110. The secretary of GRSG introduced the proposal for amendments to the Consolidated Resolution on the construction of vehicles (R.E.3) (GRSG-121-30), a consolidated text based on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2020/14 as amended by informal document GRSG-119-24 and decisions taken at the 119th GRSG session (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/98 para. 63). It also included ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2020/82, adopted by AC.1 in June 2020.

111. Following comments from the Netherlands, Switzerland and OICA, GRSG adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2021/14, the proposal for amendments to the Consolidated Resolution R.E.3, as amended by GRSG-121-30 and in session, and requested the secretariat to submit it as an official document to WP.29 for consideration and vote at its November 2021 session.

112. The expert from IMMA recalled the presentation, at the 120th session of GRSG, of document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2020/33, containing a proposal for amendments R.E.3, with the objective to differentiate bodied quadricycles from the wide variety of vehicles of Category L7 covered by the definition in paragraph 2.1.7. of R.E.3, in view of enhancing the passive safety of bodied heavy quadricycles for the transport of passengers. He stated that a conference call had been organized thereafter with representatives of IMMA, Japan and the Republic of Korea, during which significant regional differences had been identified due to which specific elements of the proposal would need to be studied in detail before a revised proposal could be put forth to GRSG. He stated the IMMA, Japan and the Republic of Korea had agreed to request GRSG to postpone further discussions therefore on this amendment to the next session in October 2021.

113. GRSG took note of the information and agreed to postpone discussions and the consideration of the proposal for amendments to R.E.3 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2020/33) to the October 2021 session.

114. The expert from Japan thanked IMMA on coordinating activities concerning the proposed amendment to R.E.3, stating that as it contained passive safety requirements, those related elements should be considered within the scope of work of GRSP as well.

115. The expert from CLCCR held a presentation on Advanced axles in trailers, addressing new technologies to reduce CO2 emissions for vehicle combinations, with the aim of launching discussions within GRSG on the subject matter. The presentation contained information on the state of the art of the development of independently driven trailer axels using a dedicated electric power source, highlighting that electric trailer propulsion offers a wide range of applications (recuperation, acceleration, support start/stop manoeuvres) which could contribute to lowering CO2 emissions of vehicles. He explained that the introduction of such technology in the market would require the amendment of the definition of trailers in R.E.3 and in the Special Resolution No. 1 concerning the common definitions of vehicle categories, masses, and dimensions (S.R.1), as well as its alignment in several relevant UN Regulations (Nos. 13 and 100). He asked GRSG experts for feedback concerning the potential amendment of the relevant definitions, inquired concerning interest in possible discussions on the subject matter among interested stakeholders, and proposed that CLCCR put forth a proposal in this respect at the October 2021 session of GRSG.

116. Following comments and feedback from France, Germany, the Netherlands and the European Commission, addressing potential safety implications that the new technology poises in terms of the interaction of the trailed and the towing vehicle, GRSG invited interested stakeholders to work with CLCCR on this topic towards potentially tabling a proposal that would allow the emerging technology to be aligned with UN Regulations at the upcoming sessions of GRSG.