The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has introduced new safety standards, called FMVSS Nos. 307 and 308, aimed at ensuring the safe use of hydrogen as a fuel source in vehicles. These rules set performance requirements for hydrogen fuel systems and storage to reduce the risk of fires and explosions. While the rules apply to most hydrogen-fueled vehicles, they exclude certain types like those with cryo-compressed or solid-state hydrogen storage systems. The standards are designed to align with international regulations but include some U.S.-specific adjustments to ensure testing is clear and objective.
Simple Explanation
The government made new rules to help keep cars that use hydrogen safe, making sure they don't get too hot or explode. Think of it like having special checks for these cars, but some parts are tricky, like when they talk about where to put certain parts on the car or how much testing costs.