Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 1 Subject matter

This Regulation establishes requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to hydrogen propulsion and for the type-approval of hydrogen components and hydrogen systems. This Regulation also establishes requirements for the installation of such components and systems.

Article 2 Scope

This Regulation shall apply to:

1.

hydrogen-powered vehicles of categories M and N, as defined in Section A of Annex II to Directive 2007/46/EC, including impact protection and the electric safety of such vehicles;

2.

hydrogen components designed for motor vehicles of categories M and N, as listed in Annex I;

3.

hydrogen systems designed for motor vehicles of categories M and N, including new forms of hydrogen storage or usage.

Article 3 Definitions

1. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) ‘hydrogen-powered vehicle’ means any motor vehicle that uses hydrogen as fuel to propel the vehicle;

(b) ‘propulsion system’ means the internal combustion engine or fuel cell system used to propel the vehicle;

(c) ‘hydrogen component’ means the hydrogen container and all other parts of the hydrogen-powered vehicle that are in direct contact with hydrogen or which form part of a hydrogen system;

(d) ‘hydrogen system’ means an assembly of hydrogen components and connecting parts fitted on hydrogen-powered vehicles, excluding the propulsion systems or auxiliary power units;

(e) ‘maximum allowable working pressure’ (MAWP) means the maximum pressure to which a component is designed to be subjected to and which is the basis for determining the strength of the component under consideration;

(f) ‘nominal working pressure’ (NWP) means, as regards containers, the settled pressure at a uniform temperature of 288K (15 °C) for a full container, or as regards other components, the pressure level at which a component typically operates;

(g) ‘inner tank’ means the part of the hydrogen container designed to use liquid hydrogen that contains the cryogenic hydrogen.

2. For the purposes of paragraph 1(d), ‘hydrogen systems’ shall include, inter alia, the following:

(a) usage monitoring and control systems;

(b) vehicle interface systems;

(c) excess flow systems;

(d) overpressure protection systems;

(e) heat exchanger failure detection systems.

Article 4 Obligations of manufacturers

1. Manufacturers shall demonstrate that all new hydrogen-powered vehicles sold, registered or put into service within the Community and all hydrogen components or hydrogen systems sold or put into service within the Community are type-approved in accordance with this Regulation and its implementing measures.

2. For the purposes of vehicle type-approval, manufacturers shall equip hydrogen-powered vehicles with hydrogen components and systems that comply with the requirements of this Regulation and its implementing measures and are installed in accordance with this Regulation and its implementing measures.

3. For the purposes of the type-approval of components and systems, manufacturers shall ensure that hydrogen components and systems comply with the requirements of this Regulation and its implementing measures.

4. Manufacturers shall provide the approval authorities with appropriate information concerning the vehicle specifications and test conditions.

5. Manufacturers shall provide information for the purposes of inspection of hydrogen components and systems during the service life of the vehicle.

Article 5 General requirements for hydrogen components and systems

Manufacturers shall ensure that:

(a)

hydrogen components and systems function in a correct and safe way and reliably withstand electrical, mechanical, thermal and chemical operating conditions without leaking or visibly deforming;

(b)

hydrogen systems are protected against over-pressurisation;

(c)

the materials used for those parts of the hydrogen components and systems which are to be in direct contact with hydrogen are compatible with hydrogen;

(d)

hydrogen components and systems reliably withstand expected temperatures and pressures during their expected lifetime;

(e)

hydrogen components and systems reliably withstand the range of operating temperatures laid down in the implementing measures;

(f)

hydrogen components are marked in accordance with the implementing measures;

(g)

hydrogen components with directional flow have the flow direction clearly indicated;

(h)

hydrogen components and systems are designed in such a way that they can be installed in accordance with the requirements of Annex VI.

Article 6 Requirements for hydrogen containers designed to use liquid hydrogen

Hydrogen containers designed to use liquid hydrogen shall be tested in accordance with the test procedures set out in Annex II.

Article 7 Requirements for hydrogen components, other than containers, designed to use liquid hydrogen

1. Hydrogen components, other than containers, designed to use liquid hydrogen shall be tested in accordance with the test procedures set out in Annex III with regard to their type.

2. Pressure relief devices shall be designed so as to ensure that the pressure in the inner tank or in any other hydrogen component does not exceed a permissible value. The values shall be set in proportion to the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of the hydrogen system. A safety system for heat exchangers shall be provided for the detection of their failure.

Article 8 Requirements for hydrogen containers designed to use compressed (gaseous) hydrogen

1. Hydrogen containers designed to use compressed (gaseous) hydrogen shall be classified in accordance with point 1 of Annex IV.

