Working Party on Pollution and Energy | Session 76 | 9-12 Jan 2018
Geneva

The deadline for the submission of official working documents for this session is 9 October 2017.

Agenda Item 3. (a)
Light vehicles: Regulations Nos. 68, 83, 101 and 103

7. The expert from OICA introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRPE/2018/6 proposing an editorial correction that removes possible misinterpretation. GRPE adopted the proposal.

8. The expert from OICA introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRPE/2018/7 aimed at clarifying provisions on Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems. The expert from EC proposed editorial corrections (GRPE-76-34) to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRPE/2018/7. GRPE adopted the proposal as reproduced in Annex IV of the session report.

9. GRPE requested the secretariat to submit ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRPE/2018/6 and Annex IV to the report to WP.29 and the Administrative Committee of the 1958 Agreement (AC.1) for consideration and vote at their June 2018 sessions as draft Supplements 11 and 7 to the 06 and the 07 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 83.

10. The expert from OICA also presented GRPE-76-22 introducing GRPE-76-03 and GRPE-76-04, proposing to clarify the rules related to the selection of driving modes for testing of Off-Vehicle-Charging Hybrid Electric Vehicles (OVC-HEV). The Netherlands had some comments on the proposals GRPE-76-03 and GRPE-76-04 since the new text opens the door for interpretation plus the absence of any type approval authority confirmation. The Chair asked the cooperation of OICA and the Netherlands to work on an improved text. GRPE supported the intention of the proposal.

11. The expert from EC presented GRPE-76-32 proposing to amend the definitions for bi-fuel vehicles and align these definitions with those in UN Global Technical Regulation (UN GTR) No. 15. GRPE supported the intention of the proposal.

12. GRPE agreed to reconsider at the June 2018 session GRPE-76-03, GRPE-76-04 and GRPE-76-32. GRPE requested the experts from OICA and EC to combine the documents in one formal document.

13. GRPE reviewed the letter sent by the expert from Malta (GRPE-76-17). GRPE noted the statements of some delegations informing GRPE that they faced similar requests in the past and reporting that no evidence was provided that could convince of the environmental benefits of such retrofitted systems. GRPE noted also the need to verify the safety performance of such systems as the risk caused by the presence of hydrogen onboard of road vehicle is not insignificant. Experts from the automotive industry stated that they had reviewed the performance of such systems and that, due to the regulatory pressure on the industry concerning the CO2 performance of their products, they would have introduced such technologies on their vehicles, if the benefits would have been demonstrated. They also noted that hydrogen cause damage to the materials used in engines and that the retrofitting such systems on existing vehicles not foreseen for the use on hydrogen could pose durability issues. GRPE requested the secretariat to note in the session report that GRPE has not received sufficient evidences of benefits from these systems to start regulatory activities. GRPE expressed the idea that any country willing to approve such system on the national basis may wish to take into consideration the usual emission tests (Types I, II, III, and IV), low temperature tests, the durability (including Type V) and OBD provisions.

Documentation
GRPE-76-03 UN R101: Proposal for Supplements to the 06 and 07 series of amendments (OICA)
GRPE-76-04 UN R83: Proposal for a new Supplement to the 06 and 07 series of amendments (OICA)
GRPE-76-17 Retrofitting of hydrogen generators on road vehicles (Malta)
GRPE-76-22 OVC-HEV Certification according to UN R83/R101 (OICA)
GRPE-76-32 UN R83: Proposal for amendments to the 06 and 07 series of amendments (EC)
GRPE-76-34 UN R83: Proposal for amendments to document GRPE/2018/7 (EC)
GRPE/2018/6 Proposal for a new Supplement to the 06 and 07 series of amendments to Regulation No. 83 (OICA)
GRPE/2018/7 Proposal for a new Supplement to the 06 and 07 series of amendments to Regulation No. 83 (OICA)