News

Expiring Type Approvals - Remember to apply for the "end-of-series" scheme!

A lot is set to change in the field of vehicle legislation this year. This includes the requirements regarding Software Update (R156), the introduction of TPMS (R141) and the Vecto simulation for trailers in accordance with (EU) 2022/1362.

The first only applies if you install software on vehicles, which software makes a connection with the vehicle systems (e.g. braking system, steering system) or the CAN bus of the towing vehicle. The last two only apply to trailers and semi-trailers in categories O3/O4 (mass > 10000kg). Please refer to the newsletters we previously sent about this.

Approvals that do not (yet) include this new legislation will expire on July 7, 2024. Based on a vehicle type approval that has not yet been adjusted as of July 6 2024, the registration of vehicles after that date can be refused!

Check immediately whether your European vehicle type approvals meet the new requirements.

End-of-series vehicles
Vehicles built in conformity with an expired type approval can be registered in the "end-of-series" scheme. Based on this scheme, it is possible to register license plates for previously completed vehicles for a period of 12 months.

Only vehicles for which it is not economically or technically feasible to meet the new requirements are eligible. In various countries there is an additional requirement that the COC must be issued 3 months before the entry into force date.

In this case, only vehicles for which the COC was issued before April 7 2024 remain eligible for registration!

Make an inventory of which vehicles are not yet registered and whether they meet the requirements.

HESTOCON helps
HESTOCON can offer you various services to help you apply for, maintain and keep your type approvals up to date. We can also relieve you of the burden of managing the input data and running the simulation according to (EU) 2022/1362.
Don't hesitate to contact us!

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Trailers and the climate goals; HESTOCON can be of assistance

We previously informed you about new legislation for (closed) trailers with a maximum mass of 8,000 kg and more (see our earlier news item). With the ultimate goal of reducing CO2 emissions from vehicle combinations, manufacturers are obliged to inform their customers about the aerodynamic efficiency of the trailers supplied.

To help you meet the extensive requirements of this Regulation, HESTOCON will offer services on our Portal presented this year.

Do you want:

• To receive detailed information per vehicle based on the calculation results, so that you can easily provide your customer with the required data?
• An overview that gives insight into the input and output data per vehicle and, for example, the cryptographic hashes that should be included on the COC?

Send us a message if you are interested in this service and we will contact you shortly.

With the new platform we are ready for the future.
Some services are already available in the HESTOCON Portal, such as:

• Monitoring changes in the Regulations and the consequences for your type approvals;
• Uploading digital COCs (IVI-COC) for license plate registration.

In the background we are still working on further expansions.
Follow us to stay informed!

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Trailers and the climate goals; new requirements

In the context of the European climate objectives, the CO2 emissions of vehicle combinations, among other things, must be drastically reduced.

As part of this, regulations have been published to determine the influence of towed vehicles on the emissions of the motor vehicle. This influence is calculated with a calculation tool provided by the EU, in which the built trailer is compared with a reference trailer.

For the time being, these new requirements apply to a limited group of vehicles:

• Semi-trailer, Central Axle or Complete Trailer (no link trailers as the middle vehicle of a combination)
• Maximum mass >8000kg (so only category O3 and O4)
• Maximum 3 axles (of which no driven axles)
• Closed body (body codes 03, 04, 05, 06 or 32)
• Only vehicles not exceeding the maximum authorised dimensions

From July 2024 at the latest, manufacturers of these vehicles are obliged to inform their customers about the efficiency of the trailer compared to a standard reference trailer. For new approvals (issued after 25-08-2022), the requirements already apply from 01-01-2024.

Manufacturers with type-approval who build more than 30 vehicles within the scope described above each year must set up a managed process to be able to perform these calculations. The other manufacturers may also have the calculation carried out by a designated Technical Service, but of course remain responsible for the information provided.
Certified data of tyres and aerodynamic devices are used in the calculation, which are supplied by the relevant suppliers.

When a new vehicle is delivered from July 2024 (regardless of the approval date!), the customer must receive prescribed information about the calculation input and results of the trailer. This information can be found on the COC and in the separate Customer Information File.
A marking must also be affixed to the vehicle itself

By providing insight into the influence of the semi-trailer or trailer on the consumption and emission values of the towing vehicle, the market should be stimulated to use more efficient vehicles

For those interested, CLCCR has released a video on this topic: CLCCR promo EU CO2 trailer legislation - YouTube

HESTOCON can offer you various services to help you apply for, maintain and keep your type approvals up to date. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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TPMS systems also mandatory for trailers and semi-trailers

A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) monitors pressure loss in one or more tires by means of sensors.

Soon you will also find the system standard on heavy semi-trailers and trailers (category O3 and O4 trailers). In operation, the system sends standard signals to the towing vehicle so that operation can be monitored from the driver's seat.

As of July 2022, the system has already become mandatory for new type approvals, and from 07 July 2024 the requirements apply to all new O3/O4 vehicles with type-approval that are entered into service in Europe.

The technical requirements are described in ECE Regulation R141. In addition to TPMS, this regulation also covers TPRS (Tyre Pressure Refill Systems) and CTIS (Central Tyre Inflation Systems).

An addition was recently made to the regulations, so that the component supplier can already have a test report issued on parts of the system. The vehicle manufacturer then only needs to apply for an installation approval.

Please note: If the vehicle approval has not been extended with TPMS before 07 July 2024, the type approval will lose its validity! In connection with the residual stock scheme, it is even desirable to have completed this addition before April 7, 2024.

