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The evolution of European passenger car characteristics 2000–2010 and its effects on real-world CO2 emissions and CO2 reduction policy

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  • Fontaras, Georgios
  • Dilara, Panagiota

Abstract

Τhe European passenger car certification test constitutes the basis for implementation and progress monitoring of the current CO2 abatement policy. The certification test is performed over a single driving cycle, (New European Driving Cycle-NEDC). The dynamics of NEDC and the fact that it does not account for other factors results in CO2 emissions which are non-representative of real-world performance. Using available data from the CO2 monitoring database and literature and employing simple vehicle dynamics model and stochastic techniques, this paper attempts to calculate the average gasoline and diesel passenger car characteristics, investigate how the evolution of certain vehicle characteristics affects real world vehicle performance and to combine the above in order to evaluate the progress in terms of real world emissions and possible correction of existing emission factors. The analysis reveals that reductions over NEDC are generally reflected over real world. There were indications particularly for diesel vehicles that the NEDC—real world CO2 emissions gap gradually widens and that existing emission factors should be amended accordingly. Currently this difference between certification and real world emission is estimated between 20 and 25%. The benefit of diesel vehicles compared to their gasoline equivalents in terms of CO2 emissions appears to reduce.

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  • Fontaras, Georgios & Dilara, Panagiota, 2012. "The evolution of European passenger car characteristics 2000–2010 and its effects on real-world CO2 emissions and CO2 reduction policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 719-730.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:49:y:2012:i:c:p:719-730
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2012.07.021
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    12. Benajes, Jesús & García, Antonio & Monsalve-Serrano, Javier & Lago Sari, Rafael, 2018. "Fuel consumption and engine-out emissions estimations of a light-duty engine running in dual-mode RCCI/CDC with different fuels and driving cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 19-30.
    13. Fontaras, Georgios & Grigoratos, Theodoros & Savvidis, Dimitrios & Anagnostopoulos, Konstantinos & Luz, Raphael & Rexeis, Martin & Hausberger, Stefan, 2016. "An experimental evaluation of the methodology proposed for the monitoring and certification of CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles in Europe," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 354-364.
    14. Skeete, Jean-Paul, 2017. "Examining the role of policy design and policy interaction in EU automotive emissions performance gaps," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 373-381.
    15. Zhang, Shaojun & Wu, Ye & Liu, Huan & Huang, Ruikun & Un, Puikei & Zhou, Yu & Fu, Lixin & Hao, Jiming, 2014. "Real-world fuel consumption and CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions by driving conditions for light-duty passenger vehicles in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 247-257.
    16. Sajib Chakraborty & Hai-Nam Vu & Mohammed Mahedi Hasan & Dai-Duong Tran & Mohamed El Baghdadi & Omar Hegazy, 2019. "DC-DC Converter Topologies for Electric Vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Fast Charging Stations: State of the Art and Future Trends," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-43, April.
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    18. Fu, Rao & Jin, Gui & Chen, Jinyue & Ye, Yuyao, 2021. "The effects of poverty alleviation investment on carbon emissions in China based on the multiregional input–output model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
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