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
Regulatory gap
Assessment Severity
1
Assessment
No regulation available yet. No framework means no estimates for time, cost and duration
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 - There are not yet specific maintenance and inspection processes and requirements for hydrogen vehicles. If a car owner himself/herself transforms an internal combustion engine vehicle or a battery electric vehicle to a hydrogen vehicle, he/she needs to bring the vehicle to ‘alteration inspection’ (muutoskatsastus). The altered car has to pass all the requirements that are defined for that particular original car type (although only those requirements that the alterations affect have to be inspected). If there are limitations (if some of the requirements are not met) but the justification is good, it is still possible to apply for an exception permit to be able to drive with the car.
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 - There are not yet specific maintenance and inspection processes and requirements for hydrogen vehicles. If a bus owner himself/herself transforms an internal combustion engine vehicle or a battery electric vehicle to a hydrogen vehicle, he/she needs to bring the vehicle to ‘alteration inspection’ (muutoskatsastus). The altered bus has to pass all the requirements that are defined for that particular original bus type (although only those requirements that the alterations affect have to be inspected). If there are limitations (if some of the requirements are not met) but the justification is good, it is still possible to apply for an exception permit to be able to drive with the bus.
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 - There are not yet specific maintenance and inspection processes and requirements for hydrogen vehicles. If a trolleybus owner himself/herself transforms an internal combustion engine vehicle or a battery electric vehicle to a hydrogen vehicle, he/she needs to bring the vehicle to ‘alteration inspection’ (muutoskatsastus). The altered trolleybus has to pass all the requirements that are defined for that particular original trolleybus type (although only those requirements that the alterations affect have to be inspected). If there are limitations (if some of the requirements are not met) but the justification is good, it is still possible to apply for an exception permit to be able to drive with the trolleybus.
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 - There are not yet specific maintenance and inspection processes and requirements for hydrogen vehicles. If a truck owner himself/herself transforms an internal combustion engine vehicle or a battery electric vehicle to a hydrogen vehicle, he/she needs to bring the vehicle to ‘alteration inspection’ (muutoskatsastus). The altered truck has to pass all the requirements that are defined for that particular original truck type (although only those requirements that the alterations affect have to be inspected). If there are limitations (if some of the requirements are not met) but the justification is good, it is still possible to apply for an exception permit to be able to drive with the truck.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
a - cars (incl. taxis)
a - Responsible authority is Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom. Technical inspections are carried out by independent bodies approved by Traficom.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
b - buses
b - Responsible authority is Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom. Technical inspections are carried out by independent bodies approved by Traficom.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
c - trolleybuses
c - Responsible authority is Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom. Technical inspections are carried out by independent bodies approved by Traficom.
Question 2
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
d - trucks
d - Responsible authority is Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom. Technical inspections are carried out by independent bodies approved by Traficom.
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 – No technical framework for hydrogen cars yet
b) legislative / certification i. cars (incl. taxis) ii. buses iii. trolleybuses iv. trucks - Similar to conventional vehicles. Testing: according to standard 17/025. Inspection and certification: independent bodies approved by Traficom (see national reference). Service and maintenance: not regulated
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
Inspection of electrical vehicles. There are requirements for the personnel, e.g. certifications in electrical safety.
National legislation:
-
Valtioneuvoston asetus liikenteessä käytettävien ajoneuvojen liikennekelpoisuuden valvonnasta (1245/2002) 19/12/2002, muutettuna viimeksi (488/2017) 28/06/2017 / Governmental regulation on the supervision of the traffic competence of vehicles used in traffic
Periodic inspection intervals for different types of vehicles. Inspection of brakes. Inspection of emissions. Control of the applicable taxes and other payments.
-
Laki ajoneuvojen katsastustoiminnasta 957/2013 / Law about the inspection action of vehicles
Qualifications and the application process for a person to act as an inspector.
- Ajoneuvolaki (1090/2002) 11/12/2002, muutettuna viimeksi (473/2017) 28/06/2017 / Vehicle law
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).