In the short term, the new CO2 legislation will also become mandatory for the same categories. More about this soon, but it is therefore recommended that you also address this change immediately.

HESTOCON can offer you various services to help you apply for, maintain and keep your type approvals up to date. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Vehicle identification number (VIN) changes

Each (approved) road vehicle must be provided with a unique identification number (VIN) of 17 characters.

It is customary to include a code for production or model year, in which case the ISO 3779 coding is often used. In the 10th position, the year is then coded by means of a letter, which is adjusted annually.

Please note that the letters I, O and Q may not be used in the chassis number (VIN). For the coming year, the year code according to ISO 3779 will therefore also change from "N" (2022) to "P" (2023).

An additional requirement has recently come into force for new type approvals. The 9th character of the chassis number must from now on be calculated as a "check digit", based on the other characters of the VIN. For existing (type) approvals, this will have to be amended by July 2026 at the latest.

In summary: Make sure that the correct coding for the year is also used in 2023, and be prepared for the introduction of the "check digit" in 2026.

HESTOCON can offer you various services to help you apply for, maintain and keep your type approvals up to date.

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Type approval in the UK: Apply for provisional approval for Category O

Manufacturers of trailers (category O), components and engines for Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) have been allowed to continue selling their products in Great Britain using an EU approval for a temporary period.

UK authorities are now in the process to establish a GB type approval scheme. Different vehicle and product categories follow different time lines, a next phase is now being introduced.

For category O vehicles (trailers) a provisional type approval must be in place by January 2023.

This provisional approval can be based completely on a existing (and valid!) EU WVTA provided it fulfils the GSR 661/2009 requirements. Currently for provisional GB approval to be granted you will need a list of the EU WV type approval numbers for vehicle types intended to be placed on the market in GB and the corresponding & current EU type approval certificates.

The administrative transition into provisional approval can be applied for through the digital portal on the VCA website: vca-digital-portal-launch-gb-provisional-applications. The provisional type approval will remain valid for 2 years.

The requirement for full type approval for Category O vehicles is currently planned for 01-02-2025 (timeline) Multiple type approval options will be offered such as unlimited or small series, as well as UK(NI) or GB type approval.

A UK(NI) type approval is valid in Northern Ireland and currently also accepted in Great Britain. UK(NI) approvals continue to follow EU rules (currently GSR II) and so manufacturers should have a representative based in the EU or Northern Ireland. It is not permissible to hold UK(NI) full series approval in combination with a European WVTA for the same type.

GB type approvals are initially based on retained EU legislation as it applied in GB at the end of 2020 (2018/858 and 661/2009 GSR). In time the requirements will probably divert from EU requirements. A GB type approval is valid in Great Britain and approval holders are required to have a representative based in Great Britain. Both options will require COP clearance from the UK Type Approval Authority (VCA).

Further details on the full type approval scheme will follow in due course towards 2025.

HESTOCON can offer you various services to help you apply for, maintain and keep your type approvals up to date. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Expiring Directives - Remember to apply for the "end-of-series" scheme!

As a result of Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, several old EC directives have expired. Approvals referring to these old directives will also expire on July 6, 2022. Registration of vehicles built according to this expired approvals is then only possible under the "end-of-series" scheme. For this, many countries do require the COC to be issued 3 months before the effective date of the change.

That means that only vehicles for which the COC was issued before April 6, 2022 remain eligible for registration!

Check whether your European vehicle type approvals meet the new requirements. The changes also affect the type approval of many components. For example, couplings, heating systems, spray suppression devices or EMC components that are included in your vehicle approval with an old approval number must be removed or replaced with an alternative.

On the basis of a vehicle type approval that has not yet been adjusted as of 6 July 2022, the registration of vehicles after that date can therefore be refused!

End-of-series vehicles
Vehicles that are already built in conformity with the expired type approvals can be registered under the "end-of-series" scheme. Based on this scheme, it is still possible to register the (complete) vehicles and obtain the license plate for a period of 12 months.

However, only vehicles for which it is not economically or technically feasible to meet the new requirements are eligible. In addition, in various countries there is a requirement that the COC must be issued 3 months before the entry into force date, in this case no later than 6 April 2022.

HESTOCON can offer you various services to help you apply for, maintain and keep your type approvals up to date. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Regulation for rear underrun protection ECE R58.03

Earlier we have informed you about the changed requirements with regard to "rear underrun protection". If for this subject, your type approval still refers to 70/221/EEC or R58.02, it will expire on the 1st of September 2021!

Heavy vehicles

For heavy commercial vehicles and trailers> 3500 kg, the changes are quite drastic and often require a test. More information about this can be found in our newsletter of 06-01-2016. At the moment, the capacity to perform the tests and adjust the approvals in time is very limited!

• If you did not take action yet, we advise you to do so as soon as possible.

Light vehicles

Certain vehicle categories, for example light commercial vehicles and trailers up to 3500 kg, may continue to comply with simplified requirements. Technically nothing has changed and therefore it won't be necessary to adapt your vehicles.

• However, the approval still must be supplemented to refer to the new regulation R58.03.

End-of-series vehicles

Vehicles that are already built in conformity with the expired type approvals can be registered under the "end-of-series" scheme. Based on this regulation, it is still possible to register the (complete) vehicles and obtain the license plate for a period of 12 months. However, only vehicles for which it is not economically or technically feasible to meet the new requirements are eligible. In addition, in various countries there is a requirement that the COC must be issued 3 months before the entry into force date, in this case no later than 31-05-2021.

HESTOCON can offer you various services to help you request, maintain and keep your type approvals up to date. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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