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European Integrated Hydrogen Project-Phase II Update
by Karen Hall
Vice President, Technical Operations of the
National Hydrogen Association
The European Integrated Hydrogen Project – Phase II has
an extensive website, offering draft regulations, project
information, and documents relating to the UNCE/GRPE ad hoc
WG: Hydrogen Vehicles: Onboard Storage Systems. Much information
is available to all interested parties through the public
website at www.eihp.org.
According to the European Integrated Hydrogen Project –
Phase II website,
- In the second phase, EIHP 2, the draft
regulation documents for Europe shall be improved step
by step (revised
draft revisions) and developed to a global regulation
for hydrogen fuelled road vehicles. Procedures for periodic
vehicle inspections will be developed. Requirements for
new draft standards, refueling procedures and periodic inspections
for hydrogen refueling infrastructure components and systems
will be developed.
- EIHP2 will furthermore undertake actions to validate the
EIHP1 draft regulations by developing and refueling hydrogen
components and vehicles according to these drafts and getting
them approved by selected authorities. In parallel, the
EIHP1 draft proposal will be monitored during its discussion
process at ECE in order to assist in achieving a valid regulation.
The UNCE/GRPE ad hoc WG: Hydrogen Vehicles: Onboard Storage
Systems area of the website describes the situation, according
to the EIHP:
- Present Situation:
Development of new legal requirements is essential in order
to ensure minimum safety in this area. International regulations
are missing. National requirements and standards are not
sufficient to register vehicles running on hydrogen (see
also ECE R-67 for LPG and ECE R-110 for CNG vehicles).
- Necessary Steps:
Development of consensus on the two EIHP drafts for LH2
and for CGH2. Submission of drafts to GRPE to apply for
new ECE regulations. Development of a process to apply for
GTRs (Global Technical Regulations). Development of closer
relationship between ISO/ ad hoc WG/ EIHP. Express the need
for closer cooperation to ISO TC 197 and ISO TC22. Ensure
adoption of GTRs by signatory parties to 1998 agreement
(especially from those who cannot adopt ECE regulations
for their national certification process). Preferable application
for new ECE regulations at the same time as GTRs in order
to avoid double work.
The goals of the project are ambitious. While European countries
may readily adopt European technical regulations dealing with
vehicles, safety, and inspections, the process in the United
States is very different. Issues like these are generally left
to the state, resulting in varying requirements. The United
States is a party to the 1998 agreement described on the website.
The U.S. Department of Transportation represents the United
States on this Working Group. The U.S. could participate in
Global Technical Regulations under the 1998 agreement, but may
not have input into the formulation of the draft proposed technical
regulations. Experts in the United States and Canada have indicated
that the technical requirements, in the form of international
standards, such as those developed in ISO TC 197 and ISO TC
22/SC21 form the basis of consensus building. The way those
requirements are implemented between countries (or states for
that matter) could be left to those authorities having jurisdiction.
This situation would result in consistent international technical
requirements.
The National Hydrogen Association will keep readers informed
of progress of the efforts toward Global Technical Regulations,
and the position the United States may take in these activities.
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