EC Issues Draft Regulation for Type-approval of Hydrogen Powered Vehicles

August 9, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS

The European Commission (EC) issued a preliminary draft proposal for a regulation for hydrogen powered motor vehicles.

The objective of the regulation is to enact harmonized testing requirements for the type-approval of hydrogen powered vehicles.

The proposed regulation will aim to ensure the safe operation of hydrogen powered vehicles by incorporating them in the EU vehicle type-approval framework and establishing safety requirements for the vehicle's hydrogen storage systems.

According to the EC, the proposal will permit the approval and commercialization of vehicles using hydrogen and will contribute to public confidence in the new technology.

The EC invites interested stakeholders to provide comments on the issues covered by the proposal by Sept. 15, 2006.

In particular, they should comment on whether the preliminary draft proposal would impose any undue burden on manufacturers or suppliers compared to the benefits in terms of safe operation of the vehicle.

The text of the proposal and additional information on the consultation is available at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/pagesbackground/hydrogen/consultation/call.htm.

Source: European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP).