As announced in earlier in NGV Global, an international NGV standards and regulations gap analysis was commissioned by the International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles (IANGV) to provide input into the ISO Roundtable on Gaseous Fuel Vehicles meeting on 10 January 2007. The work was conducted by Australian based NGV expert, Dr Hien Ly.

The objective of the study was to identify the relevant international standards and regulations pertaining to NGVs, to compare them and identify key differences and to identify areas where there are currently no published international standards or regulations. The study report contains a commentary on the results of the investigation to assist other parties to decide on an appropriate course of action.

A large number of national and international NGV standards and regulations were surveyed. This picked up a new discrepancy between ECE R110 and ISO 11439 and FDIS 19078. ECE R110 specifies a 4 year interval for on-board CNG fuel cylinder re-qualification whereas ISO 11439 and FDIS 19078 specify a 3 year interval. This discrepancy should be added to the work program of the harmonisation project.

The gap analysis also took into account ongoing industry issues. The work identified 30 gaps or issues.

To close the gaps, new international standards or regulations will need to be produced in the following areas:

1.    CNG vehicle workshops, parking garages, passenger and freight terminals and aircraft hangars
2.    LNG vehicle workshops, parking garages, passenger and freight terminals and aircraft hangars
3.    LNG vehicle installation and components
4.    LNG on-board fuel storage cylinders
5.    LNG vehicle refuelling connectors
6.    LNG on-board fuel storage cylinder re-qualification procedure
7.    LNG fuel storage and refuelling stations.
8.    LNG dispenser fuel metering system approval test procedure
9.    LCNG fuel storage and refuelling stations
10.  Biogas fuel quality

The new issues may need to be solved by adding to, or amending, the requirements of the existing CNG standards or regulations:

- Dispenser metering at refuelling stations
- Fuel metering/accounting at refuelling stations.
- Safety management systems at fuel storage and refuelling stations
- Qualitative and quantitative risk assessments at fuel storage and refuelling stations
- Fuel cylinder approval application protocol
- Increased effective service life and re-qualification period for on-board cylinders
- Vehicle fuel system approval application protocol
- Refuelling station outlet fuel quality compliance

The same issues will need to be taken into account when the new international standards and regulations for LNG are created.

The study report was widely reviewed by the international NGV technical community including the technical committees of the IANGV, the European Natural Gas Vehicle Association (ENGVA) and the US Clean Vehicle Education Foundation (CVEF). It was also discussed at the joint meeting of the IANGV and ENGVA technical committees at NGV 2006 in Cairo in October.

A presentation on the findings of the study will be made at the coming ISO Roundtable on Gaseous Fuel Vehicles meeting in Geneva on 10 January 2007.

Queries and comments on the Gap Analysis for International NGV Standards & Regulations report should be directed to Dr Hien Ly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by phone on +61 2 9875 3983 or +61 433 988 360.