France, Strasbourg

Members of the IANGV and ENGVA Technical Committees have met in Strasbourg, France, coinciding with ENGVA’s annual conference, with standards once again being a key agenda item. Delegates at the meeting heard from ENGVA’s Technical Committee Chair, Flavio Mariani, on the state of play of a number of issues currently on the ENGVA agenda.

Pressure Relief Devices

Among the primary issues of concern were pressure relief devices (PRDs), with the organization currently developing guidelines covering the design, installation and maintenance of PRD devices. Though CEN standards ECE R110 and R115 theoretically cover PRDs the work arising from the technical committee project is hoped to prompt amendments that cover current shortcomings with the standards.

NMHC

Mariani also reported that though Non Methane Hydrocarbons (NMHC) limits continue to pose a problem for the industry in Europe, there is some hope in the form of a possible adjustment to the formula used to keep hydrocarbon emissions below the critical 100 mg/km Euro 4 limit for light vehicles. The proposed formula, still under development, is to be put to ECE committees later this year and would provide varying coefficients for methane and non-methane hydrocarbons.

LNG Standards

Growing interest in liquefied natural gas (LNG) standards for transport is also high on ENGVA’s technical committee agenda, with consideration currently being given to pushing for international standards covering LNG use in vehicles. Germany already has a standard covering LNG refueling stations and LNG ‘norms’ are in place in the US, though not prescriptive and mostly consisting of recommendations. 4 countries are in favour of an ISO standard – UK, Norway, Spain and Italy, with active support from one more country needed to place it on the ISO agenda. This support would include the provision of expertise needed to draft appropriate standard documents and support the development process.

Natural Gas Quality, DIN standard

Moves from some sectors outside the natural gas vehicle industry to have a standard applied to natural gas quality have given rise to concern with NGV technical circles. While seen as well meaning, the imposition of a widespread standard could prove too prescriptive, with costs far outweighing the benefits and being excessive enough to make provision of gas for NGV applications prohibitive. Joint moves are under way by ENGVA & IANGV to reverse this process which has led to a DIN standard being drafted after being initiated by the German Environmental Protection Agency. The initiative will include submissions from both groups outlining the wider ramifications of imposing natural gas standards for vehicular applications.

 As a separate initiative, the meeting also endorsed a recommendation for the IANGV to initiate a review of their “Effects of Natural Gas Composition” document, first prepared the IANGV some five years ago. The proposed review will be considered by the IANGV board this week and will include a survey to determine the scope of the problem caused by variations in natural gas composition.

Committee of European Normalisation (CEN) standards for refuelling stations and appliances

Meanwhile Marian also reported that draft CEN standard, prEN 13683 “NGV Filling Stations” and prEN 13945 “CNG Vehicle Refuelling Appliances could both be due for final ballot later this year, effectively bringing both into operation.

Retrofit Compliance Issues

R. Fernandes of Brazil’s IBP, also made presentations to the joint committee meeting outlining the difficulties that Brazilian conversion kit manufacturers are facing in meeting local type approval requirements. The emergence of ‘tri-fuel’ applications for example, has created a situation where as many as four separate emissions certificates must be obtained in order for a kit to be approved. This requirement is challenging the viability of some kits and kit providers. Fernandes put out a call for industry assistance in finding solutions to this problem.  Suggestions from the floor included the application of type approval on an ‘engine family’ basis and/or the establishment of quantity thresholds below which type approval is not required. Further suggestions would be welcomed by Fernandez at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .