IPA demo vehicle partnerships

In recent years, IPA had joined forces with the Association for Emissions Control by Catalyst (AECC) and other partners to develop a range of demo vehicles that showcase the feasibility of reaching ultra-low pollutant levels by combining state-of-the art emissions control systems.

Gasoline ultra-low emissions demo vehicle

The latest addition is a gasoline demonstrator vehicle achieving ultra-low pollutant levels under a wide range of driving conditions with a combination of catalytic converters in close-coupled and underfloor position, a catalysed particulate filter and advanced emission system controls. The project aims to show how we can further reduce the impact of gasoline vehicles on climate change.

In a video, AECC’s Technical and Scientific Manager Joachim Demuynck outlines how to further reduce the impact of gasoline vehicles on climate change through the use of sustainable renewable fuels.  

The process for a revision of the CO2 emission standards for cars and vans is ongoing. The EU Green Deal zero-emissions transport objective can best be achieved by a truly technology-neutral CO2 emissions standard for cars and vans. The Tank-to-Wheel approach currently limits the CO2 reductions that can otherwise be obtained by using hybrid ICE technologies with drop-in sustainable renewable fuels in addition to the ongoing electrification of the cars and vans fleets. Emission control technologies fully operating in combination with these drop-in sustainable renewable fuels enable ultra-low pollutant emissions while contributing towards net-zero CO2 emissions. 

Our technical partner AECC is studying the performance of the demonstrator vehicle using sustainable renewable fuels, for example e-gasoline. This sustainable renewable fuel is produced from captured CO2 and renewable electricity. The engine and the emission control technology are compatible with this sustainable and renewable fuel and the vehicle still achieves ultra-low pollutant emissions as with regular petrol. Despite the many EU incentives supporting the use of these fuels, a specific framework, for example, a voluntary crediting scheme, will be needed to support the development of fuels with a low carbon footprint. 

The Association for Emissions Control by Catalyst (AECC) and IPA already demonstrated this on three demonstration programmes. The conclusions of these demonstration programmes are:

  • It is possible to widen testing parameters to better capture emissions resulting from driving in different conditions
  • The technology required to further reduce emissions from light- and heavy-duty vehicles is already available
  • This technology could be fitted to new cars at relatively low cost
  • Well-to-Wheel CO2 can be reduced simultaneously using sustainable renewable fuels

This is summarised in a fact sheet that can be found here.

In the context of the new Euro 7 regulation,  AECC believes it is important to focus on real-world driving and lifetime pollutant emissions compliance to further reduce the impact of vehicles on air quality. 

AECC remains committed to contribute to development of the secondary legislation. A regulatory framework is required that addresses the need for lower pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions as well as incentivizing the use of sustainable renewable fuels. Given the weak ambition of Euro 7, AECC calls on the European Commission to consider reviewing its effectiveness and appropriateness to meet future EU air quality rules. AECC feels such review should as well be linked to the timing of light- and heavy-duty vehicles’ CO2 emissions standards reviews. Particularly as the agreed CO2 standards influenced the outcome of the Euro 7 discussions, whereas climate change and air quality are two distinct topics that can be addressed simultaneously.

Ultra-low NOx emissions diesel demonstrator car

At the 40th Vienna Motor Symposium in 2019, AECC and IPA, together with  the engineering company IAV, were able to present the results of their programme that achieved “ultra-low” diesel emissions.

The car performed very well in conditions where NOx emissions are usually higher such as in the city of Berlin, on the German Autobahn with speed limits up to 160 km / h, and in challenging hilly conditions.

Wanting to make best use of the whole system, AECC used a modular approach (see diagram below) when designing its after-treatment system. The first section of after-treatment technology in the exhaust converted NOx into harmless nitrogen in slow city driving, where engine and exhaust temperatures are relatively low. The second section enabled low emissions at higher temperatures, including those generated during fast motorway driving.

This video demonstrates just how low the emissions are, thanks to this smart combination of existing components and technologies. The demo car cuts emissions at each stage of the emissions control system all the way up to the tailpipe.

Heavy-duty demo vehicle

Heavy-duty demo vehicle shows feasibility of ultra-low NOx emissions

IPA, AECC, and their partners have been running a heavy-duty demo vehicle to demonstrate that ultra-low NOx emissions are technically feasible in a wide range of driving conditions. AECC has improved the integration of proven emission control technologies on the demonstrator vehicle in a commercially feasible manner. As a result, the demo truck keeps regulated pollutants and also non-regulated emissions such as ammonia, nitrous oxide and ultra-fine particulates under control. Additionally, the vehicle project shows this is possible with minimum impact on CO2 emissions. The AECC heavy-duty demo vehicle will also be tested with 100% renewable fuel, to show the potential CO2 emissions reduction on life cycle assessment basis. 

In this video AECC’s EU Technical Affairs Manager Pablo Mendoza Villafuerte outlines how the Association is reducing heavy-duty vehicle emissions through its heavy-duty demonstration project and continuous innovation of emission controls.