The U.S. Department of Transportation generates safety regulations through its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is published within seven volumes. Though the regulations are not specific to hydrogen as a fuel, there are regulations that are pertinent, including Compressed Natural Gas Fuel Container Integrity. The fifth volume contains most of the relevant rules and regulations specific to fuel system integrity, container integrity, and fuel economy standards that directly apply to hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Fuel System Integrity: 571.301, Standard No. 301
This safety regulation outlines how a fuel system should perform in the event of an accident. It regulates how much fuel should spill in the event of a barrier crash from the front, side, or rear, and in the event of a rollover accident. It also outlines all test requirements a fuel system must meet in order to pass this safety regulation, including detailed instructions as to the conditions under which the tests must be performed. This regulation is relevant to liquid hydrogen solutions.
Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles: 571.303, Standard No. 303
This safety regulation dictates how the fuel system should behave if compromised in an accident. It regulates how much pressure is allowed to drop in the event of an accident and the test requirements a vehicle must pass. Test requirements are in detail as to the type of accidents that must be tested and the conditions under which the tests must be performed. This is relevant for compressed hydrogen fuel cells.
Compressed Natural Gas Fuel Container Integrity: 571.304, Standard No. 304
This is probably the most relevant safety standard for hydrogen-powered cars. Hydrogen requires being compressed into high-pressure tanks for containment. This safety regulation dictates how much fuel the tank can leak during and after an accident. It dictates material requirements and the list of tests it must pass.
Other Safety Rules
There are many other safety regulations that dictate where the fuel tank and fuel system can and cannot be; for example, the fuel tank cannot stick out from your car. There is no single safety regulation that mentions hydrogen specifically. Since the hydrogen concept cars started to show up in numbers, including a fleet of Honda cars released in Southern California, safety regulations are at the tops of many minds. Many groups have met to review safety needs for hydrogen cars, including the European Hydrogen Association. SAE has issued guidelines for hydrogen fuel dispensers.
References
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Part 571.301: Standard No. 301; Fuel System Integrity
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Part 571.303: Standard No. 303; Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Part 571.304: Standard No. 304; Compressed Natural Gas Fuel Container Integrity
- SAE Vehicle Engineering
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