http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eur/2012/630

Commission Regulation (EU) No 630/2012

of 12 July 2012

amending Regulation (EC) No 692/2008, as regards type-approval requirements for motor vehicles fuelled by hydrogen and mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas with respect to emissions, and the inclusion of specific information regarding vehicles fitted with an electric power train in the information document for the purpose of EC type-approval

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information1, and in particular article 5(3)(a)(f) and (i) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee – A European strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles2, recognizes the existence of a wide range of technologies (electricity, hydrogen, biogas, and liquid biofuels) that are likely to contribute significantly to the Europe 2020 priorities of developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation (smart growth) and promoting a more resource efficient, greener an more competitive economy (sustainable growth).

(2)

The internal combustion engine (ICE) is likely to remain dominant in road vehicles in the short and medium term perspective; therefore, a smooth transition from ICE to other kinds of power-trains based on electricity (electric battery, fuel cell) could be facilitated by adapting ICE to clean fuels, such as hydrogen (H2) or mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas (H2NG).

(3)

Given the uncertainty surrounding the future of power-train technology and the likelihood that new technologies will represent an increasingly large share of the market, it is necessary to adapt current European type-approval legislation to those technologies.

(4)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 of 18 July 2008 implementing and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information3 does not currently include H2 and H2NG among the type of fuels considered. Therefore, it is appropriate to extend the type-approval procedure established in that Regulation to cover those fuels.

(5)

Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 January 2009 on type-approval of hydrogen-powered motor vehicles, and amending Directive 2007/46/EC4 established safety requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to hydrogen propulsion. Environmental protection must also be achieved as nitrogen oxide emissions from hydrogen used as a fuel in ICEs may have an impact on the environment.

(6)

H2NG mixtures release into the atmosphere a certain amount of pollutants, mainly hydrocarbons, carbon monoxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matters; these emissions have to be addressed.

(7)

The different formulae and parameters used for the determination of the results of the emission tests should be adapted for the specific cases of H2 and H2NG used in ICEs, as those formulae and parameters are strongly dependent on the type and characteristics of the fuel used.

(8)

The documents provided by the manufacturer to the national approval authorities should be updated in order to incorporate the relevant information concerning H2, H2NG and electric vehicles.

(9)

Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Technical Committee – Motor Vehicles,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: