Service and maintenance
This LAP examines:
• The differences in the roadworthiness inspection, service and maintenance (process and requirements) for hydrogen L category 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 L category 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:
In general, the service and maintenance requirements and procedures for hydrogen vehicles are laid down in guidelines issued by the manufacturers.
The hydrogen vehicles as conventional vehicles with a design speed exceeding 25 km/h of categories M, N and O shall undergo periodic roadworthiness tests in order to ensure that vehicles on the road remain roadworthy and safe.
Currently, there are no legal requirements in place for roadworthiness testing of motorcycles, bikes and quadricycles at EU level.
From 1 January 2022, European Legislation (Directive 2014/45/EU) will require two-and three-wheel motorcycles, powered tricycles and heavy quadricycles, with an engine displacement of more than 125 cm3 to be roadworthiness tested. However, Member States may exclude these vehicles from testing if they have put in place alternative effective road safety measures, considering in particular road safety statistics of the last five years.
In a number of countries some types of the L category vehicles are included in the scope of periodic roadworthiness testing.
The service and technical inspections requirements and procedures do not present any important barriers for the market entry of hydrogen motorcycles and quadricycles. Nevertheless, the lack of specific regulations for maintenance, testing and technical control of hydrogen motorcycles and quadricycles may restrict their deployment and increase the maintenance costs. It may create an uncertainty for the users and negatively affect their choice to purchase hydrogen vehicles. The use of improper technics may cause vehicle damages or transport accidents.
Therefore, specific testing methods and requirements for the inspections areas, equipment and staff with focus on specific hydrogen components on board and related to the hydrogen L category vehicles safety on the road have to be developed.
The hydrogen vehicles as conventional vehicles with a design speed exceeding 25 km/h of categories M, N and O shall undergo periodic roadworthiness tests in order to ensure that vehicles on the road remain roadworthy and safe.
Currently, there are no legal requirements in place for roadworthiness testing of motorcycles, bikes and quadricycles at EU level.
From 1 January 2022, European Legislation (Directive 2014/45/EU) will require two-and three-wheel motorcycles, powered tricycles and heavy quadricycles, with an engine displacement of more than 125 cm3 to be roadworthiness tested. However, Member States may exclude these vehicles from testing if they have put in place alternative effective road safety measures, considering in particular road safety statistics of the last five years.
In a number of countries some types of the L category vehicles are included in the scope of periodic roadworthiness testing.
The service and technical inspections requirements and procedures do not present any important barriers for the market entry of hydrogen motorcycles and quadricycles. Nevertheless, the lack of specific regulations for maintenance, testing and technical control of hydrogen motorcycles and quadricycles may restrict their deployment and increase the maintenance costs. It may create an uncertainty for the users and negatively affect their choice to purchase hydrogen vehicles. The use of improper technics may cause vehicle damages or transport accidents.
Therefore, specific testing methods and requirements for the inspections areas, equipment and staff with focus on specific hydrogen components on board and related to the hydrogen L category vehicles safety on the road have to be developed.
Is it a barrier?
Yes
Type of Barrier
Operational barriers, Economic barriers
Assessment Severity
1
Assessment
Not a substantive issues for this class of vehicles in the UK at this time. At this moment the UK has no formal and separate network of service and maintenance centres for FC bikes and there is no network ready or planned for formal MOT test and inspection services which will impinge on the deployment of these vehicle types and cost of related service
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 - motorcycles (and bikes)
a - There are no specific service / maintenance requirements for FCEVs in the UK and only the standard vehicle MOT testing applies (the first such test being 3 years after registration of the vehicle and annually thereafter). It is therefore essentially for the FCEV vehicle (Motorcycle / quadricycle) manufacturer to specify the service and maintenance regime.
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 - quadricycles
If yes, please specify, e.g. what are the specific maintenance needs and service requirements for hydrogen vehicles?
b - There are no specific service / maintenance requirements for FCEVs in the UK and only the standard vehicle MOT testing applies (the first such test being 3 years after registration of the vehicle and annually thereafter). It is therefore essentially for the FCEV vehicle (Motorcycle / quadricycle) manufacturer to specify the service and maintenance regime.
Question 2
Which vehicles are subject to technical inspections (roadworthiness tests)?
All 2, 3 and 4 wheel vehicles in this category .require MOT test certificates. These are currently issued in Great Britain under the auspices of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for all vehicle type
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?
a) technical
i. motorcycles (and bikes)
ii. quadricycles
b) legislative / certification
i. motorcycles (and bikes)
ii. quadricycles
a) technical
i. motorcycles (and bikes) ii. quadricycles – There are ~20,000 MOT Test Centres and 53,000 Testers and both Testers and Test Centre premises have to meet DVSA criteria to test/operate a Test Centre. There is no separate UK facility provision for FCEVs of all types
b) legislative / certificaton: use conventional MOT test centres:
i. motorcycles (and bikes) ii. quadricycles - MOT Test Centres inspect and issue roadworthiness certificates. Motorcycles and quadracycles can be tested at any MOT test station – but there may need to be provision of H2 sensors at indoor test areas and/or sites with high ventilation flow rates to cover potential H2 discharge within LEL limits
Question 4
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
a - motorcycles (and bikes)
a - MOT Test Centres for all vehicle types
Question 4
Which are the responsible authorities/independent bodies to carry out technical inspections?
b - quadricycles
b - same for a above
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
e–bikes
National legislation:
-
The Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981
relevant MOT Inspection procedures and detailed guide to the inspection for statutory MOTtesting
EU Legislation:
-
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).