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.

71(bis). The representative of OICA supported the adoption of the new draft UN Regulation on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles as submitted to WP.29 and AC.1. He pointed out that this draft also contains post-crash requirements, because it fully transposes UN GTR No. 13 into the 1958 Agreement framework. He added that the normal procedure would have been to insert these provisions in the relevant UN Regulations on frontal and lateral collision, such as UN Regulations Nos. 94 or 95, similar to the approach used for UN Regulation No. 100 (Safety of battery electric vehicles). Therefore, he suggested that GRSP should revise, in a further step, the UN Regulation focusing on safety requirements for the construction and use of HFCV vehicles, while the post-crash requirements would be transferred to the relevant post-crash Regulations under the 1958 Agreement. WP.29 endorsed this approach.

49. GRSP considered and adopted GRSP-56-25 to correct information provided by a label permanently affixed on hydrogen containers, as reproduced in Annex VIII to the session report. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposal to WP.29 and AC.1, for consideration and vote at their June 2015 sessions, as draft Supplement 1 to the new UN Regulation on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles (HFCV).