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UN R153 Supplement 4 (00 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 153 (ECE R153) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to fuel system integrity and safety of electric power train in the event of a rear-end collision.

UN R153 — Supplement 4 to the 00 series of amendments

Supplement 3 → 4

Adopted at the WP.29 191st sessionEntry into force 2024-06-15
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What changed
  • A new item (j) adds the basic configuration and main characteristics of the compressed hydrogen storage system. Like the other items, it applies in so far as it has an adverse effect on the result of the impact test.
  • New paragraphs 2.32. to 2.36. define the compressed hydrogen storage system (CHSS), the container, container attachments, the hydrogen-fuelled vehicle and the shut-off valve.
  • In Annex 4, the constant in the formulas for ρo' and ρf' is now 1.07 instead of 0.5789.
Why
  • The post-crash safety requirements for hydrogen-powered vehicles in UN Regulation No. 153 are based on UN GTR No. 13.
  • During the development of UN GTR No. 13, Amendment 1, several clarifications and corrections are made on the existing part of UN GTR No. 13.
  • According to the proposer, such clarifications and corrections should be applied to existing versions of UN Regulation No. 153 as early as possible.

Q1What changed22 changes

Vehicle type (para. 2.1.)

The definition of “Vehicle type” in paragraph 2.1. now gives the words “in so far as they have an adverse effect on the result of the impact test prescribed in this UN Regulation” at the head of the list. Before, these words were not at the head, and each item of the list had its own “in so far as …” words. Item (h) now says “negative effect” instead of “adverse effect” on the requirements of paragraph 5.2.1. New item (j) adds “The basic configuration and main characteristics of the compressed hydrogen storage system”.

"Vehicle type" means a category of power-driven vehicles which do not differ in such essential respects , in so far as they have an adverse effect on the result of the impact test prescribed in this UN Regulation, as:
The length and width of the vehicle in so far as they have an adverse effect on the results of the impact test prescribed in this Regulation.The length and width of the vehicle;
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Passenger compartment (para. 2.2.)

Paragraph 2.2. now defines “Passenger compartment for electric safety and/or hydrogen safety assessment”. Before, the defined term was “Passenger compartment”. In the list of boundaries, the words “or back door” replace “or rear gate”.

"Passenger compartment for electric safety and/or hydrogen safety assessment" means the space for occupant accommodation, bounded by the roof, floor, side walls, doors, outside glazing, front bulkhead and rear bulkhead, or rear gateback door, as well as by the electrical protection barriers and enclosures provided for protecting the occupants from direct contact with high voltage live parts.

Tank (para. 2.4.)

In the definition of “Tank” in paragraph 2.4., the words “or compressed hydrogen gas” are deleted. The definition now covers the tank(s) designed to contain the liquid fuel, as defined in paragraph 2.6, used primarily for the propulsion of the vehicle. Its accessories are excluded, for example the filler pipe (if it is a separate element), filler hole, cap and gauge.

"Tank" means the tank(s) designed to contain the liquid fuel, as defined in paragraph 2.6. or compressed hydrogen gas, used primarily for the propulsion of the vehicle excluding its accessories (filler pipe, if it is a separate element, filler hole, cap, gauge, connections to the engine or to compensate interior excess pressure, etc.);

New hydrogen definitions (paras. 2.32. to 2.36.)

New paragraphs 2.32. to 2.36. define the CHSS, the container, container attachments, the hydrogen-fuelled vehicle and the shut-off valve. A hydrogen-fuelled vehicle is any motor vehicle that uses compressed gaseous hydrogen as a fuel to propel the vehicle. This includes fuel cell and internal combustion engine vehicles. Hydrogen fuel for the vehicles is specified in ISO 14687:2019 and SAE J2719_202003. The shut-off valve is a valve between the container and the vehicle fuel system. It must default to the “closed” position when not connected to a power source.

"Compressed hydrogen storage system (CHSS)" means a system designed to store compressed hydrogen fuel for a hydrogen-fuelled vehicle and composed of a container, container attachments (if any), and all primary closure devices required to isolate the stored hydrogen from the remainder of the fuel system and the environment.
"Container" (for hydrogen storage) means the pressure-bearing component on the vehicle that stores the primary volume of hydrogen fuel in a single chamber or in multiple permanently interconnected chambers.
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Annex 4: enclosed spaces and valve condition (paras. 2.1. and 3.1.4.)

