Reducing vehicle fuel consumption and exhaust emissions from the application of a green-safety device under real driving

Vehicle emissions have a significantly negative impact on climate change, air quality and human health. Drivers of vehicles are the last major and often overlooked factor that determines vehicle performance. Eco-driving is a relatively low-cost and immediate measure to reduce fuel consumption and emissions significantly. This paper reports investigation of the effects of an on-board green-safety device on fuel consumption and emissions for both experienced and inexperienced drivers. A portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) was installed on a diesel light goods vehicle (LGV) to measure real-driving emissions (RDE), including total hydrocarbons (THC), CO CO₂, NO, NO₂ and particulate matter (PM). In addition, driving parameters (e.g. vehicle speed and acceleration) and environmental parameters (e.g. ambient temperature, humidity and pressure) were recorded in the experiments. The experimental results were evaluated using the Vehicle Specific Power (VSP) methodology to understand the effects of driving behavior on fuel consumption and emissions. The results indicated that driving behavior was improved for both experienced and inexperienced drivers after activation of the on-board green-safety device. In addition, the average time spent was shifted from higher to lower VSP modes by reducing excessive speed, and aggressive accelerations and decelerations. For experienced drivers, the average fuel consumption and NO, NO₂ and soot emissions were reduced by 5%, 56%, 39% and 35%, respectively, with the on-board green-safety device. For inexperienced drivers, the average reductions were 6%, 65%, 50% and 19%, respectively. Moreover, the long-term formed habits of experienced drivers are harder to be changed to accept the assistance of the green-safety device, whereas inexperienced drivers are likely to be more receptive to change and improve their driving behaviors.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148602
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721036743
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00489697
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Ng, Elvin C Y
  • Huang, Yuhan
  • Hong, Guang
  • Zhou, John L
  • Surawski, Nic C
• Publication Date: 2021-11-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 148602
• Serial:
  • Science of the Total Environment
  • Volume: 793
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0048-9697
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00489697

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Diesel engine exhaust gases; Diesel engines; Driver experience; Driver vehicle interfaces; Ecodriving; Fuel consumption
• Identifier Terms: Portable Emissions Measurement System
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01780480
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2021 2:58PM