Brussels, 04/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 September, MEPs adopted common authorisation criteria for hydrogen powered motor vehicles in the European Union and took a further step towards the opening up of the market for clean and safer vehicles in Europe.
By approving the report of Anja Weisgerber (EPP-ED, Germany) by 644 votes in favour, 2 against, with 11 abstentions, MEPs have given the green light to the compromise concluded between the 27 member states. The European Commission was delighted with the European Parliament's favourable reception for its October 2007 proposal (EUROPE 9520). The European commissioner for industry, Günter Verheugen, stated in a press release that adoption “is a big step forward in the introduction of hydrogen vehicles” that are clean and safe throughout the EU. Arlene McCarthy MEP (PES, United Kingdom) said that the definition of common standards will benefit citizens by providing them with greater safety and will help boost the competitiveness of European manufacturers. She added that "at a time when petrol prices in Europe have doubled, and with ever growing concern about the effects of climate change, it is clear we need new hopes for future fuels”.
Single registration system. The current vehicle category registration system in the EU is hindering sales of hydrogen powered vehicles because it does not have a standard classification for this kind of vehicle. Therefore, even if a manufacturer obtains a national or single registration in a member state, it cannot be certain that registration of this vehicle will be authorised in all the other member states. The regulation therefore aims to simplify hydrogen vehicle registration and subsequently boost the market. Safer vehicles. Insofar as the use of hydrogen for powering vehicles has provoked certain fears, it has proved necessary to provide assurances that these systems are as safe as those used in traditional fuel technology. This is why this kind of vehicle has to be equipped with appropriate information and identification. MEPs are keen to point out that these vehicles are as safe as those with traditional petrol or diesel engines. Identification will also allow emergency services to identify the kind of engine in a vehicle involved in a road accident. The field of application for the law is also expected to be extended to motor cycles. Green fuel. MEPs state that in the future, hydrogen powered vehicles are expected to be propelled by pure hydrogen. They also affirm that the use of mixtures of hydrogen and bio-methane should be no more than a transitional technology. This technology is expected to be both clean and less costly so that consumers can obtain hydrogen cars more easily. Facilitating distribution. The regulation requires the Commission to develop measures to set up a European hydrogen vehicle distribution network, a prerequisite if this kind of vehicle is to succeed. If requirements are flouted, manufacturers could be subject to sanctions. These would have to be “effective, proportionate and dissuasive” and notified to the Commission in the 18 months after the regulation's entry into force. The regulation still has to be definitively approved by the Council and will enter into force two yeas after its publication in the Official Journal.
Over the next few years, the proportion of hydrogen powered vehicles is expected to rise. The EU will be investing €470 million over the next six years to develop this kind of vehicle and private companies will invest a similar amount (EUROPE 9672). (B.C./transl.rh)