Advancements in Electric and Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles for Transporting Dangerous Goods
Key Ideas
  • Electric vehicles are now permitted to transport non-flammable dangerous goods, with provisions for high voltage system safety and fire risks.
  • New ADR provisions in 2025 allow for battery electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles to transport flammable gases and liquids.
  • Hydrogen is seen as a promising alternative for achieving net-zero energy goals in transportation, with South Korea and the US leading in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle adoption.
  • The UNECE Working Party is considering allowing battery electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles to transport explosives, further advancing clean energy initiatives in the transport sector.
In The Netherlands in 2017, one of the first electric vehicles to transport dangerous goods was introduced, delivering petrol and diesel fuel. The UNECE Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods updated the ADR agreement in 2023 to allow battery electric vehicles to transport non-flammable dangerous goods. The 2025 edition of ADR expanded provisions to include battery electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles for transporting flammable gases and liquids. Safety measures for electric vehicles include high voltage system protections and fire risk mitigation. The use of hydrogen is gaining traction as an alternative to fossil fuels, aiding in achieving net-zero energy goals. Despite only a fraction of vehicle sales in Europe being hydrogen-powered, South Korea and the US lead globally in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle adoption. The UNECE provisions ensure the safe use of hydrogen-powered vehicles for transporting dangerous goods, contributing to infrastructure development for clean energy transitions in transportation.
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