Effects of Mid-Level Ethanol Blends on Conventional Vehicle Emissions

Conference · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2723· OSTI ID:981957

Knoll, K; West, B; Huff, S; Thomas, J; Orban, J; Cooper, C

Tests were conducted in 2008 on 16 late-model conventional vehicles (1999-2007) to determine short-term effects of mid-level ethanol blends on performance and emissions. Vehicle odometer readings ranged from 10,000 to 100,000 miles, and all vehicles conformed to federal emissions requirements for their federal certification level. The LA92 drive cycle, also known as the Unified Cycle, was used for testing because it more accurately represents real-world acceleration rates and speeds than the Federal Test Procedure. Test fuels were splash-blends of up to 20 volume percent ethanol with federal certification gasoline. Both regulated and unregulated air-toxic emissions were measured. For the 16-vehicle fleet, increasing ethanol content resulted in reductions in average composite emissions of both nonmethane hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide and increases in average emissions of ethanol and aldehydes.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 981957
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-540-46570; TRN: US201012%%1403
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 1; Related Information: SAE Paper No. 2009-01-2723; Posted with permission. Presented at the 2009 SAE Powertrain, Fuels, and Lubricants Meeting, 2-4 November 2009, San Antonio, Texas
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCELERATION
ALDEHYDES
AUGMENTATION
CARBON MONOXIDE
CERTIFICATION
ETHANOL
FEDERAL TEST PROCEDURE
FUELS
GASOLINE
HYDROCARBONS
PERFORMANCE
TESTING
UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES
VEHICLES
VOLUME
ALTERNATIVE FUELS
ENGINE EXHAUST
ETHANOL BLENDS
VEHICLE EMISSIONS
Transportation