106. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the Chair of the informal working group on electric safety, informed AC.3 about the second meeting of the group held in Bonn, Germany, on 23-25 October 2012. She outlined that the main items of discussion were about: (i) the updated standard and regulation activities undertaken by
Contracting Parties and manufacturers, (ii) UN GTR outline, roadmap of work and timeline. She added that, on the basis of a proposal from OICA, AC.3 representatives had been encouraged to continue to share research, analysis and test data to provide scientific basis and justifications to the UN GTR. AC.3 adopted the terms of reference of the informal working group on electric safety (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/121) and the first progress report (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/122).

13. The expert from the United States, Chair of the informal working group on Electric Vehicle Safety (EVS) introduced the report of the second meeting of the group held on October 23-25, 2012 in Bonn, Germany. He explained that the informal working group had begun considering a first proposal of a UN GTR drafted by the expert from OICA consisting of:

(a) provisions for protection of electrical shock for in-use and post-crash, and
(b) provisions to ensure safety performance of the Rechargeable Energy Storage System (REESS).

14. He clarified that the proposal would take over the provisions devised by the REESS group and recently adopted into UN Regulation No. 100. He concluded that, although the proposal would need improvement, it would form a good basis for future discussions.

15. GRSP noted that the next meeting of the informal working group was scheduled on 16-18 April 2013 in Tokyo, Japan.

103. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the Chair of the informal working group on electric vehicle safety, informed AC.3 about the outcome of the last meeting of the group held in Bonn. She outlined that the discussion mainly focused on examining existing technical requirements used by Contracting Parties and on the group’s roadmap of work activities. She announced that the next informal meeting was scheduled to be held on 16-18 April 2013 in Tokyo.

11. The expert from the United States of America informed GRSP that the IWG on Electric Vehicle Safety (EVS) was progressing in accordance to the terms of reference (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2012/121) under the leadership of co-sponsors: United States of America, European Union, China and Japan. He added that the IWG had made good progress at the recent fourth meeting held in Beijing (14-16 October 2013) and had updated the outline table of the draft UN GTR with the proposals submitted by Canada, China, Japan and the United States of America. He clarified that the proposals consisted of research items and timeline as candidates for the UN GTR. Moreover, he informed GRSP that the IWG had also reviewed a draft proposal tabled by the expert from OICA. He added that the IWG had discussed a new idea to establish subgroups to work on specific technical issues that the IWG had identified. He clarified that the subgroups would be expected to provide data and analysis/studies to support the requirements and recommendations to IWG. In the absence of one of the co-sponsors, this approach would be discussed further.

15. The Chair of GRSP, on behalf of the Chair of the IWG on Electric Vehicle Safety (EVS) made an oral report of the third meeting of the group held on 16-18 April 2013 in Tokyo. She explained that the activity of the IWG focused on three major items:
  (a) It had been agreed an outline of the draft UN GTR to provide a comprehensive approach ensuring the IWG would address all safety concerns.
  (b) The group examined and addressed some comments and questions to the rationale section tabled by the expert from OICA. Other comments on remaining issues would be addressed at later stage.
  (c) Option 1 – two phases approach and Option 2 – single step approach of the road map to develop the UN GTR had also been discussed. She added that the timeline, as stated in the action plan, would be very difficult for finalizing the UN GTR by 2014 regardless of which approach would be followed.