Development of Mashhad driving cycle for passenger car to model vehicle exhaust emissions calibrated using on-board measurements

The increase in the number of vehicles causes the air pollution in cities to be increased. Thus, evaluation of the actual level of traffic emissions has gained more interest. Driving cycle is one of the most important parameters affecting exhaust emissions. In this study, driving cycle on arterial roads in Mashhad, Iran was compared with standard driving cycles in Europe and America. After development of the driving cycle, vehicle exhaust emissions were estimated by the international vehicle emissions (IVE) model. In order to correct the emissions obtained from the model, on-board vehicle emissions were obtained. The emission factors estimated for Mashhad were compared with those reported for Beijing, Pune and Mexico. The speed-time data of vehicle was obtained in two weeks for two different routes. The driving cycle showed the average speed in Mashhad was significantly different with that in the European and American driving cycles. The results of the model showed CO in vehicle exhaust constituted the most emission of criteria pollutants. Moreover, ammonia and benzene were the main toxic gases in vehicle exhaust, respectively. By considering the vehicle exhaust emission factors, CO produced in Mashhad was 10.5, 30.69 and 25.67% more than Pune, Mexico and Beijing, respectively.