33. The expert from Germany, Chair of the group of interested experts on Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems (REESS), informed GRSP about the conclusions of the work of the group in its last progress report (GRSP-51-35). He introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2012/10 and the last draft amendments (GRSP-51-02) proposed by the REESS group to UN Regulation No. 100. He also introduced a consolidated version of the UN Regulation, incorporating the amendments proposed (GRSP-51-11). GRSP adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2012/10, as amended by Annex V to this report. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposal to WP.29 and AC.1, for consideration and vote at their November 2012 sessions as draft 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 100.

34. Moreover, GRSP agreed to seek guidance to WP.29 at its June 2012 session for a possible request to the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (WP.15) to solve the issue of the ban on transportation (both shipping and airfreight) of batteries heavier than 35 kilos.

35. The expert from the Netherlands introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2012/8 aiming at covering electric vehicles of category L within the scope of the UN Regulation No. 100. GRSP recalled that the terms of reference of the REESS group, adopted at the May 2011 session of GRSP (see ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/49, Annex VI), covered a second step of the work mandate of the group dealing with L category of electric vehicles. GRSP agreed to refer ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2012/8 to the REESS group and a possible proposal announced by the expert from EC. GRSP agreed to resume consideration on this agenda item at its December 2012 session awaiting the outcome of the REESS group.

41. The expert from Germany, on behalf of the Chair of the group of interested experts on REESS, introduced the latest status report of this group, its revised terms of reference and a new proposed mandate as an informal working group (GRSP-52-05). He clarified that these actions would be needed to cover electric vehicles of category L into UN Regulation No. 100 and to replace the expired informal working group on Electric Safety (ELSA). The expert from Japan made a presentation (GRSP-52-09) proposing to establish a new UN Regulation for vehicle category L, rather than amending UN Regulation No. 100, because of its different structure and safety concept from categories M/N.

42. Finally, GRSP agreed to establish the new informal working group and to seek endorsement of WP.29 at its March 2013 session. Accordingly, GRSP adopted the terms of reference of the group, contained in GRSP-52-05 and reproduced in Annex VII to this report supporting this request.