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Developing International Hydrogen Standards
Gets More Complicated
by Robert L. Mauro
Chairman of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group
Several years ago, European corporations and the European Commission
embarked on a process of creating regulations for hydrogen vehicles
and supporting infrastructure. Upon completion and adoption
of these regulations, they will replace national vehicle standards
for Europe. Phase 1 of the European Integrated Hydrogen Project
(EIHP) is completed, and two draft regulations on liquid and
gaseous hydrogen storage tanks have been submitted for adoption
to the European Economic Commission (CEN) by the German Ministry
of Transportation. Phase 2 of the EIHP, scheduled for completion
in January 2004, will include new regulations for vehicle components
and systems, refueling procedures and periodic inspections.
This information is available at EIHP’s web site: www.eihp.org.
The development of regulations for European vehicle standards
is appropriate. The problem arises because CEN is an organ of
the United Nations (UN). CEN has the ability to request that
the UN harmonize standards globally. In fact, EIHP states that
its intent is to develop the base documents for global standards.
The UN can either move forward on harmonization or recommend
that the standards be handled by the appropriate existing international
standards organizations, such as International Organization
of Standardization (ISO). The latter course is most likely if
only to avoid undermining ISO.
For the United States, this presents a unique set of issues.
The U. S. is not participating in the process of regulation
development under the EIHP. It, like Canada and much of the
world, will be presented with a finished product for comment.
This puts the largest vehicle market in the world in the position
of non-participation until late in the standards process. Three
U.S. concerns that must be addressed are: advanced technologies
are not adequately considered in the standards process, U.S.
approaches to testing and certifications will not be incorporated
in the draft standards, and the U.S. stakeholder interests will
not be considered in drafting the proposed standards.
The implications of the EIHP are already being seen. The Europeans
are pushing for rapid development of a standard for on-board
liquid hydrogen storage based on the material developed under
EHIP, yet different from the on-board liquid hydrogen storage
standard the ISO has been developing over the last several years.
During the last ISO TC 197 WG 6 meeting on on-board hydrogen
storage tanks for vehicles, the Europeans asked for changes
in the standards to make them consistent with the proposed tank
standard submitted to CEN. A standing committee of the UN that
deals with vehicle emissions (GRPE) is forming an ad hoc Hydrogen
Work Group to recommend whether to adopt the EIHP regulations,
and how to handle those regulations.
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