NOx, NH3, N2O and PN real driving emissions from a Euro VI heavy-duty vehicle. Impact of regulatory on-road test conditions on emissions

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2017-12, Vol.609, p.546-555
• Main Authors: Mendoza-Villafuerte, Pablo, Suarez-Bertoa, Ricardo, Giechaskiel, Barouch, Riccobono, Francesco, Bulgheroni, Claudia, Astorga, Covadonga, Perujo, Adolfo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonia; Nitrogen oxides; Nitrous oxide; Particle number; PEMS; Vehicle emissions
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.168

Euro VI emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) introduced for the first time limits for solid particle number (PN) and NH3 emissions. EU regulation also includes a Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS) based test at type approval, followed by in-service conformity (ISC) testing. A comprehensive study on the real-time on-road emissions of NOx, NH3, N2O and PN from a Euro VI HDV equipped with a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), a Diesel Particle Filter (DPF), a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system and an Ammonia Oxidation Catalyst (AMOX) is presented. Our analyses revealed that up to 85% of the NOx emissions measured during the tests performed are not taken into consideration if the boundary conditions for data exclusion set in the current legislation are applied. Moreover, it was found that the highest NOx emissions were measured during urban operation. Analyses show that a large fraction urban of operation is not considered when 20% power threshold as boundary condition is applied. They also show that cold start emissions account for a large fraction of the total NOx emitted. Low emissions of PN (2.8×1010 to 6.5×1010#/kWh) and NH3 (1.0 to 2.2ppm) were obtained during the on-road tests, suggesting effectiveness of the vehicle's after-treatment (DPF and AMOX). Finally, a comparison between speed-based (as currently defined by Euro VI legislation) and land-use-based (using Geographic Information System (GIS)) calculation of shares of operation was performed. Results suggest that using GIS to categorize the shares of operation could result in different interpretations depending on the criteria adopted for their definition. [Display omitted] •Current boundary conditions lead to underestimation of NOx emissions.•High NOx emissions were observed in urban environments.•PN, N2O and NH3 can be measured during on-road testing.•Low emissions of PN and NH3 were measured during the on-road tests.•Heavy-duty vehicles may present substantial N2O emissions.