Real-world NOx emissions from heavy-duty diesel, natural gas, and diesel hybrid electric vehicles of different vocations on California roadways

This study assessed the real-world nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from 50 heavy-duty vehicles of different vocations and engine technologies using portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS). This is one of the most comprehensive in-use emissions studies conducted to date, which played a key role in the development of CARB's (California Air Recourses Board) updated EMission FACtor (EMFAC) model, especially for natural gas vehicles. In-use emissions testing was performed on school and transit buses, refuse haulers, goods movement vehicles, and delivery vehicles while were driven over their normal operating routes in the South Coast Air Basin. Engine technologies included diesel engines with and without selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, compressed natural gas (CNG) engines and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) engines, and SCR-equipped diesel hybrid electric vehicles. For most vehicles, the in-use NOx emissions were higher than the certification standards for the engine. Diesel vehicles generally showed higher brake-specific NOx emissions compared to the CNG vehicles. NOx emissions were strongly dependent on the SCR temperature, with SCR temperatures below 200 degrees C resulting in elevate brake-specific NOx. The 0.02 g/bhp-hr certified CNG vehicles showed the largest reductions in NOx emissions. The diesel hybrid electric vehicles showed important distance-specific NOx benefits compared to the conventional diesel vehicles, but higher emissions compared to the CNG and LPG vehicles. Overall, average NOx reductions were 75%, 94%, 65%, 79%, respectively, for the 0.2 CNG, 0.02 CNG, diesel hybrid electric, and LPG vehicles compared to diesel vehicles, due in part to some diesel vehicles with particularly high emissions, indicating that the widespread implementation of advanced technology and alternative fuel vehicles could provide important NOx reductions and a path for meeting air quality targets in California and elsewhere. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study assessed real-world NOx emissions from 50 heavy-duty vehicles of different types, showing that diesel vehicles generally exceed certification standards while CNG vehicles have lower brake-specific NOx emissions. NOx emissions were found to be strongly dependent on SCR temperature, with lower temperatures resulting in increased emissions.