Type approval & Individual vehicle registration - Process

This LAP analyses:
• The classification of hydrogen vehicles for type approval purposes,
• The applicable types of type approvals,
• The responsible approval authorities, and
• The differences in type approval process of hydrogen vehicles compared to conventional vehicles.

Glossary:

Type approval means the procedure whereby a EU Member State certifies that a type of vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit satisfies the relevant administrative provisions and technical requirements.
Motor vehicle registration is the registration of a motor vehicle with a government authority. The purpose of motor vehicle registration is to establish a link between a vehicle and an owner or user of the vehicle. While almost all motor vehicles are uniquely identified by a vehicle identification number, only registered vehicles display a vehicle registration plate and carry a vehicle registration certificate.
Council Directive 1999/37/ EC on the registration documents for vehicle/.
Registration means the administrative authorisation for the entry into service in road traffic of a vehicle, involving the identification of the latter and the issuing to it of a serial number, to be known as the registration number.

Pan-European Assessment:

The type approval process for hydrogen powered vehicles does not in general differ from that of conventional vehicles, however the hydrogen systems and components have to undergo a number of specific tests.

The requirements and procedures for the type approval of hydrogen powered vehicles are harmonized across EU and do not represent a structural barrier or a regulatory gap. Some issues may arise due to differences in interpretation, implementation and enforcement of the EU and UNECE regulations by national type -approval authorities. This may present an operational barrier and thus it is essential to ensure a correct and harmonised application of the type-approval procedures

select country:

Is it a barrier?

Yes

Type of Barrier

Operational barriers, Economic barriers

Assessment Severity

Assessment

No experience yet, as there was not any initiated type approval process for HFC vehicles in Hungary. Process could be managed; the question is rather, that is there available adequate domestic laboratory, test laboratory for the specific hydrogen components of the vehicle.

Questions:

Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) a - cars (incl. taxis)

a - according to the relevant national legislation (Decree of KöHÉM No. 6/1990.) hydrogen vehicle can be classified now as “gas” vehicle. There is no individual "hydrogen vehicle" category in the legislation. (However hydrogen vehicles could be classified as "hydrogen vehicles" according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 406/2010 implementing Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 on type–approval of hydrogen–powered motor vehicles. The regulations are directly applicable in the Member states.) So, now there is a bit legal uncertainty in this classification issue, as current definitions are not accurate enough, and missing a self–standing “hydrogen fuel cell vehicle” category.

Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) b - buses

b - according to the relevant national legislation (Decree of KöHÉM No. 6/1990.) hydrogen vehicle can be classified now as “gas” vehicle. There is no individual "hydrogen vehicle" category in the legislation.

Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) c - trolleybuses

c - electric vehicle (Decree of KöHÉM No. 6/1990)

Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) d - trucks

d - according to the relevant national legislation (Decree of KöHÉM No. 6/1990.) hydrogen vehicle can be classified now as “gas” vehicle. There is no individual "hydrogen vehicle" category in the legislation.

Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? a - EU

a - Yes, applicable: type approval according to Directive 2007/46 and Regulation 79/2009/EC

Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? b - National

b - Yes, applicable: Ministerial decree 6/1990. KöHÉM on technical conditions of placing in service of road vehicles (which refers explicitly in case of hydrogen vehicles to 79/2009/EC and 406/2010/EU). However it’s an old legislation, its latest modification is dated in 2018.

Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? c - Individual

c - Yes, exists; according to Ministerial decree KöHÉM No. 6/1990.

Question 3 Which is the responsible approval authority? a) for the type approval i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks b) for individual vehicle registration i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks

a) for the type approval i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks – Transport Authority (Deputy Secretary of Ministry for National Development) b) for individual vehicle registration i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks – Transport Authority (Deputy Secretary of Ministry for National Development )

Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? a - cars (incl. taxis)

a - no difference; same process framework is applicable.

Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? b - buses

b - no difference; same process framework is applicable.

Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? c - trolleybuses

c - no difference; same process framework is applicable.

Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? d - trucks If yes, please specify, e.g. how long does the procedure take and what are the costs to obtain a type approval?

d - no difference; same process framework is applicable.

Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen

Electric vehicles, CNG vehicles.

