UN R134 Supplement 4 (00 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 134 (ECE R134) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of motor vehicles and their components with regard to the safety-related performance of Hydrogen-Fuelled Vehicles (HFCV).
UN R134 — Supplement 4 to the 00 series of amendments
Supplement 3 → 4
- What changed
- Upon the manufacturer’s request, new storage systems in M2, M3, N2 and N3 vehicles may have a service life of up to 20 years.
- Where the crash test of 7.2., item (b), is not applicable, new paragraph 7.2.4.3. gives the manufacturer a lateral impact test as alternative to 7.2.4.2.
- New Annex 6 gives a reduced test programme for modifications to an existing type approval of CHSS.
- Why
- The proposal aims to allow alternative test methods for heavy duty vehicles, to improve applicability to vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3.
- The service lives of heavy-duty vehicles are in general much longer than 15 years.
Q1What changed46 changes
20-year service life (paragraphs 5. and 5.6.)
New storage systems need a service life of 15 years or less (20 years on the manufacturer’s request for M2, M3, N2 and N3 vehicles). Before, the service life had to be 15 years or less. The date of removal from service must not be more than 15 years (or 20 years) after the date of manufacture.
Pressure cycles for a 20-year service life in container, TPRD and valve tests (paragraphs 5.1.2. and 5.2., Annex 3, paragraph 3.2., Annex 4, paragraphs 1.1. and 2.3.)
For a 20-year service life of M2, M3, N2 and N3 vehicles, paragraph 5.1.2. adds 30,000 cycles without rupture, or until a leak occurs. Leakage must not occur within 15,000 cycles for a 20-year service life. Paragraph 5.2. adds 15,000 cycles for a 20-year service life to the 11,000-cycle condition for testing only one container. The drop test in Annex 3 also adds 30,000 cycles and 15,000 cycles for a 20-year service life. In Annex 4, TPRD units undergo 15,000 internal pressure cycles for a 20-year service life. For a 20-year service life, the check valve has 15,000 and the shut-off valve 67,000 operational cycles.
Cylinder pressure cycling for a 20-year service life (paragraphs 9.3.2.2. to 9.3.2.3.3.)
For the service life of 20 years, the cylinder must not leak or rupture within the first 15,000 cycles. Depending on the intended use of the container, one cylinder per batch is pressure cycled with 11,000 cycles (15 years) or 15,000 cycles (20 years). Paragraphs 9.3.2.3.2. and 9.3.2.3.3. add the 20-year values 15,000 cycles x 1.5 and 15,000 cycles x 2.0 for reduced batch testing.
Alternative accelerations and new lateral impact test of the storage system (paragraphs 7.2. and 7.2.4.3. to 7.2.4.3.4.)
If one or both vehicle crash tests are not applicable to the vehicle, the compressed hydrogen storage system is subject to the relevant alternative accelerations. It must then comply with the relevant requirements in paragraphs 7.2.3. and 7.2.4. Before, the hydrogen storage system had to be installed in a position satisfying the requirements in paragraph 7.2.4. Where the crash test of 7.2., item (b), is not applicable, new paragraph 7.2.4.3. gives the manufacturer a lateral impact test as alternative to 7.2.4.2. After this lateral impact test, the storage system must comply with the requirements in 7.2.1. and 7.2.3. A calculation method may replace practical testing if its equivalence is shown to the satisfaction of the Technical Service, in agreement with the type-approval authority.
New Annex 6 on approval testing for CHSS modifications (paragraph 8.1. and Annex 6)
Modifications to an existing type approval of CHSS may be approved with the reduced test programme in Table 1 of new Annex 6. Table 1 lists the required tests for changed items such as resin material, diameter, length and coating. For modifications not in Table 1, the Technical Service identifies the necessary test programme from their similarities to the Table 1 items. Paragraph 8.1. now says that the Authority acts “referring to Annex 6” on a notified modification.
Enclosed spaces and fuelling receptacle (paragraphs 2.7. and 7.1.1.4.)
The definition of “enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces” deletes the words “as it may occur in the passenger compartment, luggage compartment and space under the hood”. The fuelling receptacle must be installed so that refilling access is not required in the passenger compartment, luggage compartment, or any other unventilated compartment. Before, it could not be installed in the passenger compartment, luggage compartment and other places where hydrogen could accumulate and ventilation is not sufficient.
Hydrogen releases with an external fuel supply (Annex 5, paragraph 3.2.1.3.)
Before the test, the vehicle is prepared to simulate remotely controllable hydrogen releases from the hydrogen system. Before, it was prepared to allow such releases. Hydrogen releases may be demonstrated by using external fuel supply without modification of the test vehicle fuel lines. The words “under single failure condition” are deleted from the worst case leakage scenarios.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers
- Working party
- GRSP, 69th session (May 2021)
Reasons
This UN Regulation was made to transpose UN GTR No. 13, Phase 1, whose scope does not cover heavy-duty vehicle requirements. The proposal aims to solve practical issues for the application to heavy-duty vehicles. The proposal says that this is urgently needed, since approval to this UN Regulation will become mandatory in the European Union as of July 2022.
