THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUTOMOBILE EMISSION STANDARDS AND FUEL CONSUMPTION

In reviewing motor vehicle emission standards and emission control systems for the years 1963 to 1977, it was found that emission control systems from 1963 to 1972 produced a major reduction of emissions at a modest cost and very little, if any, fuel penalty. From 1963 to 1967 crankcase controls, whereby emissions are piped back to the engine to be burned, were employed. Controls from 1968 to 1970 consisted of leaning out the carburetor and making minor design changes, while from 1971 to 1972 they consisted of venting the fuel tank and carburetor to a carbon canister to collect evaporative emissions. The costs for these controls for the three periods indicated were 3, 50, and 40 dollars/car, respectively, with fuel savings of 3%, 3%, and 1%, respectively. Beginning with the 1973 model cars an exhaust gas recirculation system was introduced and led to fuel penalties of 5 to 10%. It is estimated that controls for the 1975 standards (catalytic oxidation catalysts) will increase fuel penalties 10% and meeting 1976 standards (e.g., the Wankel engine) may require as much as a 30% fuel penalty. In view of this increase in fuel consumption at a time when every effort is needed for fuel conservation, the value of the 1976 emission control standards is questioned.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceeding of the First Annual AIChe Southwestern Ohio Conference on Energy and the Environment held in Oxford, Ohio, October 25-26, 1973.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Institute of Chemical Engineers

  140 East Monument Avenue
  Dayton, OH  United States  45402
• Authors:
  • Pattison, J N
• Conference:
  • Proceeding of the First Annual AIChe Southwestern Ohio Conference on Energy and the Environment held in Oxford, Ohio, October 25-26, 1973.
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 134

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Emission control systems; Energy; Fuel consumption; Wankel engines
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00095046
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1975 12:00AM