NOx Emissions from Diesel Passenger Cars Worsen with Age

Chen, Y. & Borken-Kleefeld, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5465-8559 (2016). NOx Emissions from Diesel Passenger Cars Worsen with Age. Environmental Science & Technology 50 (1) 3327-5851. 10.1021/acs.est.5b04704.

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Abstract

Commonly, the NOx emissions rates of diesel vehicles have been assumed to remain stable over the vehicle’s lifetime. However, there have been hardly any representative long-term emission measurements. Here we present real-driving emissions of diesel cars and light commercial vehicles sampled on-road over 15 years in Zurich/Switzerland. Results suggest deterioration of NOx unit emissions for Euro 2 and Euro 3 diesel technologies, while Euro 1 and Euro 4 technologies seem to be stable. We can exclude a significant influence of high-emitting vehicles. NOx emissions from all cars and light commercial vehicles in European emission inventories increase by 5–10% accounting for the observed deterioration, depending on the country and its share of diesel cars. We suggest monitoring the stability of emission controls particularly for high-mileage light commercial as well as heavy-duty vehicles.

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