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

Glossary:

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.

Pan-European Assessment:

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.
Is it a barrier?
Yes
Type of Barrier
Economic barriers
Assessment Severity
1
Assessment
It is not a operational barrier because the process is the same as a conventional vehicle. It is however very costly to obtain a type approval. This makes it for a small company less attractive to have a development. E.g. Type approval for a bus could cost up to > €250.000. For a component such as a tank it already adds up to €30.000. Less costly it is if you buy certified components and than the type approval is only needed for the system. Unless there are no changes compared to the recent situation costs for specific, could be small series, type approval are high.

Questions:

Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) a - motorcycles (and bikes)
a - According to the directives 2007/46/EC, 2002/24/EC, 2003/37/EC there is the classification for the specific vehicles, M and N for at least four wheels. L for less than four wheels. With regard to the registration number, this must be in accordance with the fuel for the vehicle: for hydrogen this is a W. This is not the same as the type approval letters.
Question 1 How is a hydrogen vehicle classified? (as an electric/gas/hydrogen vehicle?) b - quadricycles
b - According to the directives 2007/46/EC, 2002/24/EC, 2003/37/EC there is the classification for the specific vehicles, M and N for at least four wheels. L for less than four wheels. With regard to the registration number, this must be in accordance with the fuel for the vehicle: for hydrogen this is a W. This is not the same as the type approval letters.
Question 2 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? a - motorcycles (and bikes)
a - The process is the same however, additional requirements exist because of the hydrogen system.
Question 2 Is there a difference in the type approval process for a hydrogen vehicle compared to a conventional vehicle? b - quadricycles If yes, please specify, e.g. how long does the procedure take and what are the costs to obtain a type approval?
b - see a
Question 3 What type of type-approval is applicable? a - EU
a - In Europe the car or tank manufacturers can choose between the two regulations for the type approval for hydrogen of their product: 1. The EC regulation n° 79/2009 on type approval of hydrogen–powered motor vehicles, and its implementing directive EU406/2010; 2. UN Regulation No. 134 Uniform provisions concerning the approval of motor vehicles and their components with regard to the safety–related performance of hydrogen fuelled vehicles.
Question 3 What type of type-approval is applicable? b - national
b - see a
Question 3 What type of type-approval is applicable? c - individual
c - It is possible to have a single or small series national type approval and it is then forbidden to use the vehicle outside of the national bounderies.
Question 4 Which is the responsible approval authority? a) for the type approval i. motorcycles (and bikes) ii. quadricycles b) for individual vehicle registration i. motorcycles (and bikes) ii. quadricycles
a) For the type approval i. motorcycles (and bikes) ii. quadricycles – WVTA entire vehicle type approval has to be approved by a European recognized governmental body. If it is approved that this type approval is applicable for entire Europe and for aligned countries. It could be that countries demand additional requirements. You are allowed to drive also in other countries. Approval authorities are established or appointed by EU countries and notified to the Commission. For the Netherlands this is RDW (governmental Department of Road Transport). b) For individual vehicle registration i. motorcycles (and bikes) ii. quadricycles

National legislation:

EU Legislation: