Draft text transposing the provisions of GTR No. 13 into a new UN Regulation for the type approval of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles with regard to safety performance. This text supersedes document GRSP/2013/22, incorporates changes requested by Korea (document GRSP-55-23) and reflects the results comments received during the 55th GRSP session.
31. The expert from OICA introduced the last draft UN Regulation on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles (HFCV) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/8) prepared with the expert of EC and transposing UN GTR No. 13 (HFCV) into the 1958 Agreement. The expert from the Republic of Korea introduced GRSP-55-23, proposing the deletion of any reference to liquefied hydrogen that is not yet covered by the draft UN Regulation. The expert from OICA argued that UN GTR No. 13 also mentioned liquefied hydrogen technology, and that it could be kept as an optional basis for further development. However, he agreed to bring the technology back to the UN Regulation at a later stage when it was ready for regulation.
32. Moreover, the expert from Japan reminded GRSP that his country already legislated Hydrogen Fuelled Vehicles and requested further guidance. GRSP experts noted that Contracting Parties may continue to apply requirements that were in force at the time of accession to this UN Regulation on aspects not currently regulated by the UN Regulation: (i) the electrical safety of electric power train, (ii) the material compatibility and hydrogen embrittlement of the vehicle fuel system and (iii) the post-crash fuel system integrity in the event of full width frontal impact and rear impact. However, the expert from the Netherlands expressed concerns because UN Regulations Nos. 12, 94 and 95 were addressed in the draft UN Regulation to verify post-crash fuel tank integrity. Inversely, he noted that in UN Regulations Nos. 67 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas vehicles) and 110 (Compressed Natural Gases vehicles), reference was not made to such post-crash UN Regulations. Accordingly, it was agreed to insert a footnote in the draft UN Regulation to specify those aspects not yet regulated as a reminder for future development of the UN Regulation and seek further harmonization (GRSP-55-28-Rev.2). However, GRSP agreed to seek guidance from the Administrative Committee for the Coordination of Work (WP.29/AC.2) at its June 2014 session as the issue raised by the expert from Japan would affect a number of UN Regulations.
33. Finally, GRSP adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/8, as amended by Annex VI to the GRSP 55th session report. The secretariat was requested to submit ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/8 to WP.29 and AC.1, for consideration and vote at their November 2014 sessions, as draft UN Regulation on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles.
| GRSP-55-28 | |
| GRSP-55-23 | |
| GRSP-55-28/Rev.2 |