National legislation:

Ministerial Decree KöHÉM 5/1990. on the technical examination of road vehicles (which covers periodic technical inspection of vehicles as well)
Requirements for the process of type approval
Ministerial Decree KÖHÉM 6/1990. on technical conditions for the placing on the market of road vehicles and keeping vehicles in operation
Appendix A, Annex A/62: Requirements for the type–approval of hydrogen powered vehicles
Act No LXXXIV of 1999 on road transport register
3–6 § Detailed rules of vehicle register, its operation, data content, competent administrative body. Par 7§ Data content of vehicle documents. Driving license register.

EU Legislation:

Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles
Directive 2007/46 establishes a framework for the type approval of motor vehicles classes M (passenger cars and busses), N (trucks), O (trailers), and of systems and components intended for such vehicles
Specific technical requirements concerning the construction and functioning of vehicles is laid down in subsequent regulatory acts, the exhaustive list of which is set out in Annex IV.
Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 January 2009 on type–approval of hydrogen–powered motor vehicles, and amending Directive 2007/46/EC
This Regulation shall apply to hydrogen–powered vehicles of categories M and N, as defined in Section A of Annex II to Directive 2007/46/EC, including impact protection and the electric safety of such vehicles.

Regulation (EC) No. 79/2009 (hydrogen regulation) amends Directive 2007/46 with the aim to specify harmonized safety requirements for hydrogen-powered vehicles based on an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell.

Regulation 79/2009 lays down fundamental provisions on requirements for the type–approval of motor vehicles with regard to hydrogen propulsion, for the type–approval of hydrogen components and hydrogen systems and for the installation of such components and systems.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 406/2010 of 26 April 2010 implementing Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type–approval of hydrogen–powered motor vehicles
Regulation 406/2010 contains detailed technical specifications and test procedures, including, but not limited to:
• Administrative provisions for EC type-approval of a vehicle with regard to hydrogen propulsion (Article 2)
• Administrative provisions for EC component type-approval of hydrogen components and systems (Article 3)
• Requirements for the installation of hydrogen components and systems designed to use liquid hydrogen on hydrogen powered vehicles
• Requirements for hydrogen containers designed to use compressed (gaseous) hydrogen
• Vehicle identification requirements
Commission Regulation (EU) No 630/2012 of 12 July 2012 amending Regulation (EC) No 692/2008, as regards type–approval requirements for motor vehicles fuelled by hydrogen and mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas with respect to emissions, and the inclusion of specific information regarding vehicles fitted with an electric power train in the information document for the purpose of EC type–approval.
Regulation 692 / 2008 contains inter alia general requirements for type-approval and other provisions related to the application for EC type-approval of a vehicle with regard to emissions and access to vehicle repair and maintenance information

Regulation 630/2012 extends the scope of Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 to hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 of 18 July 2008 implementing and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type–approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information.
Regulation 692 / 2008 contains inter alia general requirements for type-approval and other provisions related to the application for EC type-approval of a vehicle with regard to emissions and access to vehicle repair and maintenance information

Regulation 630/2012 extends the scope of Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 to hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
Commission Directive 2003/127/EC of 23 December 2003 amending Council Directive 1999/37/EC on the registration documents for vehicles
In view of the increasing introduction of electronic and telematics equipment in vehicles, the Annexes to Directive 1999/37/EC should be adapted to scientific and technical progress to allow Member States to issue vehicle registration documents in microprocessor smart card format instead of paper documents.
Council Directive 1999/37/EC of 29 April 1999 on the registration documents for vehicles
Council Directive 1999/37/EC of 29 April 1999 on the registration documents for vehicles The registration of vehicles in EU, irrespective on the power train or type of fuel is partly regulated by Council Directive 1999/37/EC on the registration documents of vehicles, amended with Directive 2003/127/EC. Both directives are transposed in partner countries and for registration documents applies mutual recognition. Vehicle registration requirements and procedures are subject to the national law.
Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EC Text with EEA relevance (with effect from 20 May 2018)
This Directive establishes minimum requirements for a regime of periodic roadworthiness tests of vehicles used on public roads. This applies to vehicles with a design speed exceeding 25 km/h of the following categories: M1, M2 and M3 (passenger motor vehicles, N1, N2 and N3 (motor vehicles for the carriage of goods, O3 and O4 (trailers over 3,5 tonnes) L (two or three wheels over 125cm3).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 of 1 June 2017 supplementing Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information, amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008
Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1832 of 5 November 2018 amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 for the purpose of improving the emission type approval tests and procedures for light passenger and commercial vehicles, including those for in-service conformity and real-driving emissions and introducing devices for monitoring the consumption of fuel and electric energy
Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information