A new amendment to UNECE regulations on hydrogen-fuelled vehicles enters into force on Saturday 15 June.
UTAC can support manufacturers on this front!
The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, also known as WP.29, is a working party of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). At its 73rd session in Geneva a year ago, the experts of the working party on passive safety, in which UTAC plays an active part, adopted a new amendment to Regulation 134, regulation which concerns the approval of motor vehicles and their components with regard to the safety related performance of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles (HFCV).
The original series entered into force more than 10 years ago. Since then, the increase in the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles, the growing experience on testing and the evolution of technologies, have highlighted the need for the text to evolve.
As a result, the test procedures for Compressed hydrogen storage systems (CHSS) and vehicles have been updated. It will be possible to test future CHSS, which will no longer necessarily be cylindrical in shape. The storage system acceleration tests have been clarified. Requirements concerning the safety of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and post-crash fuel system integrity have also been incorporated into all the crash regulations. There has also been a change in the date of removal from service of the CHSS, which must not be more than 25 years after the date of manufacture, whereas previously it was 15 years for M1 vehicles.
This new amendment enters into force on 15 June 2024.
UTAC’s expertise in regulations, testing and type-approval will enable us to support all hydrogen fuelled vehicle manufacturers in their future projects.