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
Is it a barrier?
Yes
Type of Barrier
Economic barrier, Operational barrier
Assessment Severity
1
Assessment
The hydrogen fuel cell cars is a new issue. Excepting high pressure condition, there is expected to be used ordinary mechanism for approva. Cost for approval, especially approval for high pressure hydrogen vessel, last is a time consuming time. It should be mentioned that there is no experience and, implicitly, a "portfolio" of good practices.

Questions:

Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) a - cars (incl. taxis)
a - Hydrogen vehicle (currently called by R.A.R. as electrical vehicles with hydrogen)
Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) b - buses
b - Hydrogen vehicle (currently called by R.A.R. as electrical vehicles with hydrogen)
Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) c - trolleybuses
c - Hydrogen vehicle (currently called by R.A.R. as electrical vehicles with hydrogen)
Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) d - trucks
d - Hydrogen vehicle (currently called by R.A.R. as electrical vehicles with hydrogen)
Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? a - EU
a - EC–Type approval (Chapter III – VII of Directive 2007/46/EC
Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? b - National
b - Smaller series, Directive 2007/46/EC, Order MT no. 25/2017 and technical regulation RNTR–2
Question 2 What type of type-approval is applicable? c - Individual
c - Individual approval Order MTCT 2132/2005 and technical regulation RNTR–7.
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 – Romania Automotive Register (registrul Auto Roman R.A.R.) b) for individual vehicle registration i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks – Romania Automotive Register (registrul Auto Roman R.A.R.)
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, but can be specific requests for the subsystems and individual components of the hydrogen vehicles such as high pressure gas tank. National type approval (of small series) – 1–6 month (tariff 100–1100 Euro).Individual approvals – about days to weeks, expected costs about 50–100 Euro.
Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? b - buses
b - No, but can be specific requests for the subsystems and individual components of the hydrogen vehicles such as high pressure gas tank.
Question 4 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? c - trolleybuses
c - No, but can be specific requests for the subsystems and individual components of the hydrogen vehicles such as high pressure gas tank.
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, but can be specific requests for the subsystems and individual components of the hydrogen vehicles such as high pressure gas tank.
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
The procedures for registration is the same as for electric vehicles.

National legislation:

EU Legislation: