Reduction of Ghg Emissions: Air Quality Improvement in Urban Areas

Abstract

This paper focuses on the impact that urban traffic has on the environment. The study characterizes the global effect of GHG emissions, including the ecologic evaluation and the characterization, normalization, and evaluation factor. The work makes a detailed survey of the different modes of driving and their influence on engine performance as one of the principal causes of gas emissions during the combustion process. The article analyzes six types of vehicles equipped with different engine configurations: diesel and gasoline, GLP and GNC, hybrid electric, and plug-in hybrid electric. Simulation of the driving mode under various operational conditions for every type of engine results in energy consumption, thus, in GHG emissions, carbon dioxide and monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and Sulphur dioxide. The study concludes that a reduction in vehicle speed, thus in the engine revolutions, has positive effects on engine combustion and gasses emissions, which is reduced by 27.5%. The study also concludes that the limitation in driving mode, avoiding sharp and sudden acceleration, may reduce up to 45% of GHG emissions. The changes applied in the driving mode improve the air quality in the urban environment, reducing the content of GHG from 39% to 61%.

Reduction of GHG Emissions: Air Quality Improvement in Urban Areas

“…To determine the time factor, we use the database from previous developed experimental studies on different commercial hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles [52][53][54][55]. The studies analyze the electric mode operational time in hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for different route types, urban, peripheral and intercity, and for variable driving conditions, vehicle speed and driving pattern.…”

“…. Time factor for HEV and PHEV in urban route[52][53][54][55] HEV PHEV Vehicle speed → Low Medium High Low Medium High distance and τ the corresponding time. C r and η r are the recovery energy coefficient and battery charge efficiency.…”