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Increasing pressure on lowering vehicle emissions to meet stringent California and Federal 1993/1994 emission standards (TLEV) of 0.125 gpm NMOG, 3.4 gpm CO and 0.4 gpm NOx and future ULEV emission standards of 0.04 gpm NMOG, 1.7 gpm CO, and 0.2 gpm NOx has focused specific attention on the cold start characteristics of the vehicle's emission system, especially that of the catalyst. From test data it is evident that the major portion of the total HC and CO emissions occur within the first two minutes of the driving cycle. The use of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) is shown to be advantageous in lowering cold-start emissions during this portion of the drive cycle. This paper addresses the effect on emissions from the standpoint of EHC location, catalyst volume, and engine calibration in an overall emission system approach.

Laboratory and vehicle studies were carried out characterizing formaldehyde emissions from methanol fuels. Laboratory experiments focused on catalytic methanol oxidation activity and yield of formaldehyde as a function of temperature and feedgas composition. Pt and Pd catalysts gave the highest activity and lowest formaldehyde yield of a series of noble and base metal catalysts. Formaldehyde yields were lowest under stoichiometric or slightly rich conditions. Experiments carried out with thermally aged lead poisoned catalysts indicated at most about 5% conversion of methanol to formaldehyde, thus proving that catalytic partial oxidation of methanol is not a major source of tailpipe formaldehyde emissions.

Vehicle emissions have been measured and the results statistically evaluated for a vehicle test fleet consisting of four Escorts and four Explorers using both methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) at 1/32 gram Mn/gallon and clear (MMT free) fuel. The fleet was divided in half -- half with MMT and half without MMT doped fuel. This interim report covers emission measurement results at 5,000; 15,000; and 50,000 miles of exposure to MMT doped fuel. The planned mileage accumulation is for 100,000 miles of durability and exposure to MMT based fuel. A modified paired t-test is used to analyze the emission data obtained from all the fleet vehicles. The statistical evaluation of both feedgas and tailpipe emissions indicated that the use of MMT is detrimental to emissions of HC at both the 15,000 mile and 50,000 mile levels of MMT exposure. Indications also are as mileage is accumulated, the worse the effect on HC by MMT.