State-of-the-art infrastructures, laboratories and expertise recognized internationally for motor vehicle safety compliance testing and research programs
The Motor Vehicle Test Centre (MVTC) is located on 546 ha of land in Blainville, Quebec and comprises 25 km of test tracks, extreme temperature/ high capability environmental chambers and state-of-the-art laboratories that are recognized internationally for leading motor vehicle safety research in support of Transport Canada’s (TC) Innovation Centre and the Department’s Motor Vehicle Safety Program. The MVTC is the largest and most advanced automotive test and research center in Canada.
The MVTC is governed under a unique Government Owned - Contractor Operated (Go-Co) contract, whereby a private-sector organization (the Contractor) is responsible for managing and operating the site. Under the Go-Co model, TC owns the site, and all facilities and assets. The Contractor is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the site and provides TC with the expert technical support required to execute its test and research programs. Transport Canada encourages the contractor to market their services to other federal departments and the industry for research, development, and multi-modal testing activities.
Transport Canada is responsible of the monitoring of the compliance of manufacturers and importers of motor vehicles, tires and child seats to the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) as established under the authority of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA). Transport Canada also leads numerous research programs in support of regulatory and standards development and supports research into new innovative vehicle technologies, such as connected and automated vehicles (CAV), electric and alternative fuel vehicles, and advanced test instruments. The testing associated with these activities is carried out at the MVTC.
The MVTC offers state-of-the-art facilities combined with a knowledgeable team, making the center a prime location for customers and research programs wishing to conduct testing and obtain reliable results.
Compliance testing: The responsibility for complying with the CMVSS rests with manufacturers and importers, who conduct their own testing to self-certify their vehicles and equipment. Transport Canada conducts compliance tests each year at the MVTC on a sample of vehicles and child seats sold in Canada in order to monitor accuracy of manufacturers and importers self-certification programs.
Research testing: In addition to compliance testing, the MVTC conducts crash avoidance research program, research crash tests including multiple configuration moving-car to moving-car crashes, child seat research testing and pedestrians injury risk evaluations.
Intelligent mobility: The MVTC offers dedicated facilities and equipment to perform the evaluation and testing of connected and automated vehicles (CAV).
- Automotive
- Defence and security industries
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Professional and technical services (including legal services, architecture, engineering)
- Transportation
Specialized labs and equipment
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Equipment |
Function |
|---|---|
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Alpha track (low-speed track) |
Two-lane oval track ideal for fuel consumption trials, electric vehicle evaluations, mileage accumulation and testing
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Bravo track (high-speed track) |
Oval track of two straight sections connected at each end by banked curves designed for high-speed and endurance testing
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Charlie track (braking pad) |
This test area represents a highway straight section and an ideal environment to evaluate braking performance, traction control systems and perform CAV tests
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Immersion pit |
Used to evaluate vehicle braking performance in wet conditions
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Delta track (dynamic testing area) |
Paved surface ideal for stability and control testing, noise testing, advanced driving courses and CAV tests
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Echo field |
Large grass area intended for year-round specialized testing and events (300m x 300m) |
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Foxtrot field |
Large grass area intended for year-round specialized testing and events (150m x 300m) |
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Hotel (Hill) track |
Braking ramp ideal for testing parking brakes, clutches, immobilizers and transmissions
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Kilo track |
Accessible year-round, this gravel road is used for off-road and sport utility vehicle evaluations (total length: 9 km) |
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Lima track (off-road track) |
Fully customizable area used to test the extreme off-road capabilities of a vehicle (Dimension: 47 000 m2) |
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Seattle Safety ServoSled |
Acceleration sled used to conduct dummy evaluations; child restraint testing and rear seat restraint technology evaluation/development. The systems can accelerate vehicle bucks or complete vehicle body and can be programmed to simulate a range of acceleration pulses. |
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MESSRING HydroBrake |
Deceleration sled used to conduct dummy evaluations; child restraint testing and rear seat restraint technology evaluation/ development. The systems can decelerate vehicle bucks or complete vehicle body and can be programmed to simulate a range of deceleration pulses. |
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Vehicle structure and bumper testing equipment |
Includes various equipment for vehicle structure testing and bumpers testing; chassis dynamometer and a machine shop. |
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Collision testing equipment |
Offers a wide range of collision configurations and includes a large inventory of crash test dummies with calibration capability. |
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Impactors |
Simulates occupant and pedestrian impacts using a series of interchangeable impactors. |
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Large environmental chamber |
Hot and cold weather testing chamber that can accommodate large transport vehicles, military vehicles or small aircraft
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Small environmental chamber |
Hot and cold weather testing chamber accommodates small component testing, passenger cars and accompanying equipment
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Additional information
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Title |
URL |
|---|---|
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Transport Canada Innovation Centre |
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PMG Technologies - Advanced Automotive Test and Research Centre |
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PMG Technologies brochure |
https://www.pmgtest.com/app/uploads/2018/07/EN-Brochure-Corpo-.pdf |
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Video of the PMG Technologies Automotive Test and Research Centre |