Fuels Quality & Emissions
For many years, European air quality objectives have focused on reducing vehicle exhaust emissions through integrated improvements in engine performance, after-treatment technology, and fuel quality.
Achieving these reductions and improving air quality in the most efficient way has required a sound understanding of the complex relationships between engine and vehicle emissions and fuel composition. Concawe has been an active contributor to this area of research through in-depth studies on emerging engine technologies, as well as on the impact of fuel composition on vehicle performance, driveability and emissions, as new engine and vehicle types enter the on-road fleet.
This research has provided a strong basis for ensuring that road fuel specifications continue to provide ‘fit for purpose’ fuels for the on-road fleet. In addition, Concawe has also made and continues to make technical contributions to industry discussions on aviation, marine fuels and natural gas. Concawe actively contributes to the specification-setting process as a liaison organisation to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). Concawe is also a Board member of the Coordinating European Council (CEC), which is responsible for developing and maintaining robust performance tests for road fuels, lubricants and other fluids. Reports and articles are published regularly on our research studies and related topics.
Concawe has been working to understand the impact of vehicle emissions and aftertreatment systems on particularly urban air quality and also assessing the use of fuels to promote the efficiency and impact on emissions of new technologies e.g. high compression ratio gasoline, hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as existing types of alternative vehicles which may contribute to mobility in the future. Growing concerns over climate change have also resulted in increased focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The blending of bio-products such as ethanol, ethers, esterified vegetable oils, and others into transport fuels is one approach being taken to reduce GHG emissions. These bio-products can be quite different from today’s transportation fuels while their benefits to energy consumption, GHG emissions, and land use are sometimes difficult to assess. There is also increasing interest in the potential for the use of XTL, e-fuel and other low carbon fuel pathways going forward. Concawe has, since 2001, contributed to “well-to-wheels” (WTW) assessments on the impact of future automotive fuels and vehicles on GHG emissions and energy balances. Detailed studies on the WTW impacts of different bio-products and other alternatives have been published jointly by Concawe, the European Council on Automotive R&D (EUCAR), and the EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). This work was complemented initially in 2011 (and updated in 2014) by a JEC (JRC-EUCAR-Concawe) Biofuels Study that evaluated various scenarios for achieving the 2020 EU mandates for renewable fuels in transport fuels. Both JEC studies are available on the JRC website.
Finally, Concawe recognizes the importance of contributing to broad-based European research related to transport fuels and actively participates in research and development consortia with other industry partners. These include the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC) and European Green Vehicles Initiative Association (EGVIA) as well as participation in several EU funded programmes under Horizon 2020.
For more information send an e-mail.
A Mapping of Technology Options for Sustainable Energies and Powertrains for Road Transport
Fuel and Recharging Effects on Regulated and Unregulated Emissions from a Gasoline and a Diesel Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Fuel and Recharging Effects on Regulated and Unregulated Emissions from a Gasoline and a Diesel Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Fuel effects on modern diesel passenger car and commercial vehicle emissions (Concawe Review 31.1)
Evaluation of plug-in hybrid vehicles in real-world conditions
Report no. 10/22
Fleet & Fuels pathways for a carbon neutral road transport in Europe by 2050: a review of possible options
Predicting vapour composition and flammability in a fuel tank (Concawe Report 30.2)
ERTRAC – Technology and Research Perspective on the “Fit for 55” Package Proposal
Concawe’s response to the publication and presentation of T&E’s report “Magic green fuels: Why synthetic fuels in cars will not solve Europe’s pollution problems?”
