The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into Resources Safety and Health Queensland’s discussion paper – Developing a Hydrogen Safety Code of Practice.
FCAI commentary will only be specific to certain elements of the discussion paper concerning the Code of Practice as it pertains to light duty motor vehicles (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) and motorcycles.
The FCAI is the peak Australian industry organisation representing over 50 global automotive brands who design, manufacture, and sell light duty passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, and motorcycles around the world. Presently, the FCAI within its membership has several brands who have announced and are continuing the development, commercialisation, and introduction of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV).
To put the Australian automotive market in context, Australia receives our automotive products from global manufacturers and in a typical year with sales of just over 1 million vehicles annually, Australia represents just over 1% of global sales (90 million vehicles 2019 (OICA).
Therefore, to maintain the significant variation of vehicle models that consumers in Australia have access to, it is imperative that we harmonise with international regulations.
The automotive industry in general, and the FCAI membership specifically has and continues to make significant contributions towards advanced products being made available in Australia. Our members are developing advanced powertrain technologies in line with international regulations and standards that are specific to and unique to the automotive industries operating environment. Of course, it is development of these products to these global standards that ensures that our products are provided to the market in the safest possible manner. Given the leadership of the automotive industry, these international standards are usually developed well in advance of vehicle production and often provided to market in advance of and exceeding minimum regulatory standards or non-regulatory processes.
In that sense, our commentary will be specific to hydrogen safety as it pertains to fuel cell technologies used in automotive applications specifically and we will comment only on:
- Safety Regulatory Frameworks by Hydrogen Use
- Gas Devices and Approvals
- Gas Work Licences
- Hydrogen Delivery Networks – Hydrogen Fuel Stations
We forward to continuing engagement with Queensland Resources Safety and Health where we can support without expertise across the automotive industry to ensure that Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles can operate Australia wide in a safe manner that is typical of automotive products.
Read the full submission at the link below.