Progress report on the efforts to achieve convergence in worldwide regulations governing the in-use and post-crash safety of equipment and subsystems specific to electrified vehicles via the development of UN Global Technical Regulations.

99. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the co-sponsors of the UN GTR, informed AC.3 through the second progress report (WP.29-163-22) on the fifth meeting of the IWG (13-15 May 2014, Washington D.C.). He outlined the main items of discussion on: (i) research and rulemaking activities of Contracting Parties, (ii) UN GTR outline, road map of work and timeline, (iii) development of the UN GTR in one phase and, (iv) establishment of a new Task Force to investigate a possible extension of the UN GTR scope to include buses and trucks. He sought AC.3 endorsement of this extension until December 2015 to complete research and submit a draft UN GTR to GRSP at that time. He finally informed AC.3 on the next meeting of the IWG scheduled on 18-20 November 2014 in the Republic of Korea. AC.3 endorsed the extension of the mandate and requested the secretariat to distribute WP.29-163-22 at its November 2014 session with an official symbol.

Scope and objectives of the effort to establish a global technical regulation for electric vehicles covering high voltage electrical safety, safety of electrical components, and rechargeable energy storage systems (REESS).

106. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the Chair of the informal working group on electric safety, informed AC.3 about the second meeting of the group held in Bonn, Germany, on 23-25 October 2012. She outlined that the main items of discussion were about: (i) the updated standard and regulation activities undertaken by
Contracting Parties and manufacturers, (ii) UN GTR outline, roadmap of work and timeline. She added that, on the basis of a proposal from OICA, AC.3 representatives had been encouraged to continue to share research, analysis and test data to provide scientific basis and justifications to the UN GTR. AC.3 adopted the terms of reference of the informal working group on electric safety (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/121) and the first progress report (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/122).

13. The expert from the United States, Chair of the informal working group on Electric Vehicle Safety (EVS) introduced the report of the second meeting of the group held on October 23-25, 2012 in Bonn, Germany. He explained that the informal working group had begun considering a first proposal of a UN GTR drafted by the expert from OICA consisting of:

(a) provisions for protection of electrical shock for in-use and post-crash, and
(b) provisions to ensure safety performance of the Rechargeable Energy Storage System (REESS).

14. He clarified that the proposal would take over the provisions devised by the REESS group and recently adopted into UN Regulation No. 100. He concluded that, although the proposal would need improvement, it would form a good basis for future discussions.

15. GRSP noted that the next meeting of the informal working group was scheduled on 16-18 April 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.

103. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the Chair of the informal working group on electric vehicle safety, informed AC.3 about the outcome of the last meeting of the group held in Bonn. She outlined that the discussion mainly focused on examining existing technical requirements used by Contracting Parties and on the group’s roadmap of work activities. She announced that the next informal meeting was scheduled to be held on 16-18 April 2013 in Tokyo.

15. The Chair of GRSP, on behalf of the Chair of the IWG on Electric Vehicle Safety (EVS) made an oral report of the third meeting of the group held on 16-18 April 2013 in Tokyo. She explained that the activity of the IWG focused on three major items:
  (a) It had been agreed an outline of the draft UN GTR to provide a comprehensive approach ensuring the IWG would address all safety concerns.
  (b) The group examined and addressed some comments and questions to the rationale section tabled by the expert from OICA. Other comments on remaining issues would be addressed at later stage.
  (c) Option 1 – two phases approach and Option 2 – single step approach of the road map to develop the UN GTR had also been discussed. She added that the timeline, as stated in the action plan, would be very difficult for finalizing the UN GTR by 2014 regardless of which approach would be followed.

11. The expert from the United States of America informed GRSP that the IWG on Electric Vehicle Safety (EVS) was progressing in accordance to the terms of reference (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/121) under the leadership of co-sponsors: United States of America, European Union, China and Japan. He added that the IWG had made good progress at the recent fourth meeting held in Beijing (14-16 October 2013) and had updated the outline table of the draft UN GTR with the proposals submitted by Canada, China, Japan and the United States of America. He clarified that the proposals consisted of research items and timeline as candidates for the UN GTR. Moreover, he informed GRSP that the IWG had also reviewed a draft proposal tabled by the expert from OICA. He added that the IWG had discussed a new idea to establish subgroups to work on specific technical issues that the IWG had identified. He clarified that the subgroups would be expected to provide data and analysis/studies to support the requirements and recommendations to IWG. In the absence of one of the co-sponsors, this approach would be discussed further.