Sources (3)
“The objective of this UN Regulation was the transposition of UN Global Technical Regulation No. 13, Phase 1.”
“Contrary to this UN Regulation, the scope of UN GTR No. 13, Phase 1 does not cover heavy-duty vehicles requirements.”
“this proposal is aiming at solving practical issues for the application to heavy-duty vehicles that is urgently needed, since the approval to this UN Regulation will become mandatory in the European Union as of July 2022.”
The service lives of heavy-duty vehicles are in general much longer than 15 years. A service life of up to 20 years decreases the total cost of ownership. The proposal calls this cost one of the key challenges to make hydrogen buses and trucks a viable alternative to diesel vehicles.
Sources (2)
“The service lives of heavy-duty vehicles are in general much longer than 15 years.”
“A service life of up to 20 years decreases the total cost of ownership, which is one of the key challenges to make hydrogen buses and trucks a viable alternative to diesel vehicles.”
The change to paragraph 7.2. is intended to clarify the requirements of the acceleration test for practical application to heavy-duty vehicles. A component-based lateral impact test is proposed as an alternative to the dimensional requirement of paragraph 7.2.4.2., to demonstrate adequate protection. Practical tests are very common for passenger vehicles. The heavy-duty vehicle industry has provided reliable results when showing compliance by calculation methods.
Sources (3)
“Paragraph 7.2.: Is intended to clarify the requirements of the acceleration test for practical application to heavy-duty vehicles.”
“As an alternative to the dimensional requirement of paragraph 7.2.4.2. a component-based lateral impact test is being proposed to demonstrate adequate protection.”
“Where practical tests are very common for passenger vehicles, the heavy-duty vehicle industry has provided reliable results when showing compliance by calculation methods.”
Annex 5, paragraph 3.2. on hydrogen releases from the hydrogen system requires alteration of the test vehicle. A test method without modification of fuel lines should also be provided.
Source
“requires alteration of the test vehicle. A test method without modification of fuel lines also should be provided.”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRSP-69-22-Rev.2)
Test provisions for the CHSS in case of a change of design are part of European legislation (EC) No 79/2009, which (EU) 2019/2144 has repealed. The proposal intends to maintain the process for design changes established by (EC) 79/2009. The table was discussed and agreed in Taskforce 3 of the Informal Working Group on GTR13 phase 2.
Submitted by Expert from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/69, para. 25.
Sources (3)
“Test provisions for the CHSS in case of a change of design are part of European legislation ((EC) No 79/2009), which has been repealed by (EU) 2019/2144.”
“The proposal intends to maintain the process for design changes established by (EC) 79/2009.”
“The table was discussed and agreed in Taskforce 3 of the Informal Working Group on GTR13 phase 2.”
Document trail
- 2021-03ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2021/12Proposal by the expert from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers
- —RevisedGRSP-69-22-Rev.2Proposal to replace document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2021/12
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/69Session report, para. 25
- 2021-09Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2021/123Text that GRSP sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2021-11WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1161Adopted at the 185th session (session report, para. 121)
- 2022-06-22In forceC.N.241.2022.TREATIES-XI.B.16.134UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- For vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3, decide whether to request a 20-year service life (paragraph 5.).
- If you request a 20-year service life, label a removal date not more than 20 years after manufacture.
- Where the crash test of 7.2., item (b), is not applicable, consider the lateral impact test of 7.2.4.3.
- If you use this lateral impact test with a protective structure, define that structure (7.2.4.3.1.).
- For a modification to an existing CHSS type approval, check the required tests in Table 1 of Annex 6.
Component supplier
- Design containers for a 20-year service life to have no leakage within 15,000 baseline pressure cycles (5.1.2.).
- Design TPRDs for a 20-year service life to pass 15,000 internal pressure cycles (Annex 4).
- Design check valves for 15,000 and shut-off valves for 67,000 operational cycles for a 20-year service life.
- Plan batch pressure cycling with 15,000 cycles for containers for the service life of 20 years (9.3.2.3.1.).
Technical service / Approval authority
- Be ready for the 7.2.4.3. lateral impact test with an MDB to UN Regulation No. 95, Annex 5.
- Agree the test pressure for the lateral impact test with the manufacturer (7.2.4.3.1.).
- Be ready to assess calculation methods used instead of practical testing, in agreement with the type-approval authority (7.2.4.3.4.).
- For modifications not in Table 1 of Annex 6, identify the test programme from their similarities to Table 1 items.
- Be ready for hydrogen releases demonstrated with an external fuel supply, without modification of the test vehicle fuel lines (3.2.1.3.).
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.