23. The expert from the Republic of Korea presented ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2023/8 and amendment GRSG-125-15 in a live presentation at Palais des Nations on examples of “radiation warmers” to allow their use on Electric Vehicles (EV) among others. He also introduced two presentations (GRSG-125-16 and GRSG-125-17) to inform GRSG about a technical seminar held on 8 March 2023, in Frankfurt, Germany on the medical investigation of radiant warmers. He added that the technology of radiation warmers was expected to increase the energy efficiency of EV and to prevent the sharp reduction of the All Electric Range (AER). The expert from OICA introduced GRSG-125-33-Rev.4, aimed at resolving harmonization issues introduced by GRSG-125-15. He also explained that industry needed flexibility and no design restrictions, since objective pass/fail criteria did not exist for such technology. The expert from France suggested that the temperature threshold for rear passengers should be reviewed and modified in a second step. The expert from Germany echoed the suggestion of the expert from France and envisaged a new series of amendments for a second step.

24. Finally, GRSG adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2023/8 as amended by annex IV to the session report. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposal as Supplement 7 to the original version to the UN Regulation No. 122 to the November 2023 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1. Moreover, GRSG agreed to resume discussion on the need for a second step on this subject at its October 2023 session.

41. The expert from the Republic of Korea introduced a presentation (GRSG-124-05) to explain a proposal of amendment to the UN Regulation (GRSG-124-04) to allow the use of a new technology (radiation warmer) as a heating system to maximize the energy efficiency of electric vehicles. The GRSG Chair requested experts to provide comments to the proposal that could, in future, also encompass other propulsion system like hydrogen. GRSG agreed to resume discussion at its March 2023 session and requested the secretariat to distribute GRSG-124-04 with an official symbol. The expert from OICA announced a proposal (GRSG-124-36) concerning hydrogen combustion heaters that was distributed after the session.