23. As mentioned under paragraph 22 above, the expert from CLEPA introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2012/25. Thus, GRSG agreed to resume consideration of this subject at its next session on the basis of a joint proposal by AEGPL, CLEPA and NGVA Europe.
24. The expert from the Netherlands reported on the outcome of the most recent expert meetings of the task force on Liquefied Natural Gas vehicles (LNG), held in Geneva on 1-2 October 2012 (GRSG-103-14). As the secretariat had not been in the position to prepare in due time the official document, he presented GRSG-103-11-Rev.1, proposing to insert into UN Regulation No. 110 new provisions for LNG vehicles. GRSG acknowledged the work done by the LNG task force and noted a number of comments. Following the discussion, the Chair invited all experts to send their written comments by the beginning of November 2012 to the LNG Secretary (jseisler@cleanfuelsconsulting.org). GRSG noted the intention of the LNG task force to present a revised proposal at the forthcoming session of the Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) in January 2013 and to consider it in detail at the next session of GRSG on the basis of an official document, taking into account the comments received.
8. NGV Global (Jeff Seisler) commented on the progress of the LNG amendments to R.110 submitted as a Formal (official) document to the GRSG on 6th July 2012, which had not been formatted by the UNECE staff due to various administrative complications as well as the nature of the comprehensive changes made to the original regulation. Thus the document introduced on the 3rd October 2012 GRSG is an informal document that will be discussed.
9. There are two possible outcomes: the amendments in their informal document could be adopted but, more likely, a newly formatted document will have to be prepared as an official document for the April 2013 GRSG. If adopted then it would be later (presumably) adopted by the WP29 in November 2013.
10. Mr. Renaudin clarified that the HDDF-TF Euro VI amendments should be adopted in November 2012 by WP29. Euro V amendments to R.49 would be submitted by June 2013 to the GRPE in its Official Format for adoption, which could be approved by WP29 in November 2013.
11. Mr. Crawford (Westport Innovations) asked when the documents would come into force to enable certification of engines and vehicles, following adoption by WP29.
12. Mr. Rijnders explained that before WP.29 can adopt the amendment the EU should agree because the new amendments will directly affect EU type approvals. After adoption in WP.29 the amendments will take about 8-10 months to come into force. Furthermore, the European Commission has to make some amendments in the Euro VI Regulation.
13. Mr. Martinez (European Commission) indicated that final adoption at the European level is being targeted for mid-2013.
14. Mr. Renaudin also indicated that, once the regulation has been adopted, individual countries could take action earlier. Mr. Rijnders clarified, however, that additional requirements from Euro VI such as repair and maintenance information also must be fulfilled apart from R.49 amendments. So there is a possible two-step approach to final adoption in individual countries. There could be a stage where there would be national type approval as an interim solution since there will be only a small time lag between final adoption of Euro VI and the R.49 amendments. This process could go on through the end of 2013 to become officially enforced at the beginning of 2014.
15. Mr. Crawford asked about the timing of the LNG amendments. The group clarified that it would take a similar amount of time to come into force through the UN and European Union. So the final LNG regulations could be expected by mid-2014. Hopefully by 2014 the engine regulations and the vehicle component regulations will become official so that complete type approval could begin.