Detecting candidate high NOx emitting light commercial vehicles using vehicle emission remote sensing.

Vehicle emission remote sensing devices have been widely used for monitoring and assessing the real-world emission performance of vehicles. They are also well-suited to identify candidate high emitting vehicles as remote sensing surveys measure the on-road, real-driving emissions (RDE) of a high proportion of the operational vehicle fleet passing through a testing site. This study uses the Gumbel distribution to characterize the fuel-specific NOx emission rates (g·kg-1) from diesel vans (formally referred to as light commercial vehicles or LCVs) and screen candidate high emitting vehicles. Van emission trends of four European countries (Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) from Euro 3 to Euro 6a/b have been studied, and the impact of road grade on candidate Euro 6a/b high-emitters is also evaluated. The measurements of Euro 6a/b fleets from four countries are pooled together, and a consistent 4% of candidate high-emitters are found in both class II and class III Euro 6a/b vans, accounting for an estimated 24% and 21% total NOx emissions respectively. The pooled four country data is differentiated by vehicle models and manufacture groups. Engine downsizing of Euro 6a/b class II vans is suspected to worsen the emission performance when vehicles are driven under high engine load. The VW Group is found to be the manufacture with cleanest NOx emission performance in the Euro 6a/b fleets. By distinguishing high-emitters from normally behaving vehicles, a more robust description of fleet behaviour can be provided and high-emitting vehicles targeted for further testing by plume chasing or in an inspection garage. If the vehicle is found to have a faulty, deteriorated or tampered emission after-treatment system, the periodic vehicle inspection safety and environmental performance certificate could be revoked.

Real-world CO2 and NOX emissions from refrigerated vans.

Refrigerated vans used for home deliveries are attracting attention as online grocery shopping in the UK is expanding rapidly and contributes to the increasing greenhouse gas (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions. These vans are typically 3.5-tonne gross weight vehicles equipped with temperature-controlled units called Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs), which are usually powered off the vehicles' engine. It is obvious that vehicles with added weight of TRUs consume more fuel and emit more NOX, let alone the vehicles' diesel engines are also powering the refrigeration units, which further elevates the emissions. This research uses an instantaneous vehicle emission model PHEM (version 13.0.3.21) to simulate the real-world emissions from refrigerated vans. A validation of PHEM is included using data from laboratory (chassis dynamometer) tests over a realistic driving profile (the London Drive Cycle), to assess its ability to quantify the impact of changing vehicle weights and carrying loads. The impact of the TRU weight, greater frontal area increasing aerodynamic drag and refrigeration load on van emissions is then estimated by PHEM. The influence of ambient temperature, cargo weight and driving condition on CO2 and NOX emission from refrigerated van are also assessed. Overall CO2 emissions of vans with TRUs are found to be 15% higher than standard vehicles, with NOX emissions estimated to be elevated by 18%. This confirms the need to take into account the impact of additional engine load when predicting van emissions in this and other sectors such as ambulances which are relatively heavy, high powered vehicles. Moreover, findings of the impact of TRUs on fuel consumptions can be used to optimize fuel-saving strategies for refrigerated vans and test cases for alternative low- or zero-emission technologies, to support progress to a sustainable net-zero society.