Regulation for the approval of hydrogen vehicles

 

On September 3, European Parliament has adopted a regulation that fixes the standards for the approval of hydrogen vehicles, filling a legislative gap which hindered a real development of this technology. Regulation only fixes fundamental dispositions for the approval of hydrogen plants and components, while technical details will be indicated in following implementing measures of the Commission.
The goal is to establish for the first time consistent technical rules for the approval of hydrogen fueled vehicles, in order to guarantee a fair trade in internal market and, at the same time, increase the circulation of hydrogen cars in European towns to protect environment.
Presently many industries are investing in this technology and some car brands are ready to market hydrogen cars, so the defining of a frame legislation for the approval of hydrogen vehicles “will contribute to create a confidence in new technology among potential users and public in general”.
Aim of this measure is to encourage production and marketing of vehicles utilizing innovative technologies with a reduced environmental impact; hydrogen indeed is considered to be a clean fuel because cars “don’t release carbon-based pollution, nor emit greenhouse gases”. Moreover, regulation specifies that hydrogen is not an energy source, but an energy vector, which will have to be produced in a sustainable way and “as long as it is possible, from renewable energies”, so that it can have a positive effect on global environmental balance.
Regulation's entering into force is attended after formal approval from European Council and publication on Official Journal.