Alternative electrification pathways for light-duty vehicles in the European transport sector

Abstract Background Road transport is an important contributor to the European Union’s total greenhouse gas emissions. This study aims at summarizing methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) exhaust emissions from L-category, light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles in the European Union. The assessment is based on measurements carried out in the Vehicle Emission Laboratory of the Joint Research Centre between 2009 and 2019. The exhaust chemical composition from a fleet of 38 L-category vehicles Euro 1 to Euro 4 (2- and 3-wheelers, small quadricycles such as quads and minicars), 63 light-duty vehicles from Euro 5b to Euro 6d-TEMP (passenger cars, including hybrid vehicles), and 27 light commercial and heavy-duty vehicles from pre-Euro I to Euro VI (including lorries, buses and garbage trucks) was analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Results CH4 emission factors monitored were from 1 to 234 mg/km for L-category vehicles (mean: 39 mg/km), from 0.1 to 40 mg/km for light-duty vehicles (mean: 7 mg/km), and from non-detectable to 320 mg/km for heavy-duty vehicles (mean: 19 mg/km). N2O emission factors monitored were from non-detectable to 5 mg/km for L-category vehicles (mean: 1 mg/km), from non-detectable to 40 mg/km for light-duty vehicles (mean: 7 mg/km), and from non-detectable to 118 mg/km for heavy-duty vehicles (mean: 19 mg/km). According to the 100-year Global Warming Potential of these greenhouse gases, these emissions corresponded to a range from negligible up to 9 g/km of CO2-equivalent for CH4 and from negligible up to 32 g/km of CO2-equivalent for N2O. Conclusions The higher contributors of CH4 were the two-stroke mopeds included in the L-category vehicles, while the higher emissions of N2O were found in the modern (Euro 5–6 or Euro V–VI) diesel light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Among them, vehicles complying with Euro 6 and Euro VI standard were associated to higher N2O emissions compared to those associated to Euro 5 and pre-Euro IV standards, which could be attributed to the introduction of the after-treatment systems designed to fulfill more stringent NOx standards. These updated emission factors and unique on its kind database represent a source of information for legislators and modelers to better assess the greenhouse gas emission reduction in the EU transport sector.

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Road vehicles - Supplementary grip devices for tyres of passenger cars and light duty vehicles

10.3403/bsen16662 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Road Vehicles ◽

Passenger Cars ◽

Light Duty ◽

Light Duty Vehicles

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Monte Carlo Simulation Methodology to Assess the Impact of Ambient Wind on Emissions from a Light-Commercial Vehicle Running on the Worldwide-Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC)

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14030661 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 661

Author(s):

Alexandros T. Zachiotis ◽

Evangelos G. Giakoumis

Keyword(s):

Monte Carlo Simulation ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Commercial Vehicle ◽

Ambient Wind ◽

Simulation Methodology ◽

Road Load ◽

Light Duty ◽

Light Commercial Vehicle ◽

Light Duty Vehicles ◽

The Impact

A Monte Carlo simulation methodology is suggested in order to assess the impact of ambient wind on a vehicle’s performance and emissions. A large number of random wind profiles is generated by implementing the Weibull and uniform statistical distributions for wind speed and direction, respectively. Wind speed data are drawn from eight cities across Europe. The vehicle considered is a diesel-powered, turbocharged, light-commercial vehicle and the baseline trip is the worldwide harmonized light-duty vehicles WLTC cycle. A detailed engine-mapping approach is used as the basis for the results, complemented with experimentally derived correction coefficients to account for engine transients. The properties of interest are (engine-out) NO and soot emissions, as well as fuel and energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Results from this study show that there is an aggregate increase in all properties, vis-à-vis the reference case (i.e., zero wind), if ambient wind is to be accounted for in road load calculation. Mean wind speeds for the different sites examined range from 14.6 km/h to 24.2 km/h. The average increase in the properties studied, across all sites, ranges from 0.22% up to 2.52% depending on the trip and the property (CO2, soot, NO, energy consumption) examined. Based on individual trip assessment, it was found that especially at high vehicle speeds where wind drag becomes the major road load force, CO2 emissions may increase by 28%, NO emissions by 22%, and soot emissions by 13% in the presence of strong headwinds. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the adverse effect of headwinds far exceeds the positive effect of tailwinds, thus explaining the overall increase in fuel/energy consumption as well as emissions, while also highlighting the shortcomings of the current certification procedure, which neglects ambient wind effects.

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Chemical characterization of PM2.5 emitted from China IV and China V light-duty vehicles in China

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147101 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 783 ◽

pp. 147101

Author(s):

Yanzhao Hao ◽

Shunxi Deng ◽

Zhaowen Qiu ◽

Zhenzhen Lu ◽

Hui Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Characterization ◽

Light Duty ◽

Light Duty Vehicles

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Revised Method for Calculating Departure Sight Distance at Two-Way Stop-Controlled (TWSC) Intersections

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.1177/03611981211031544 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 036119812110315

Author(s):

Essam Dabbour ◽

Said M. Easa

Keyword(s):

Traffic Safety ◽

Major Road ◽

Light Duty ◽

Sight Distance ◽

Data Loggers ◽

Global Positioning ◽

Actual Field ◽

System Data ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Light Duty Vehicles

This paper introduces realistic acceleration profiles for light-duty vehicles departing from rest at two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) intersections where minor roads (controlled by stop signs) intersect with uncontrolled major roads. The new profiles are based on current vehicle characteristics and driver behavior patterns. They are established based on actual field data collected using global positioning system data loggers that recorded the positional and speed data of various experimental vehicles starting from rest at TWSC intersections. Acceleration profiles are established in this paper and are used to develop a revised method for calculating the departure sight distance at TWSC intersections. Design tables were created to provide realistic sight distance values at TWSC intersections for different design speeds and number of lanes on the major road. It was found that the current values of intersection sight distance suggested by the design guides may be inadequate. Such values may force some approaching drivers on the major road to reduce their speeds or move to different traffic lanes to avoid conflicting with the departing vehicles. These maneuvers may have negative impacts on traffic safety. Therefore, implementing the revised method for calculating intersection sight distance, as presented in this paper, may ultimately reduce traffic collisions at TWSC intersections.

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