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 barriers
Assessment Severity
1
Assessment
The system for repair and maintenance of a hydrogen vehicle still needs to be organized. This is a requirement to implement before the hydrogen vehicles will be more on the road. Busses are inspected by the Governmental authority and not by individual service companies. Busses is an exception to the rule This may come into play for trains/ships etc if they are used for public transportation. The system needs to come in place.
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 - A component is being developed for an certain usetime (filling cycles of all life time) and after which it should be replaced. It must be described in a manual how the service should be applied and which components need what periodical inspection. The EC regulation n° 79/2009 on type approval of hydrogen–powered motor vehicles and its implementing directive EU406/2010 are applicable. These requirements are stated in EC regulation n° 79/2009 (Hydrogen components > 30 bar; also the vehicle is described. The manufacturer (OEM) is responsible for the manual. If there is a second party concerned who makes the final input to the vehicle, this might be a part that could be missing in the manual. The requirements are for the maintenance / service companies.
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 - see a
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 - see a
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 - see a
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
a - cars (incl. taxis)
a - The National governmental body (Netherlands RDW) is responsible for appointing accrediting companies for the inspection. The RDW (Road Traffic Department) is an independent governing body of the Dutch government. Testing, inspection and certification for the purpose of service and maintenance is executed by RDW recognised companies. This system (accreditation system and not a governmental inspection) is rather unique in Europe. Depending on the difficulty of the inspections this could be performed by a service company (in the Netherlands APK (Algemene periodieke keuring – General periodic inspection) accredited companies.
But for e.g. LNG/CNG it should be done by a specific accredited (appointed by the governmental authorized company) company because of the specifics of LNG/CNG compared to a conventional vehicle. This accredited company appoints specific service companies who are allowed to do the inspection. The operators in the service companies are trained by the accredited company. This system is still under discussion in Geneva to define that all countries apply the same service and maintenance procedures. For Hydrogen there is no accredited company yet. It is being brought under the attention of the Govenmental organization that this has to be set up.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
b - buses
b - The National governmental body (Netherlands RDW) is responsible for appointing accrediting companies for the inspection. The RDW (Road Traffic Department) is an independent governing body of the Dutch government. Testing, inspection and certification for the purpose of service and maintenance is done by RDW recognised companies.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
c - trolleybuses
c - The National governmental body (Netherlands RDW) is responsible for appointing accrediting companies for the inspection. The RDW (Road Traffic Department) is an independent governing body of the Dutch government. Testing, inspection and certification for the purpose of service and maintenance is done by RDW recognised companies.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
d - trucks
d - The National governmental body (Netherlands RDW) is responsible for appointing accrediting companies for the inspection. The RDW (Road Traffic Department) is an independent governing body of the Dutch government. Testing, inspection and certification for the purpose of service and maintenance is done by RDW recognised companies.
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
The framework is the same as for convetional vehicles. A company needs to be accredited by RDW.
a - Technical
i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks – A company needs to be accredited by RDW.
b - legislative / certification
i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks The company might become accredited for vehicles with the exemption for busses. This will be the responsibility of the governmental authority.
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
LNG/CNG
National legislation:
-
Wegenverkeerswet 1994 (Road Traffic Act)
The Road Traffic Act 1994 (Wvw) forms the basis for all traffic regulations. The starting point here is the smoothness and flow of traffic, and that no one should cause hindrance or danger on the road
- (Regeling voertuigen Vehicle regulations) Regulations implementing chapters III and VI of the 1994 Road Traffic Act
- In the new Vehicles Regulation the requirements are set for the various vehicles i In chapter 5 of these regulations, the vehicle requirements must be specified for each vehicle type
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).