Type approval & Individual vehicle registration - Process

This LAP analyses:
• The classification of hydrogen L category vehicles for type approval purposes,
• The applicable types of type approvals,
• The responsible approval authorities, and
• The differences in type approval process of hydrogen L category vehicles compared to conventional vehicles

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 Tytechnical 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.

The hydrogen powered bikes, motorcycles and quadricycles are still in market entry phase and there are only a few manufacturers who intend to commercialize them.

The requirements and procedures for the type approval of hydrogen powered L category vehicles are regulated in detail in a number of EU Regulations and referenced standards and do not constitute a structural barrier or regulatory gaps. The lack of experience of national type approval bodies can cause some inconsistences in application of requirements and procedures, delays and additional costs. However, this is not considered as a severe operational or economic barrier to the early market deployment of hydrogen powered L category vehicles. No data are collected about the costs relating to the type approval.
With regard to hydrogen vehicles registration no specific requirements or barriers are identified. A potential structural and economic barrier appears only in Finland, where the hydrogen as a type of fuel is not included in registration templates and therefore a special permission for registration may be required, possibly causing higher cost and time delay.