Literature review on CNG / H2 mixtures for heavy-duty CNG vehicles
Report no. 10/21
Advanced Emission Controls and Sustainable Renewable Fuels for Low Pollutant and CO2 Emissions on a Diesel Passenger Car
Fuel Effects on Regulated and Unregulated Emissions from Two Commercial Euro V and Euro VI Road Transport Vehicles
Sustainable biomass availability in the EU, to 2050 (excel file accompanying the report)
The optimal vehicle electrification level in a battery-constrained future (Concawe Review 30.1)
Concawe’s transport and fuel outlook towards the EU 2030 climate targets (baseline and sensitivity analysis) (Concawe Review 30.1)
Concawe’s Transport and Fuel Outlook towards EU 2030 Climate Targets (Concawe Report 21/2)
Report no. 2/21
Appendix – Concawe’s Transport and Fuel Outlook towards EU 2030 Climate Targets (Concawe Report 21/2A)
Report no. 2/21A
Assessing the Efficiency of a New Gasoline Compression Ignition (GCI) Concept
Fuel Effects on Regulated and Unregulated Emissions from Three Light-Duty Euro 5 and Euro 6 Diesel Passenger Cars
Explicit Equations to Estimate the Flammability of Blends of Diesel Fuel, Gasoline and Ethanol
Fuel Effects On Regulated And Unregulated Emissions From Three Light-Duty Euro 5 And Euro 6 Diesel Passenger Cars
Testing and modelling the effect of high octane petrols on an adapted vehicle
Report no. 8/20
Three-way catalyst performance using natural gas with two different sulphur levels
Report no.6/20
Real Driving Emissions from Four Euro 6 Diesel Passenger Cars
Report no. 5/20
Role of e-fuels in the European transport system (literature review)
Report no. 14/19
Study to evaluate test methods to assess the stability and compatibility of marine fuels in view of the IMO PARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14.1.3 for 2020 Sulphur requirements
Report no. 11/19
High-octane petrol (HOP) study: making gasoline relevant for the future of transport
A look into the role of e-fuels in the transport system in Europe (2030–2050) (Concawe Review 28.1)
Phase 2: Effect of Fuel Octane on the Performance of Four Euro 5 and Euro 6 Gasoline Passenger Cars
Report no. 7/19
Low Carbon Pathways Until 2050 – Deep Dive on Heavy Duty Transportation (FEV report)
Effect of Diesel Fuel Properties on Fuel Economy and Emissions of Three Passenger Cars
Report no. 2/19
Impact analysis of mass EV adoption and low-carbon intensity fuels scenarios (Review Article)
A look into the maximum potential availability and demand for low-carbon feedstocks/fuels in Europe (2020–2050) (literature review)
Life-cycle analysis- a look into the key parameters affecting life-cycle CO2 emissions of passengers cars
The Low Carbon Pathways Project. A holistic framework to explore the role of liquid fuels in future EU low-emission mobility (2050) – Working Plan
Concawe Working Plan
Recent studies on real driving emissions of diesel passenger cars
Investigating on-road diesel car emissions using a range of vehicles and test cycles.
Real-world emissions measurements of a GDI passenger car with and without a gasoline particulate filter
A new study aims to evaluate the effects of a gasoline particulate filter on NOx and PN emissions from GDI passenger vehicles under real driving conditions.
Validation of a simulation model for the assessment of CO2 emissions of passenger cars under real-world conditions
The gap between real-world fuel consumption and manufacturers’ figures has been increasing since 2001. Could the use of generic simulation models making use of on-road test data provide a more accurate approach to measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions?
An Introduction to Passenger Car Emissions and Test Cycles
Concawe fact sheet on Passenger Car Emissions and Test Cycles
Impact of FAME Content on the Regeneration Frequency of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs)
Report no. 14/16
Phase 1: Effect of Fuel Octane on the Performance of Two Euro 4 Gasoline Passenger Cars
Report no. 13/16
Exploring a Gasoline Compression Ignition (GCI) engine concept
Report no. 13/14
Spark versus compression ignition in a new energy environment
Dieselisation of the fuel market is accelerating as commercial transport increases and as the fuel consumption of new passenger cars decreases.
CBA under the microscope
Concawe Comments on the Key Submissions Associated with 5th Stakeholder Expert Group of the Air Quality Policy Review held in Brussels, 3rd April 2013
Impact of FAME on the performance of three Euro 4 light-duty diesel vehicles.Part 2: Unregulated emissions
Report no. 7/14
Impact of FAME on the performance of three Euro 4 light-duty diesel vehicles Part 1: Fuel consumption and regulated emissions
Report no. 6/14
Well-to-Wheels analysis of future automotive fuels and powertrains in the European context
A joint study by EUCAR / JRC / CONCAWE – Summary of ResultsHeinz Hass, FORDJean-François Larivé, CONCAWEVincent Mahieu, JRC/IES
Assessment of the impact of ethanol content in gasoline on fuel consumption, including a literature review up to 2006
Report no. 13/13
Laboratory Oxidation Stability Study on B10 Biodiesel Blends
Report no. 10/13
Advanced combustion for low emissions and high efficiency Part 2: Impact of fuel properties on HCCI combustion
Report no. 10/10
Advanced combustion for low emissions and high efficiency Part 1: Impact of engine hardware on HCCI combustion
Report no. 9/10
Fuels for advanced combustion engines
Better performance by engine and fuel working together
The impact of biodiesel on vehicle performance
Evaluating fuel consumption and emissions in modern diesel vehicles
Volatility and vehicle driveability performance of ethanol/gasoline blends: a literature review
Report no. 8/09
Comparison of particle emissions from advanced vehicles using DG TREN and PMP measurement protocols
Report no. 02/09
Advanced combustion engines for low emissions and high efficiency
CONCAWE test programme on HCCI combustion technologies
Particle emissions from modern vehicles
Vehicle and fuel effects on particulate mass and ultra-fine particles
Advanced combustion engines for low emissions and high efficiency
CONCAWE literature review on HCCI combustion technologies
Advanced combustion for low emissions and high efficiency: a literature review of HCCI combustion concepts
Report no. 4/08
Guidelines for blending and handling motor gasoline containing up to 10% v/v ethanol
Report no. 3/08
Motor vehicle emission regulations and fuel specifications – part 2 historic review (1996 – 2005)
Report no. 6/06
Motor vehicle emission regulations and fuel specifications part 12004/2005 update
Report no. 5/06
Appendix to Report no. 5/06
Motor vehicle emission regulations and fuel specifications appendix to part 1 2004/2005 update
Evaporative emissions and ethanol blends
Another technical contribution from the JRC/EUCAR/CONCAWE consortium
PAH content of diesel fuels
How EU refineries would be affected by a reduction of the current limit
Road fuels desulphurisation
How EU refineries are affected by the gradual move to a 10 ppm sulphur limit
The potential of biofuels for energy and GHG savings in road transport
Updated data from the joint European Well-to-Wheels study
The potential of biofuels for energy and GHG savings in road transport
Updated data from the joint European Well-to-Wheels study
Evaluation of automotive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions
Report no. 4/05
Automotive PAH emissions
Effectively reduced with advancing emissions controls
ERTRAC—European Road Transport Research Advisory Council
A unique opportunity to improve the effectiveness of research on road transport in Europe
Fuel effects on emissions from advanced diesel engines and vehicles
Report no. 2/05
Fuel effects on the characteristics of particle emissions from advanced engines and vehicles
Report no. 1/05
Emissions regulations and fuel specifications
Maintaining awareness of worldwide developments
Understanding gasoline volatility and ethanol effects
Joint programmes on driveability and evaporative emissions
Advanced Conventional Fuels and Vehicles
Neville Thompson, CONCAWETechnical Coordinator Fuels quality and Emissions
Joint European Well-to-Wheels study
An analysis of future automotive fuels and powertrains in the European context
Gasoline volatility and ethanol effects on hot and cold weather driveability of modern European vehicles
Report no. 3/04
Fuel effects on emissions from modern gasoline vehicles part 2 – aromatics, olefins and volatility effects
Report no. 2/04
Fuel quality and emissions
Rising to the challenges of increasingly demanding fuel specifications
Fuel effects on emissions from modern gasoline vehicles part 1 – sulphur effects
Report no. 5/03
EUCAR/JRC/CONCAWE well-to-wheels study
Interim results contribute to the Commission’s work on alternative fuels
Sulphur-free fuels are on the way
Which advanced vehicle technologies are emerging?
Regulations to control emissions and fuel implications
NEVILLE D. THOMPSON, JEAN FRANCOIS LARIVECONCAWE, Brussels
Future road transport and associated fuels
Will conventional fuels remain the dominant component of road fuels supply over the next two decades?
The focus on aromatics in automotive fuels specifications
Can further reductions in aromatic hydrocarbons be environmentally justified?
