Presentation Overview on 1998 Agreement – Criteria for technical regulations

The Chairman explained the background for the development of the GTR for QRTV with a special focus on the criteria as laid down in article 4 of the 1998 Agreement:

CRITERIA FOR TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
4.1. To be listed under Article 5 or established under Article 6, a technical regulation shall meet the following criteria:
  4.1.1. Provide a clear description of the wheeled vehicles, equipment and/or parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles and which are subject to the regulation.
  4.1.2. Contain requirements that:
    4.1.2.1. Provide for high levels of safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency or anti-theft performance; and
    4.1.2.2. Wherever appropriate, are expressed in terms of performance instead of design characteristics.
  4.1.3. Include:
    4.1.3.1. The test method by which compliance with the regulation is to be demonstrated;
    4.1.3.2. For regulations to be listed under Article 5, where appropriate, a clear description of approval or certification markings and/or labels requisite for type approval and conformity of production or for manufacturer self-certification requirements; and
    4.1.3.3. If applicable, a recommended minimum period of lead time, based upon considerations of reasonableness and practicability that a Contracting Party should provide before requiring compliance.
  4.2. A global technical regulation may specify alternative non-global levels of stringency or performance, and appropriate test procedures, where needed to facilitate the regulatory activities of certain countries, in particular developing countries.

The Chairman pointed out, that the final scope of the GTR to be developed still needs to be specified. Today we are looking at all types of EV/HEVs. That include passenger cars, buses, lorries, 2- and 3-wheelers etc. In the course of the development of the GTR it needs to be determined which of those types of vehicles will finally be included in the regulation. He also points at the main aspects that are laid down in 4.1.2.1.: Safety, environmental protection,
energy efficiency or anti-theft performance. Antitheft performance however will probably not be part of the GTR’s content. It is pointed out that in the GTR performance criteria described rather than design characteristics. Antitampering provisions are supposed to be covered under safety aspects so that the systems as built into the vehicle are supposed not to be easily manipulated by the consumer. In the US, only the product up to factory gate release is regulated by federal law. Consequences of manipulation by the consumer are regulated under the control of the individual States. The GTR has to include an explicit test procedure suitable to prove if a system to be certified fulfils the requested criteria. This test needs to be objectives and reproducible by independent parties. Recommendations for lead time for the national implementation of the Regulation shall be established. Stringency of requirements (test method and/or limit values) may differ if necessary for the implementation or the adoption to existing national legislation.