Homologation

Registration plate for converted vehicles

What is homologation? 

Homologation is the approval of a series of products. In the case of vehicles, this concerns a series of the same vehicles, all of which meet the same standard. After homologation, these vehicles are allowed on the road.

Vehicle conversion kits 

B-Style supplies conversion kits for conversion companies that turn vehicles into wheelchair vans, buses and city buses. The modifications to the vehicles must have been approved before registration plates can be issued. To avoid having to do this individually, per vehicle, B-Style has a European Type Approval (ECWVTA) for its conversion kits for the B-Active, M-Moved and B-Open. This saves conversion companies a lot of time. 

What's a conversion kit?

What is a European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA)? 

An ECWVTA is the proof, or certification, that the conversion complies with European legislation. The process of obtaining an ECWVTA involves the testing of vital parts, such as tensile strength and load tests, to determine whether the vehicle is safe. The results are verified by an independent public authority, such as the RDW in the Netherlands or the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt in Germany.

Modifications must be approved for each vehicle model in order to obtain an ECWVTA. For example, the conversion kits for a Mercedes-Benz Vito and Volkswagen Caddy both have to be tested separately.   

The advantage of an ECWVTA is that it is an approval for a complete product range, such as a B-Active conversion package for the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi. Thereafter, there is no need for an individual inspection of each vehicle, which is a huge time saver for the conversion company. Once a conversion kit has been installed in accordance with our guidelines and all the paperwork has been properly completed, the vehicle is ready to be registered.

EU kenteken landen

The ECWVTA number consists of several elements:

e4*2007/46*xxxx*xx

  • e4 (the Netherlands)
  • 2007/46 (directive number, which contains all the requirements that each vehicle must meet and can be found on the European Union's website)
  • Serial number (assigned by RDW or other national independent approval body, such as TÜV)
  • Extension (revision number, indicating which version of the directive was used)

What is a Certificate of Conformity (CoC)? 

A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is a document that the manufacturer provides with each new vehicle and is tied to the chassis number, so the document is always unique. This document makes reference to the European Type Approval numbers. The manufacturer uses this to indicate the extension in accordance with which the vehicle was manufactured. This document is necessary to register the vehicle.

EU kentekenplaten

The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is the manufacturer who makes the vehicle, such as Volkswagen or Mercedes, and provides the first CoC. This is also called the ‘first phase’ CoC.

If the second phase manufacturer has an agreement with the first phase manufacturer, in conformity with 2007/46, and has an ECWVTA number, the former can draw up a second phase CoC. This is also a unique document, just like the first phase CoC. The second phase CoC is always a supplement to the first phase CoC, so they both continue to apply and both are required for acceptance in a European member state. The second phase CoC is valid throughout Europe and can be used to register a modified vehicle, but there are some member states that impose additional requirements on a vehicle.

Some vehicles may even have third and fourth phase CoC documents, if additional conversions are carried out after the B-Style conversion, such as the installation of a hydraulic door for example.

Paperwork is arranged by B-Style 

If the conversion partner is contracted, B-Style will provide a second phase CoC with each conversion kit. It is important that the conversion company provides B-Style with the chassis number, as well as the type of vehicle, in a Warranty Registration Form (WRF). B-Style then prepares a second phase CoC, with which the conversion company can apply for its registration plate, provided that the conversion has been carried out in accordance with our instructions. B-Style is responsible for the conversion. In the second phase CoC we state the European Type Approval (ETA) numbers, issued by an independent authority

Conversion partners: Conformity of Production (COP) 

Conformity of Production (COP) is an approval given by B-Style to the converter, by means of which we give permission to install our conversion kits. The law requires that the conversion partners are inspected by the manufacturer / CoC provider. B-Style therefore provides training to our partners so they are always aware of how to modify your vehicle safely. The conversion partners must be able to demonstrate that they are assessed for quality, through ISO certification for example. The RDW inspects our CoP once every two years and can check any of our partners at any time for points that have been tested previously. 

 

In house R&D + testing facilities

Inventor of the wheelchair car in 1973

Quick installation, without welding

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