New US Safety Rules Clear the Road for Hydrogen Vehicles

New federal safety standards bring clarity to hydrogen vehicle design and timelines, helping the technology move closer to mainstream readiness

19 Jul 2025

US regulators have finalised long-awaited safety standards for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, providing clearer direction for an industry still in an early phase of commercial development.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 307 and No. 308, which cover hydrogen fuel systems and high-pressure storage tanks. The rules are performance-based, setting out how systems must operate under defined conditions rather than requiring manufacturers to sell hydrogen vehicles.

The standards will take effect on July 16, 2025, with mandatory compliance from September 1, 2028. Regulators said the extended lead time is intended to give vehicle makers and suppliers scope to adjust designs, testing regimes and certification plans.

By converting existing guidance into binding requirements, the rules reshape how hydrogen vehicles are engineered and approved for the US market. Officials involved in the process say the focus is on safety for drivers and first responders, while bringing US regulation closer to hydrogen safety frameworks already in place in parts of Asia and Europe.

The measures are not designed as market incentives. Instead, they aim to create a consistent regulatory baseline that reduces uncertainty for manufacturers and investors. Clearer standards are also expected to help fleet operators and public agencies assess hydrogen vehicles for future procurement.

Large automakers such as Toyota and Hyundai are seen as relatively well prepared, as their hydrogen programmes already follow strict internal safety standards. For newer companies, including Nikola, compliance is likely to raise testing and certification costs, but it also establishes a single nationwide pathway to market approval.

Some developers have warned that the added regulatory burden could stretch budgets or delay deployment. Supporters of the rules argue that stronger safety requirements at an early stage reduce the risk of accidents or recalls that could slow adoption later.

As hydrogen technology expands into trucks, buses and logistics fleets, the new standards are expected to shape vehicle design, supplier contracts and long-term planning. For an industry seeking wider acceptance, regulation is becoming a foundation for growth rather than an obstacle.