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.

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.
Is it a barrier?
No
Assessment Severity
0
Assessment
Since there is no difference to conventional vehicles, the impact is very small – if any. In other words, it is not the investment but the OPEX which bother. It doesn’t seem to be a barrier. It might be that the economics are worsened because during the initial phase the costs for services and maintenance and even technical inspections might be higher because of missing economies of scale size and scope and the missing experience.

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 - The difference is at least threefold, namely the wear parts to be replaced, the mileage ranges and the thereto related costs. When comparing the fuel cell car of Hyundai with their diesel of gasoline version the difference is related only to the wear parts, otherwise the approach is very similar, in terms of costs and in terms of mileage ranges (Hyundai follows the short mileage philosophy). Appart from service and maintenance cost, insurance costs should be included in the economic analyses as well since insurance costs are different for new hydrogen fuel cell cars in comparison to conventional cars.
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 - No data available although there should not be that much difference between a car and a bus in terms of parts to be replaced because being used (see above)
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 - No data available
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 - No data available
Question 2 Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections? a - cars (incl. taxis)
a - In Austria it is the service station/repair shop (mostly coupled with the dealer). For the task "technical inspections" the service station is acting as temporary authority (assigned by law for this specific action)
Question 2 Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections? b - buses
a - In Austria it is the service station/repair shop (mostly coupled with the dealer). For the task "technical inspections" the service station is acting as temporary authority (assigned by law for this specific action)
Question 2 Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections? c - trolleybuses
a - In Austria it is the service station/repair shop (mostly coupled with the dealer). For the task "technical inspections" the service station is acting as temporary authority (assigned by law for this specific action)
Question 2 Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections? d - trucks
a - In Austria it is the service station/repair shop (mostly coupled with the dealer). For the task "technical inspections" the service station is acting as temporary authority (assigned by law for this specific action)
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 – In Austria it is the service station/repair shop which offers with trained staff the service and maintenance works. The service station acts for the task "inspection" as a temporary authority (assigned by law for this specific action); there is no difference to conventional vehicles) b) legislative / certification i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks – In Austria it is the service station/repair shop with trained staff these kind of works. The service station acts as a temporary authority when it comes to technical inspections (assigned by law for this specific action); there is no difference to conventional vehicles ii.
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
A motor vehicle service – so the maintenance – has to be done regardless which fuel is used. The difference is that the service parts might be different (for example a fuel cell car doesn’t have to deal with a diesel filter or a spark plug like a gasoline fuelled car. Therefore a reasonable comparison can only be made in terms of money – which de facto is often the main driver for a decision which car to be purchased – in particular in case of a company car

National legislation:

EU Legislation: