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By almost any definition, technology has penetrated the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet significantly in conjunction with the increased stringency of fuel economy and GHG emissions regulations. The physical presence of advanced technology components provides one indication of the efforts taken to reduce emissions, but that alone does not provide a complete measure of the benefits of a particular technology application.

As part of an ongoing assessment of the potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of light-duty vehicles, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented an updated methodology for applying the results of full vehicle simulations to the range of vehicles across the entire fleet.

From its database of engine and vehicle benchmarking data EPA identified the most efficient, engines, transmissions and vehicle technologies, and then used ALPHA to model a midsized car incorporating combinations of these existing technologies which minimize GHG emissions. In a similar analysis, ALPHA was used to estimate the GHG emissions from future low-GHG technology packages potentially available in model year 2025. ...The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) tool was created to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from light-duty vehicles[1]. ALPHA is a physics-based, forward-looking, full vehicle computer simulation capable of analyzing various vehicle types with different powertrain technologies, showing realistic vehicle behavior, and auditing of all internal energy flows in the model. ...In preparation for the midterm evaluation of the light-duty GHG emission standards for model years 2022-2025, EPA is refining and revalidating ALPHA using newly acquired data from model year 2013-2015 engines and vehicles.

As GHG and fuel economy regulations of light-duty vehicles have become more stringent, advanced emissions reduction technology has extensively penetrated the US light-duty vehicle fleet. ...The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has previously used its Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) full vehicle simulation tool to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of light-duty vehicles. ALPHA contains a library of benchmarked powertrain components that can be matched to specific vehicles to explore GHG emissions performance. ...ALPHA contains a library of benchmarked powertrain components that can be matched to specific vehicles to explore GHG emissions performance. Recently, EPA has updated the ALPHA model with key changes including the addition of new models for electrified vehicle architectures and a robust structure which allows batch processing of large numbers of simulations.

The interest in Natural Gas (NG) as alternative fuel for transportation is constantly growing, mostly due to its large availability and lower environmental impact with respect to gasoline or diesel fuel. In this scenario, the application of the Dual Fuel (DF) Diesel- Natural Gas (NG) combustion concept to light duty engines can represent an important route to increment the diffusion of natural gas use. Many studies have proven the benefits of DF with respect to conventional diesel combustion in terms of CO2, NOx, PM and PN emissions, with the main drawback of high unburned hydrocarbon, mainly at low/partial engine loads. This last aspect still prevents the application of DF mode to small displacement engines. In the present work, a 2.0 L Euro 5 compliant diesel engine, equipped with an advanced electronic closed-loop combustion control (CLCC) system, has been set up to operate in DF mode and tested on a dyno test bench.

We present a parametric analysis of electric vehicle (EV) adoption rates and the corresponding contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction in the US light-duty vehicle (LDV) fleet through 2050. The analysis is performed with a system dynamics based model of the supply-demand interactions among the fleet, its fuels, and the corresponding primary energy sources. ...Widespread EV adoption can have noticeable impact on petroleum consumption and GHG emissions by the LDV fleet. However, EVs alone cannot drive compliance with the most aggressive GHG emission reduction targets, even as the electricity source mix shifts away from coal and towards natural gas. ...However, EVs alone cannot drive compliance with the most aggressive GHG emission reduction targets, even as the electricity source mix shifts away from coal and towards natural gas.

In this analysis we assess the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of four types of vehicles which might play a role in achieving future emission reductions: vehicles using compressed natural gas (CNG), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), mild hybrid CNG vehicles and range extended BEVs. ...The calculation results are found to be quite robust: The BEV and the mild hybrid CNG vehicle similarly show very low GHG emissions within all scenarios whereas the pure CNG vehicle always ranks the worst. In an additional scenario we also assessed the influence of an improved electricity generation with lower emissions in the future. ...We conclude that the introduction of BEVs is an effective measure to reduce GHG emissions in the transport sector of the future. However, mild hybrid CNG vehicles seem to be a very practicable solution for mobility with less GHG emissions today and in the nearer future.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) tool was created to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from light-duty vehicles. ALPHA is a physics-based, forward-looking, full vehicle computer simulation capable of analyzing various vehicle types with different powertrain technologies, showing realistic vehicle behavior, and auditing of internal energy flows in the model. ...In preparation for the midterm evaluation (MTE) of the 2017-2025 light-duty GHG emissions rule, ALPHA has been updated utilizing newly acquired data from model year 2013-2016 engines and vehicles. ...Simulations conducted with ALPHA provide data on the effectiveness of various GHG reduction technologies, and reveal synergies that exist between technologies. The ALPHA model has been validated against a variety of vehicles with different powertrain configurations and GHG reduction technologies.

This paper quantifies the potential of electric propulsion systems to reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the 2030 U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet. The propulsion systems under consideration include gasoline hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), fuel-cell hybrid vehicles (FCVs), and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). ...Well-to-wheel energy and GHG emissions of future vehicle technologies were estimated by integrating the vehicle technology evaluation with assessments of different fuel pathways. ...However, continued reliance on fossil-fuels without effective carbon capture and sequestration for producing electricity and hydrogen constrain the GHG emission and energy reductions to about 60% below that of present-day spark-ignition technology.