Formal progress report on the effort to establish a global technical regulation to ensure that electric vehicle occupants are protected during normal use and during and after a crash event from hazards associated with high voltage circuits and energy storage systems.

106. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the Chair of the informal working group on electric safety, informed AC.3 about the second meeting of the group held in Bonn, Germany, on 23-25 October 2012. She outlined that the main items of discussion were about: (i) the updated standard and regulation activities undertaken by
Contracting Parties and manufacturers, (ii) UN GTR outline, roadmap of work and timeline. She added that, on the basis of a proposal from OICA, AC.3 representatives had been encouraged to continue to share research, analysis and test data to provide scientific basis and justifications to the UN GTR. AC.3 adopted the terms of reference of the informal working group on electric safety (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/121) and the first progress report (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/122).

103. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the Chair of the informal working group on electric vehicle safety, informed AC.3 about the outcome of the last meeting of the group held in Bonn. She outlined that the discussion mainly focused on examining existing technical requirements used by Contracting Parties and on the group’s roadmap of work activities. She announced that the next informal meeting was scheduled to be held on 16-18 April 2013 in Tokyo.

Proposal for establishing two informal working groups addressing the safety and environmental requirements for electric vehicles to enhance regulatory cooperation including developing global technical regulations in the framework of the 1998 Agreement.

16. Following to the decision of AC.3 to establish two informal working group on electric vehicles (see ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1095, para. 133), GRSP considered the first status report of the informal working group on electric safety (GRSP-51-20-Rev.1) and its terms of reference (GRSP-51-19-Rev.1) prepared by the expert from the United States of America. He clarified that the two informal working groups would have a different schedule and for the time being, they would report separately on the work progress to the Executive Committee of the 1998 Agreement (AC.3). GRSP endorsed the first status report of the informal working group, adopted its terms of references (GRSP-51-19-Rev.1) as reproduced in Annex II to this report and agreed to seek consent from AC.3 at its June 2012 session.

93. The representative of the United States of America introduced WP.29-157-19 containing the report of the first meeting of the informal working group on Electrical Vehicle Safety (EVS). He also introduced WP.29-157-20 containing the Terms of References (ToR) of EVS. AC.3 requested the secretariat to distribute both informal documents with an official symbol for formal adoption at the November 2012 session of AC.3.

94. Referring to the request for developing specific definitions for all the types of electric vehicles (see WP.29-157-19, para. 5 subpara. 2), the Chair of GRPE recalled the need to ensure consistency between the vehicle definitions in general (see ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1095, para. 101). The representative of the EU reiterated the need to also ensure the audibility of quiet road vehicles. It was clarified that, under agenda item 18.1 of the current agenda, a proposal to develop a UN GTR on Quiet Road Transport Vehicles would be considered (see para. 99 below).

106. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the Chair of the informal working group on electric safety, informed AC.3 about the second meeting of the group held in Bonn, Germany, on 23-25 October 2012. She outlined that the main items of discussion were about: (i) the updated standard and regulation activities undertaken by
Contracting Parties and manufacturers, (ii) UN GTR outline, roadmap of work and timeline. She added that, on the basis of a proposal from OICA, AC.3 representatives had been encouraged to continue to share research, analysis and test data to provide scientific basis and justifications to the UN GTR. AC.3 adopted the terms of reference of the informal working group on electric safety (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/121) and the first progress report (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/122).

13. The expert from the United States, Chair of the informal working group on Electric Vehicle Safety (EVS) introduced the report of the second meeting of the group held on October 23-25, 2012 in Bonn, Germany. He explained that the informal working group had begun considering a first proposal of a UN GTR drafted by the expert from OICA consisting of:

(a) provisions for protection of electrical shock for in-use and post-crash, and
(b) provisions to ensure safety performance of the Rechargeable Energy Storage System (REESS).

14. He clarified that the proposal would take over the provisions devised by the REESS group and recently adopted into UN Regulation No. 100. He concluded that, although the proposal would need improvement, it would form a good basis for future discussions.

15. GRSP noted that the next meeting of the informal working group was scheduled on 16-18 April 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.