Energy and greenhouse gas balance of biofuels for Europe – an update
Report no. 2/02
Emissions from modern diesel engines
How important are diesel fuel properties other than sulphur?
Evaluation of diesel fuel cetane and aromatics effects on emissions from euro-3 engines
Report no. 4/02
Measurement of the number and mass weighted size distributions of exhaust particles emitted from European heavy duty engines
Report no. 01/51
Impact of a 10 ppm sulphur specification for transport fuels on the EU refining industry
Report no. 00/54
Estimating the implications of road fuels quality changes on the EU refining industry
CONCAWE has developed the tools and techniques to guide oil refinery cost and CO2 emission studies.
MTBE in gasoline
MTBE faces a ban in the USA—can its use in Europe still be justified?
Fuels and engines need to be developed together
An essential, but difficult objective to meet.
Potential of exhaust after treatment and engine technologies to meet future emissions limits
Report no. 99/62
EU oil refining industry costs of changing gasoline and diesel fuel characteristics
Report no. 99/56
CONCAWE issues guidelines on gasoline volatility aspects for year 2000 EN 228 standard
CONCAWE studied the impact of environmental gasoline specifications and car parc change on hot weather driveability performance.
Energy use and CO2 emissions in refinery operations
Processing requirements increase while energy efficiency improves.
Report no. 99/51
Proposal for revision of volatility classes in EN 228 specification in light of EU fuels directive
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in automotive exhaust emissions and fuels
Report no. 98/55
Opportunities and costs to upgrade the quality of automotive diesel fuel
Report no. 88/52
Automotive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
A CONCAWE literature study reveals the need for much more work;
CONCAWE will contribute.
A study of the number, size & mass of exhaust particles emitted from European diesel and gasoline vehicles under steady-state and European driving cycle conditions
Report no. 98/51
Motor vehicle emission regulations and fuel specifications. Part 2: Detailed information and historic review (1970-1996)
Report no. 6/97
Diesel fuel/engine interaction and effects on exhaust emissions. Part 1: diesel fuel density. Part 2: heavy duty diesel engine technology
Report no. 96/60
The measurement of the size range and number distribution of airborne particles related to automotive sources – a literature study
Report no. 96/56
The influence of gasoline benzene and aromatics content on benzene exhaust emissions from non-catalyst and catalyst equipped cars. A study of European data
Report no. 96/51
The influence of gasoline mid-range to back-end volatility on exhaust emissions
Report no. 95/61
The influence of heavy gasoline components on the exhaust emissions of catalyst equipped European vehicles. Part 2 – unregulated emissions
Report no. 95/53
The effect of diesel fuel properties on exhaust emissions from oxidation catalyst equipped diesel passenger vehicles. Part 2
Report no. 94/56
The influence of heavy gasoline components on the exhaust emissions of European vehicles. Part 1 – regulated emissions
Report no. 94/59
Diesel fuel emissions performance with oxidation catalyst equipped diesel passenger vehicles – part I
Report no. 94/55
A review of analytical methods for the quantification of aromatics in diesel fuels
Report no. 94/58
The effect of gasoline voatility on vehicle exhaust emissions at low ambient temperatures
Report no. 93/51
Diesel fuel aromatic content and its relationship with emissions from diesel engines
Report no. 92/54
The sulphur content of diesel fuel and its relationship with particulate emissions from diesel engines
Report no. 90/54
Closing the gasoline system – control of gasoline emissions from the distribution system and vehicles
Report no. 3/90
The effects of temperature and fuel volatility on vehicle evaporative emissions
Report no. 90/51
Economic consequences of limiting benzene/aromatics in gasoline
Report no. 89/57
The control of vehicle evaporative and refuelling emissions – the “on-board” system
Report no. 88/62
Diesel fuel quality and its relationship with emissions from diesel engines
Report no. 10/87
An investigation into evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from European vehicles
Report no. 87/60
The relationship between automotive diesel fuel characteristics and engine performance
Report no. 86/65
Effects of the introduction of unleaded gasolines on the gasoline storage/distribution system
Report no. 2/84
Assessment of the energy balances and economic consequences of the reduction and elimination of lead in gasoline
Report no. 11/83R