The Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) has confirmed that three new Australian Design Rules (ADRs) will be coming into play for the bus and coach industry.
Signed on October 31 by federal assistant transport and infrastructure minister Carol Brown, the three new ADRs focus on zero-emissions vehicle safety.
The first ADRs signed were ADR 109/00 and 109/01, which both focus on electric powertrain safety requirements. The two new standards mandate technical, safety and performance requirements for high-voltage electrical components.
This includes the Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage System, known as REESS and traction motor operated by high-voltage electric power that’s not permanently connected to the grid.
The ADRs include their high-voltage components and systems which are galvanically connected to the high-voltage bus of the electric powertrain.
Following these two ADRs is ADR 110/00, which looks into hydrogen-fuelled vehicle safety related performance.
This ADR provides technical, safety and performance requirements for Compressed Hydrogen Storage Systems (CHSS) and their components.
BIC says establishing these national road vehicle standards and aligning them with international standards ensures the safest possible vehicles are available for the Australian community and on local roads.
“Furthermore, ADRs 109/00 and 109/01 support the federal government’s National Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy in increasing the uptake of EVs to reduce our emissions and improve the wellbeing of Australians,” BIC says.
“ADR 110/00 supports the Australian National Hydrogen Strategy committed to long-term emissions reductions and a viable alternative fuel source.”
BIC says that ADR 109/00 will apply from November 1 next year for all new model vehicles and from November 1, 2025 for all vehicles.
ADR 109/01 will apply from November 1, 2025 for all new model vehicles and from November 1, 2028 for all vehicles.
Both ADRs will harmonise Australian requirements for MA, MB, MC, ME, NA, NB and NC category vehicles with international standard UN Regulation No. 100 respectively.
ADR 110/00 will apply form November 1 next year for all new model vehicles and from November 1, 2026 for all vehicles, with the ADR harmonising the same category vehicles with UN Regulation No. 134.