2. The containers referred to in paragraph 1 shall be tested in accordance with the test procedures set out in Annex IV with regard to their type.

3. A detailed description of all principal properties of the material and tolerances used in the design of the container shall be provided, including the results of tests to which the material has been subjected.

Article 9 Requirements for hydrogen components, other than containers, designed to use compressed (gaseous) hydrogen

Hydrogen components, other than containers, designed to use compressed (gaseous) hydrogen shall be tested in accordance with the test procedures set out in Annex V with regard to their type.

Article 10 General requirements for the installation of hydrogen components and systems

Hydrogen components and systems shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of Annex VI.

Article 11 Timetable for application

1. With effect from 24 February 2011, national authorities shall refuse to grant:

(a) EC type-approval or national type-approval in respect of new types of vehicle on grounds relating to hydrogen propulsion, where such vehicle does not comply with the requirements of this Regulation or of its implementing measures; and

(b) EC type-approval in respect of new types of hydrogen component or system, where such component or system does not comply with the requirements of this Regulation or of its implementing measures.

2. With effect from 24 February 2012, national authorities shall:

(a) on grounds relating to hydrogen propulsion, consider certificates of conformity for new vehicles to be no longer valid for the purposes of Article 26 of Directive 2007/46/EC, and prohibit the registration, sale and entry into service of such vehicles, where such vehicles do not comply with the requirements of this Regulation or of its implementing measures; and

(b) prohibit the sale and entry into service of new hydrogen components or systems, where such components or systems do not comply with the requirements of this Regulation or of its implementing measures.

3. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 and 2, and subject to the entry into force of implementing measures adopted pursuant to Article 12(1), if a manufacturer so requests, national authorities shall not:

(a) on grounds relating to hydrogen propulsion, refuse to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval for new types of vehicle, or EC type-approval for new types of hydrogen component or system, where such vehicle, component or system complies with the requirements of this Regulation and its implementing measures; or

(b) prohibit the registration, sale and entry into service of new vehicles or the sale and entry into service of new hydrogen components or systems, where such vehicles, components or systems comply with the requirements of this Regulation and its implementing measures.

Article 12 Implementing measures

1. The Commission shall adopt the following implementing measures:

(a) administrative provisions for the EC type-approval of vehicles, with regard to hydrogen propulsion, and hydrogen components and systems;

(b) rules on the information to be provided by manufacturers for the purposes of the type-approval and inspection referred to in Article 4(4) and (5);

(c) detailed rules for the test procedures set out in Annexes II to V;

(d) detailed rules concerning the requirements for the installation of hydrogen components and systems set out in Annex VI;

(e) detailed rules concerning the requirements for the safe and reliable functioning of hydrogen components and systems set out in Article 5;

(f) detailed rules for the labelling or other means of clear and rapid identification of hydrogen-powered vehicles referred to in point 16 of Annex VI.

Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 13(2).

2. The Commission may adopt the following implementing measures:

(a) specifications for requirements relating to any of the following:

• (a) the use of pure hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas/biomethane,

• new forms of hydrogen storage or usage,

• the impact protection of vehicles with regard to the integrity of hydrogen components and systems,

• integrated system safety requirements, covering at least the detection of leakage and requirements relating to purge gas,

• electrical isolation and electric safety;

(b) other measures necessary for the application of this Regulation.

Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 13(2).

Article 13 Committee procedure

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Technical Committee — Motor Vehicles (TCMV) established by Article 40(1) of Directive 2007/46/EC.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

Article 14 Amendments to Directive 2007/46/EC

Annexes IV, VI and XI to Directive 2007/46/EC shall be amended in accordance with Annex VII to this Regulation.

Article 15 Penalties for non-compliance

1. Member States shall lay down the provisions on penalties applicable for infringement by manufacturers of the provisions of this Regulation and its implementing measures and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. By 24 August 2010, Member States shall notify those provisions to the Commission, and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment affecting them.

2. The types of infringement which are subject to a penalty shall include at least the following:

(a) making false declarations during an approval procedure or a procedure leading to a recall;

(b) falsifying test results for type-approval or in-use compliance;

(c) withholding data or technical specifications which could lead to recall or withdrawal of type-approval;

(d) refusal to provide access to information;

(e) use of defeat devices.

Article 16 Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 24 February 2011, with the exception of Article 11(3) and Article 12, which shall apply from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, and Article 11(2), which shall apply from the date set out therein.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Strasbourg, 14 January 2009.

For the European Parliament

The President

H.-G. Pöttering

For the Council

The President

A. Vondra