Method for Translation of In-Use Fuel Consumption and NOX Emissions Between Different Heavy-Duty Vehicle Routes

Portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS) are used to perform in-use measurements for emissions inventory and regulatory applications. PEMS data represent real world conditions more accurately than chassis dynamometer or engine dynamometer testing, arguably being the most realistic method of determining exhaust emissions over a certain driving route. However, measured emissions and fuel consumption depend strongly on both the route followed and the traffic situation that the vehicle encounters. A tool for translation of emissions and fuel consumption between diverse types of vehicle activity is required. The purpose of this paper is to assess the possibility of using route-averaged properties (kinematic parameters) for translation of fuel consumption and NOx emissions for a set of eighteen heavy-duty vehicles operating over up to eight different driving routes. A linear model developed for heavy-duty vehicle chassis dynamometer data modeling has been extended to in-use heavy-duty vehicle data. Two approaches were implemented; the first approach mimicked the prior chassis dynamometer work by incorporating average vehicle speed and average positive acceleration and the second approach incorporated road grade in a characteristic power parameter. The end result is a simple method which was shown to be accurate for estimation of fuel consumption (within 5% relative error) and NOx emissions (within 12% relative error) for over-the-road vehicles over “unseen” roads or traffic situations, without the need to perform additional over-the-road tests.