In Annex 4, “Enclosed spaces” now means the special volumes within the vehicle (or the vehicle outline across openings) that are external to the hydrogen system. The hydrogen system in this definition now lists the “internal combustion engine (ICE)” next to the storage system, fuel cell system and fuel flow management system. The definition no longer refers to the housings (if any) of the hydrogen system, and no longer gives examples such as the passenger compartment. Paragraph 3.1.4. now says that the main stop valve and shut-off valves for hydrogen gas are “in the normal driving condition kept open” immediately before the impact. These valves are located in the downstream hydrogen gas piping.

"Enclosed spaces" indicates means the special volumes within the vehicle (or the vehicle outline across openings) that are external to the hydrogen system (storage system, fuel cell system , internal combustion engine (ICE) and fuel flow management system) and its housings (if any) where hydrogen may accumulate (and thereby pose a hazard), such as the passenger compartment, luggage compartment and space under the hood.).
The main stop valve and shut-off valves for hydrogen gas, located in the downstream hydrogen gas piping, are in the normal driving condition kept open immediately prior to the impact.

Annex 4: hydrogen mass formulas

In the Annex 4 formulas for ρo' and ρf', the constant is now 1.07 instead of 0.5789. These formulas are part of the calculation of the initial and final mass of hydrogen in the storage system.

ρo' = –0.0027 x (P0')2 + 0.75 x P0' + 0.57891.07
ρf' = –0.0027 x (Pf')2 + 0.75 x Pf' + 0.57891.07
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Q2Why it changed

Proposed by
Expert from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA)
Working party
GRSP, 73rd session (May 2023)

Reasons

  • The proposal aims to introduce requirements for the post-crash safety of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles based on Amendment 1 to UN GTR No. 13.

    Source
    “The proposal aims to introduce requirements for the post-crash safety of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles based on the Amendment 1 to UN GTR No. 13 (Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Vehicles).”

  • The post-crash safety requirements for hydrogen-powered vehicles in UN Regulation No. 153 are based on UN GTR No. 13. According to the proposer, certain definitions were not included without any specific reasons.

    Sources (2)
    “The post-crash safety requirements for hydrogen powered vehicles specified in UN Regulation No. 153 (fuel system integrity and electric power train safety at rear-end collision) are based on UN GTR No. 13”
    “are based on UN GTR No. 13 where certain definitions were not included without any specific reasons.”

  • During the development of UN GTR No. 13, Amendment 1, several clarifications and corrections are made on the existing part of UN GTR No. 13. These are transposed into UN Regulation No. 153.

    Source
    “During the development of UN GTR No. 13, Amendment 1 (GTR13, Phase 2), several clarifications and corrections are made on the existing part of UN GTR No. 13 that are transposed into UN regulation No.153.”

  • According to the proposer, such clarifications and corrections should be applied to existing versions of UN Regulation No. 153 as early as possible. The proposer says that these amendments do not affect the validity of existing approvals.

    Sources (2)
    “Such amendments for clarifications and corrections should be applied to existing versions of UN Regulation No.153 as early as possible”
    “while those amendments do not affect the validity of existing approvals.”

Document trail

  1. —ProposalGRSP-72-32Proposal by the expert from OICA, distributed at the 72nd GRSP session
  2. 2023-03ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/21Proposal by the expert from OICA, based on GRSP-72-32
  3. —RevisedGRSP-73-31Revised proposal that replaces ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2023/21 to resolve editorial issues
  4. —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/73GRSP session report, para. 44 and Annex XII
  5. 2023-08Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/125Text that GRSP sent to WP.29 and AC.1
  6. 2023-11WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1175Adopted at the 191st session (session report, para. 180)
  7. 2024-06-15In forceC.N.266.2024.TREATIES-XI.B.16.153UN depositary notification

Q3Who is affected

Vehicle manufacturer

  • No direct action for this role.

Component supplier

  • No direct action for this role.

Technical service / Approval authority

  • Use the constant 1.07, not 0.5789, in the Annex 4 formulas for ρo' and ρf'.

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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.

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