Journal Article
Certification Procedures for Advanced Technology Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Evaluating Test Methods and Opportunities for Global Alignment
2012-09-24
2012-01-1986
Advanced technology heavy-duty vehicles such as hybrids present unique regulatory challenges. Hybrids employ an additional energy source in conjunction with an internal combustion engine for motive power, and the interactions between the engine and the hybrid components affect criteria pollutant emissions and fuel consumption. Often, an engine installed in a hybrid vehicle will operate very differently from the same engine installed in a conventional vehicle driven over the same route. One of the difficulties in integrating vehicles such as hybrids into regulatory programs is developing the proper certification test procedures for criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions so that these advanced technologies and vehicles are evaluated fairly and consistently as compared to their conventional counterparts. This paper seeks to inform policy makers of the alternatives for moving toward more holistic approaches to testing and certifying powertrain systems and complete vehicles.