Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles; Compressed Hydrogen Storage System Integrity; Incorporation by Reference
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting July 16, 2025, new safety rules will make hydrogen-powered vehicles safer by making sure their fuel systems and storage tanks don’t leak or explode, especially during crashes. Car makers must follow these rules by September 1, 2028, helping prevent fires and injuries. If you build or sell hydrogen vehicles, get ready to upgrade your safety game soon!
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
New federal safety rules for hydrogen vehicles
The rule creates two new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, FMVSS No. 307 and FMVSS No. 308, that set performance requirements for hydrogen fuel systems and compressed hydrogen storage to reduce deaths and injuries from hydrogen leaks, fires, or explosions. The standards take effect July 16, 2025 and require manufacturers to meet the new safety tests and performance criteria.
FMVSS 308 applies to compressed hydrogen vehicles
FMVSS No. 308 applies to all motor vehicles that use compressed hydrogen gas as a fuel source regardless of gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), but it does not apply to vehicles that only use cryo-compressed or solid-state hydrogen storage systems. Manufacturers of compressed-hydrogen vehicles must design CHSS to meet FMVSS No. 308 performance requirements.
Timeline: rule effective and compliance deadline
The final rule is effective July 16, 2025, and manufacturers must comply with the standards by September 1, 2028. Petitions for reconsideration had to be received by March 3, 2025.
FMVSS 307 drops overpressure protection requirement
The final FMVSS No. 307 removes the previously proposed requirement for an overpressure protection device. Vehicle and component makers no longer must meet that specific device requirement under FMVSS No. 307.
Only leak-detection liquid allowed in leak test
FMVSS No. 307 eliminates the option to use an electronic leak detector in the S6.6 test, leaving leak-detection liquid as the sole applicable test method for fuel system leakage testing. Manufacturers and test labs must use leak-detection liquid for that specified test.
BPO submission timing extended to 15 business days
Under FMVSS No. 308, manufacturers must provide the median initial burst pressure for a container (BPO) within 15 business days instead of the previously proposed 5 business days. This extends the time manufacturers have to submit BPO information for testing purposes.
Removal of BPO label and variability requirement
The final rule removes the requirement to include the container's median initial burst pressure (BPO) on the container label and removes the proposed requirement that burst pressure variability be within 10 percent of BPO. Manufacturers no longer must label containers with BPO or meet that variability limit.
Closure tests may use inert gas instead of hydrogen
FMVSS No. 308 permits performing closure device tests with an inert gas such as helium instead of hydrogen gas. Test labs and manufacturers may use inert gas options when conducting closure device tests.
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