On-road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in Euro 6c and 6d diesel-powered cars
<p>Real-world vehicle emissions measurement methods were developed to bridge the gap between laboratory tests and actual on-road emissions, including the variability in vehicles, drivers, and environmental conditions. The on-road chasing method is a cost-effective approach capable of capturing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9113/2025/acp-25-9113-2025.pdf |
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| author | I. Ježek Brecelj A. Gregorič A. Gregorič L. Zgonik T. Rutar M. Ivančič B. Alföldy G. Močnik G. Močnik M. Rigler |
| author_facet | I. Ježek Brecelj A. Gregorič A. Gregorič L. Zgonik T. Rutar M. Ivančič B. Alföldy G. Močnik G. Močnik M. Rigler |
| author_sort | I. Ježek Brecelj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Real-world vehicle emissions measurement methods were developed to bridge the gap between laboratory tests and actual on-road emissions, including the variability in vehicles, drivers, and environmental conditions. The on-road chasing method is a cost-effective approach capable of capturing emissions from numerous vehicles. While it has been used extensively to measure truck emissions, it has not been applied systematically to diesel- and gasoline-powered cars. This study addresses that gap by comparing data from three on-road chasing campaigns conducted in 2011, 2017, and 2023 to evaluate the impact of emissions control technologies and regulatory policies on diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles. Results show that diesel particulate filters (DPFs) reduce black carbon (BC) emission factors by 88 % compared to pre-DPF Euro 4 diesel-powered cars, while real driving emissions (RDE) regulations lower nitrogen oxide (NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span>) emissions by 86 % relative to pre-RDE Euro 6b diesel-powered cars. This is the first study to apply the chasing method over a decade to a representative sample of European vehicles and to report real-world BC emission factors for cars compliant with Euro 5b–6d. Lorentz curve analysis reveals a growing influence of high-emission vehicles (“super-emitters”) on total fleet emissions, suggesting that targeting super-emitters could yield substantial reductions in traffic-related pollution. Despite methodological variability, the results are consistent across campaigns and align with major regulatory milestones, thus confirming the chasing method's utility as a robust tool for super-emitter identification and fleet-wide emissions monitoring. By providing real-world evidence of regulatory effectiveness, this work supports scientific understanding and confidence in emissions policy.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c04e457126a24d32b183a0d193bcdc71 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-c04e457126a24d32b183a0d193bcdc712025-08-21T04:54:26ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-08-01259113912510.5194/acp-25-9113-2025On-road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in Euro 6c and 6d diesel-powered carsI. Ježek Brecelj0A. Gregorič1A. Gregorič2L. Zgonik3T. Rutar4M. Ivančič5B. Alföldy6G. Močnik7G. Močnik8M. Rigler9Aerosol d.o.o., Ljubljana, 1000, SloveniaAerosol d.o.o., Ljubljana, 1000, SloveniaCenter for Atmospheric Research, University of Nova Gorica, Ajdovščina, 5270, SloveniaSchool for Environmental Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, 5271, Vipava, SloveniaSchool for Environmental Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, 5271, Vipava, SloveniaAerosol d.o.o., Ljubljana, 1000, SloveniaAerosol d.o.o., Ljubljana, 1000, SloveniaCenter for Atmospheric Research, University of Nova Gorica, Ajdovščina, 5270, SloveniaSchool for Environmental Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, 5271, Vipava, SloveniaAerosol d.o.o., Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia<p>Real-world vehicle emissions measurement methods were developed to bridge the gap between laboratory tests and actual on-road emissions, including the variability in vehicles, drivers, and environmental conditions. The on-road chasing method is a cost-effective approach capable of capturing emissions from numerous vehicles. While it has been used extensively to measure truck emissions, it has not been applied systematically to diesel- and gasoline-powered cars. This study addresses that gap by comparing data from three on-road chasing campaigns conducted in 2011, 2017, and 2023 to evaluate the impact of emissions control technologies and regulatory policies on diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles. Results show that diesel particulate filters (DPFs) reduce black carbon (BC) emission factors by 88 % compared to pre-DPF Euro 4 diesel-powered cars, while real driving emissions (RDE) regulations lower nitrogen oxide (NO<span class="inline-formula"><sub><i>x</i></sub></span>) emissions by 86 % relative to pre-RDE Euro 6b diesel-powered cars. This is the first study to apply the chasing method over a decade to a representative sample of European vehicles and to report real-world BC emission factors for cars compliant with Euro 5b–6d. Lorentz curve analysis reveals a growing influence of high-emission vehicles (“super-emitters”) on total fleet emissions, suggesting that targeting super-emitters could yield substantial reductions in traffic-related pollution. Despite methodological variability, the results are consistent across campaigns and align with major regulatory milestones, thus confirming the chasing method's utility as a robust tool for super-emitter identification and fleet-wide emissions monitoring. By providing real-world evidence of regulatory effectiveness, this work supports scientific understanding and confidence in emissions policy.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9113/2025/acp-25-9113-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | I. Ježek Brecelj A. Gregorič A. Gregorič L. Zgonik T. Rutar M. Ivančič B. Alföldy G. Močnik G. Močnik M. Rigler On-road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in Euro 6c and 6d diesel-powered cars Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | On-road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in Euro 6c and 6d diesel-powered cars |
| title_full | On-road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in Euro 6c and 6d diesel-powered cars |
| title_fullStr | On-road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in Euro 6c and 6d diesel-powered cars |
| title_full_unstemmed | On-road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in Euro 6c and 6d diesel-powered cars |
| title_short | On-road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in Euro 6c and 6d diesel-powered cars |
| title_sort | on road vehicle emissions measurements show a significant reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions in euro 6c and 6d diesel powered cars |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9113/2025/acp-25-9113-2025.pdf |
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