Hybrid technology has the potential to enable dramatic reductions in greenhouse gases (GHG), such as the California goal of reducing GHG by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. As a result it is expected that hybrid systems will occupy a growing proportion of the market. ...In this presentation, Ricardo will present a process for evaluating the impact that a hybrid system which has been optimised to minimise GHG emission over a specified drive-cycle will have on the effectiveness of engine OBD monitors. ...The optimisation process generates torque split, mode and gear changes required to minimise GHG emissions. This optimal engine-transmission-machine on-time profile is automatically analysed to generate the impact on the engine OBD system.

Methane in natural gas is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) and must be monitored and controlled to minimize GHG emissions. In-use GHG emissions are commonly estimated from emission factors based on steady state engine operation, but these do not consider transient operation which has been noted to affect other pollutants including PM and NOx. ...However, the marine vessel considered here, operated at steady load approximately 91% of the time and the transient CH4 emissions will have only a negligible impact on the total in-use GHG emission (1.7% increase). This indicates that while transient operation does affect CH4 emissions, the uncertainty introduced in using steady state emissions factors for the considered load cycles is negligible for ships that mostly operate at steady load.

Use of renewable energies in vehicle electrification, including hydroelectric and photovoltaic energies, currently 39% of the generation mix, and gasoline usage reduction reduces GHG emissions of the country. The EV scenario; however, increases the GHG emissions of the subcompact vehicle by 22%, whereas this scenario reduces the emissions of the mid-size and the light-duty truck by 25% and 47%, respectively. ...The system boundary includes both the renewable and nonrenewable energy sources available in Chile and well-to-pump energy consumptions and GHG emissions due to Li mining and Li-ion battery manufacturing. All the major input data required for TEA and LCA were generated using Autonomie vehicle modeling software. ...The electrification of compact, mid-size, and a light duty truck, reduce the nationwide GHG emissions by 27%, 47%, and 37%, respectively, for the HEV scenario. Use of renewable energies in vehicle electrification, including hydroelectric and photovoltaic energies, currently 39% of the generation mix, and gasoline usage reduction reduces GHG emissions of the country.

The Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis tool (ALPHA) was created by EPA to evaluate the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of Light-Duty (LD) vehicles. ALPHA is a physics-based, forward-looking, full vehicle computer simulator capable of analyzing various vehicle types combined with different powertrain technologies. ...The ALPHA tool was used to evaluate technology effectiveness and off-cycle technologies such as air-conditioning, electrical load reduction technology and road load reduction technologies of conventional, non-hybrid vehicles for the Midterm Evaluation of the 2017-2025 LD GHG rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ). ...The developed 48 V mild hybrid electric vehicle model can be used to estimate the GHG emissions and fuel economy of 48 V mild hybrid electric vehicles over the EPA regulatory drive cycles and to estimate off-cycle GHG emissions.

Unless emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) are stringently regulated or gasoline prices more than double, gasoline powered internal combustion engines will continue to dominate the light duty fleet. ...CNG cars have low emissions, including GHG and the fuel is less expensive than gasoline. Biomass ethanol can be renewable and have no net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

In addition to NOX emissions, greenhouse gas (GHG), CO2 and methane emissions regulations from heavy-duty engines are also becoming more stringent. ...Results from this study demonstrate a potential pathway to achieving ultra-low NOX emissions and future GHG Phase 2 standards on heavy-duty vehicles.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has collected a variety of engine and vehicle test data to assess the effectiveness of new automotive technologies in meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria emission standards and to monitor their behavior in real world operation. EPA’s Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) tool was created to estimate GHG emissions from vehicles using various combinations of advanced technologies and has been refined using data from testing conducted at EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory. ...EPA’s Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) tool was created to estimate GHG emissions from vehicles using various combinations of advanced technologies and has been refined using data from testing conducted at EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.

The Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) tool was created by EPA to evaluate the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of Light-Duty (LD) vehicles [1]. ALPHA is a physics-based, forward-looking, full vehicle computer simulation capable of analyzing various vehicle types combined with different powertrain technologies. ...As a result of the model refinements and in preparation for the mid-term evaluation of the 2017-2025 LD GHG rule, we are revalidating the model with newly acquired vehicle data. This paper presents the benchmarking, modeling and continued testing of a 2013 Chevy Malibu 1LS.

The results concern WTW non renewable energy consumptions, GHG emissions and local pollutant emissions. Local pollutant have a lower impact in the Natural Gas pathway than in the gasoline or diesel oil pathways. ...As a conclusion, the potential GHG emissions reduction derived from the European objective of 10% contribution of Natural Gas in the energy mix for transport sector is investigated. ...Related GHG emissions reduction could reach 4,5 Mt CO2 equivalent in 2010 in France, which represents around 30% of target of the total GHG emissions reduction supposed to be achieved in France in the transport sector by 2010.

The well-to-wheel greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use of selected alternative vehicles are compared to those of a conventional gasoline vehicle.

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) tool was created to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from light-duty vehicles. ALPHA is a physics-based, forward-looking, full vehicle computer simulation capable of analyzing various vehicle types with different powertrain technologies, showing realistic vehicle behavior, and auditing of all energy flows in the model. ...In preparation for the midterm evaluation (MTE) of the 2017-2025 light-duty GHG emissions rule, ALPHA has been refined and revalidated using newly acquired data from model year 2013-2016 engines and vehicles. ...A simple model based only on a steady-state fuel map will yield fuel consumption and GHG emissions lower than what is measured during a chassis dynamometer test due to a variety of factors present during transient operation.