraph 6.1.1.1. or 6.1.1.2., and 6.2.1.1. or 6.2.1.2.
  • Check that each headlamp, lamp and retro-reflector is type-approved to the class and series that its paragraph names.
  • In the bend lighting test, measure the bank angles the manufacturer specified at device approval to UN Regulation No. 149.
  • Compare measured bank angles with the minimum in the communication form of the device approval (UN Regulation No. 149).

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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.

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