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Over the past decade, society’s concern for the state of the environment has increased. Several actions have been taken by governments, non-governmental organizations, public and private environmental and health agencies to limit pollutant emissions. Within this context, the control of vehicle emissions has become increasingly stringent. Emission limits have been substantially reduced, and the role of unregulated emissions is increasing in importance. Ammonia is the third most abundant nitrogen compound in the atmosphere. Ammonia emissions have received special attention due to their contribution to secondary particulate matter production in the forms of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4). The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of fuel sulfur content on ammonia emissions in a Euro III motorcycle.

Brazil is one of the biggest markets for motorcycles around the world. New emission legislation is taking place leading to the release of new motorcycles equipped with catalyst converters and electronic injection system. Although emission formation is quite understood regarding light duty vehicles, it is necessary to do further studies for motorcycles vehicles. This paper presents the results of an investigation regarding regulated and unregulated emissions (aldehydes and ammonia) from four 4-stroke gasoline motorcycles. Three motorcycles equipped with three-way catalytic converters and one EURO 1 motorcycle, without catalyst system, were tested on a chassis dynamometer according to the 97/24/EC drive cycle. Regulated emissions (CO, HC, and NOx) were measured with 7000 series Horiba benches and unregulated emissions were analyzed by a SESAM series AVL FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Analyzer), including pre- and post-catalytic converter data acquisition.

This paper reports and compares the performance of five motorcycles, four of them powered by Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and one by an Electric Engine (EE). The power grade of those vehicles represents more than 80% of Brazilian motorcycle fleet. Motorcycles are submitted to standard routines, in accordance with regulations established by PROMOT (Control of Air Pollution for Motorcycles and Similar Vehicles). Main output parameters allowed for the assessment of their energy performance in respect to the energy source, followed by their greenhouse gases emission potential due to CO2, CH4 and N2O. The paper presents regulated emissions results for CO, THC and NOx, provided by EE and ICE engines. Different ICE motorcycles are tested, and fueled by a range of ethanol/gasoline contents from 22 to 100%, allowing to analyze the influence of the renewable biofuel on the motorcycle energetic efficiency and emissions.

Motorcycle sales have increased consistently during the last decade mostly in developing countries, especially in the BRICS. Low cost and less fuel consumption comparing to cars associated to the economic growth are the main reason for such trend. Emission limits have become stricter and the use of gas after treatment devices is widely present in new models. Flex fuel motorcycles have now become available, but effects of the combination of diverse gasoline/ethanol blends on the emissions are still an open issue that requires further understanding. This paper presents the most recent results regarding regulated and unregulated emissions from a Flex Fuel motorcycle fuelled with 4 different gasoline/ethanol blends: E22, E61, E85 and 100% ethanol. Both regulated (CO, THC, NOx) and unregulated emissions (Aldehydes, NMHC, NH3, N2O) were studied.