52007SC1302

[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 10.10.2007

SEC(2007) 1302

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

accompanying document to the Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on type-approval of hydrogen powered motor vehicles and amending Directive 2007/46/EC {COM(2007) 593 final SEC(2007)1301}

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

accompanying document to theProposal for aREGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCILon type-approval of hydrogen powered motor vehicles and amending Directive 2007/46/EC{COM(2007) 593 finalSEC(2007)1301}

The impact assessment has demonstrated that the introduction of hydrogen powered vehicles in the whole vehicle type-approval framework is necessary in order to retain a functioning internal market and ensuring a high level of public safety and environmental protection.

The present situation regarding the approval of advanced hydrogen fuelled vehicles is of increasing concern and a cause of uncertainty. At the moment, these vehicles are not included in the European Community whole vehicle type-approval framework. This situation results in complicated and costly approval procedures and does not ensure that the vehicles can be placed on the market throughout the entire European Union.

With no change in policy, there is a risk that the functioning of the internal market would be impaired and that the approval remains costly and cumbersome. It is possible that without action at EU level, Member States will adopt diverging standards for hydrogen vehicles, which would result in an unfavourable situation with regard to the single market, economies of scale and design of vehicles.

The impact assessment has shown that with the extension of the existing whole vehicle type approval system to hydrogen powered vehicles, there would be substantial savings for manufacturers with regard to the cost of approval procedures. This is because with the policy option of European Union legislation, one approval would be sufficient for each vehicle type in order to be marketed in the European Union. Thus, it would open up all markets of the 27 Member States of the European Union for hydrogen vehicles. This option is likely to speed up the introduction rate of this environmentally friendly vehicle propulsion technology, which would in turn ensure that the environmental benefits linked to the use of hydrogen vehicles appear earlier.

The option of passing an EU regulation would ensure that all hydrogen vehicles marketed in Europe are constructed according to a common standard and provide at least the same level of safety as conventional vehicles. The impact assessment has demonstrated that the requirements of the draft proposal for a potential EU Regulation contain the necessary provisions to address the safety issues associated with hydrogen propulsion.

With the extension of the type approval framework to hydrogen vehicles, it would be ensured that the European Union keeps up with other important automotive regions with regard to the introduction of innovative vehicles. The investment in these solutions would likely to be boosted which would support the quicker deployment of the hydrogen technology within the European Union.