Service and maintenance
This LAP deals with:
• The differences in the roadworthiness inspection, service and maintenance (process and requirements) for hydrogen vehicles compared to conventional vehicles,
• The responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections,
• The requirements to operate a testing centre/service and maintenance company for hydrogen vehicles.
• The differences in the roadworthiness inspection, service and maintenance (process and requirements) for hydrogen vehicles compared to conventional vehicles,
• The responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections,
• The requirements to operate a testing centre/service and maintenance company for hydrogen vehicles.
Glossary:
A motor vehicle service is a series of maintenance procedures carried out at a set time interval or after the vehicle has travelled a certain distance. The service intervals are specified by the vehicle manufacturer in a service schedule and some modern cars display the due date for the next service electronically on the instrument panel. Technical inspection (roadworthiness test) means an inspection designed to ensure that a vehicle is safe to be used on public roads and that it complies with required and mandatory safety and environmental characteristics.
Pan-European Assessment:
The hydrogen powered vehicles as the conventional vehicles are subject to periodic roadworthiness tests. Roadworthiness testing is a part of a wider regime ensuring that vehicles are kept in a safe and environmentally acceptable condition during their use. This regime should provide for periodic roadworthiness tests of vehicles and technical roadside inspection of commercial vehicles as well as a vehicle registration procedure allowing for the suspension of a vehicle’s authorisation to be used in road traffic where the vehicle constitutes an immediate risk to road safety.
The specific service and maintenance requirements and procedures for hydrogen powered vehicles are defined in guidelines, published by the manufacturers. In addition, at national level are issued a limited number of instructions concerning this matter.
The maintenance know-how and expertise will be developed and deployed with the growing number of vehicles and therefore no serious hurdles for service, maintenance and inspections of hydrogen powered vehicles could be identified. However, the lack of clear rules for service and inspection at present is seen as an operational barrier and regulatory gap, which might result in damages to vehicles or work accidents due to the use of inappropriate techniques.
The development of unified rules and procedures for service and inspection of the specific components of hydrogen powered vehicles such as high pressure hydrogen storage, fuel cell stacks and high voltage components by FCEV, hydrogen gas leak detection system are fundamental for the safety performance of hydrogen powered vehicles and could help to achieve a large degree of harmonisation of practice. Skilled service and testing staff and appropriate equipped inspection and maintenance facilities could increase the safety at the workplace and avoid workers' exposure to higher risks.
The specific service and maintenance requirements and procedures for hydrogen powered vehicles are defined in guidelines, published by the manufacturers. In addition, at national level are issued a limited number of instructions concerning this matter.
The maintenance know-how and expertise will be developed and deployed with the growing number of vehicles and therefore no serious hurdles for service, maintenance and inspections of hydrogen powered vehicles could be identified. However, the lack of clear rules for service and inspection at present is seen as an operational barrier and regulatory gap, which might result in damages to vehicles or work accidents due to the use of inappropriate techniques.
The development of unified rules and procedures for service and inspection of the specific components of hydrogen powered vehicles such as high pressure hydrogen storage, fuel cell stacks and high voltage components by FCEV, hydrogen gas leak detection system are fundamental for the safety performance of hydrogen powered vehicles and could help to achieve a large degree of harmonisation of practice. Skilled service and testing staff and appropriate equipped inspection and maintenance facilities could increase the safety at the workplace and avoid workers' exposure to higher risks.
Is it a barrier?
Yes
Type of Barrier
Operational barrier
Assessment Severity
1
Assessment
As far as the FCEV has not a huge penetration yet, the authorities do not have specific information about the maintenance of these vehicles. Problems can appear while the maintenance works are being done because a lack of specific procedures and rules can motivate the use of improper techniques, which damage the vehicle and can increase the cost of these technologies.
Questions:
Question 1
Is there a difference in the service and maintenance inspection (process and requirement) for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle?
a - cars (incl. taxis)
a - Yes. Differences appear in the vessels and also in the power source. The most similar situation is the CNG. In Spain the Technical Inspection Guide has a specific point about this technology, however the criterion should be different as far as the pressure and the properties of the gas are different. Due to it, manufacturers will develop certifications and technical instructions in order to obtain a proper maintenance.
Question 1
Is there a difference in the service and maintenance inspection (process and requirement) for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle?
b - buses
b - Yes. Differences appear in the vessels and also in the power source. The most similar situation is the CNG. In Spain the Technical Inspection Guide has a specific point about this technology, however the criterion should be different as far as the pressure and the properties of the gas are different. Due to it, manufacturers will develop certifications and technical instructions in order to obtain a proper maintenance.
Question 1
Is there a difference in the service and maintenance inspection (process and requirement) for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle?
c - trolleybuses
c - Yes. Differences appear in the vessels and also in the power source. The most similar situation is the CNG. In Spain the Technical Inspection Guide has a specific point about this technology, however the criterion should be different as far as the pressure and the properties of the gas are different. Due to it, manufacturers will develop certifications and technical instructions in order to obtain a proper maintenance.
Question 1
Is there a difference in the service and maintenance inspection (process and requirement) for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle?
d - trucks
If yes, please specify, e.g. what are the specific maintenance needs and service requirements for hydrogen vehicles?
d - Yes. Differences appear in the vessels and also in the power source. The most similar situation is the CNG. In Spain the Technical Inspection Guide has a specific point about this technology, however the criterion should be different as far as the pressure and the properties of the gas are different. Due to it, manufacturers will develop certifications and technical instructions in order to obtain a proper maintenance.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
a - cars (incl. taxis)
a - The technical services called Inspección Técnica Vehicular.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
b - buses
b - The technical services called Inspección Técnica Vehicular.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
c - trolleybuses
c - The technical services called Inspección Técnica Vehicular.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
d - trucks
d - The technical services called Inspección Técnica Vehicular.
Question 3
Is there a framework and if yes, what are the requirements to operate a testing, inspection and certification (service and maintenance) company for hydrogen vehicles? Are they different from a conventional vehicle?
a) technical
i. cars (incl. taxis)
ii. buses
iii. trolleybuses
iv. trucks
b) legislative / certification
i. cars (incl. taxis)
ii. buses
iii. trolleybuses
iv. trucks
a) technical
i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks – The motor vehicle repair shops for the maintenance of hydrogen–powered vehicles do not require a special permit by the authorities.
The technical equipment which is needed in a Inspección Técnica Vehicular station is defined in Ref 3
.
They are the responsibility of the operator.
The technical requirements they should follow, will be the ATEX regulation. Also the technicians should have been trained in risk assessment related with H2.
b) legislative / certification
i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks – NA
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
CNG vehicles.
National legislation:
-
Royal Decree 920/2017, of 23 October, by which regulates the technical inspection of vehicles.
ANEX III gives a detailed list of the equipments that are required in a technical inspection station
-
Royal Decree 2042/1994, of 14 October, by which regulates the technical inspection of vehicles.
The article 6 gives the frequency of the technical inspection.
-
Royal Decree 920/2017, of 23 October, by which regulates the technical inspection of vehicles.
ANEX III gives a detailed list of the equipments that are required in a technical inspection station
-
I.T.V. Station Inspection Procedure Manual
Guideline for the technical inspection.
EU Legislation:
-
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 -
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).