© EVS-25 Shenzhen, China, Nov. 5-9, 2010
The 25th World Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition
Research Emission Characteristic of Hybrid Electric Transit Bus
Yanxin Nie 1, Mengliang Li 2, Junfang Xu 3, Hao Zhang 1
1 EV R&D Center, China Automotive Engineering Research Institue, No.101 Chaotiancun Chenjiaping.Hi-tech District,
Chongqing, 400039, P.R.China
2 China Automotive Technology and Research Center, No.218 Chenglindao Dongli District, Tianjin, 300162, P.R.China
3 National NGV Engineering Research Institute, China Automotive Engineering Research Institue, No.101 Chaotiancun
Chenjiaping.Hi-tech District, Chongqing, 400039, P.R.China
E-mail: nieyanxin@evchina.org
Abstract—The Vehicle emission test on Hybrid Electric Transit Bus and Conventional Transit Bus was conducted,
using on-board test system, the relationship between emission rate and Vehicle Specific Power were analyzed, providing
technical support for the development of hybrid control strategy and the forecast of emission. The results showed that,
Hybrid Electric Bus had a obvious performance on saving energy and environmental protection. For the conventional bus,
when VSP is less than 0, a certain sum of HC and CO were exhausted, and HC and CO emission rates increase with the
decrease of VSP; and NOx, CO2, PM emission rates and fuel consumption rate are stable. For the Hybrid Electric Bus,
various emission rates and fuel consumption rate increase with the increase of VSP.
Keywords—Emission characteristic, Hybrid Electric Transit Bus, Vehicle Specific Power, Reasearch
1. Introduction
With the continuous increase of automobiles and
decrease of oil resources, energy-saving and
environmental protection become the two major themes of
the global auto industry development. Auto companies are
competing to research and develope energy-saving and
new energy vehicles, such as electric vehicles. Hybrid
Electric Vehicle (HEV) has a set of engine system and a
set of motor system, not only inherits pure Electric
Vehicle (BEV) as a “green car” that has advantages of
saving energy and ultra-low emission, but also makes up
disadvantage, which is lack of driving mileage of BEV.
The hybrid electric system is the most suitable and the
most potential to apply to bus (Hybrid Electric Bus, HEB),
especially the transit bus. Urban has congested public
traffic, and bus stop-goes with driving slow. In this case,
fuel consumption and emission of the conventional
internal combustion engine vehicle are very poor, and
hybrid electric systems are to bring into play to their
strengths. So, now require technology and methods to
evaluate energy saving and emission reduction effects of
HEB.
The paper by using on-board test system researches
emission characteristic of Hybrid Electric Transit Bus as
function over Vehicle Specific Power (VSP). The study
can further help to achieve energy saving and emission
decrease, as well as provides support for emission forecast.
2. Design of Experiment
2.1 Test System
The on-board test system[1] is mainly composed of On-
Broad Driving-Cycle Trace System (OBDCTS), Portable
Emission Measurement System (PEMS). As shown on
Figure 1.
OBDCTS is used to follow and reproduce the appointed
driving cycle (such as NEDC, Bus Driving Cycle of
Chinese Typical Cities and so on) in the experimental field.
OBDCTS is mainly composed of vehicle a signal
processing instrument, a non-contact photoelectric speed
sensor, and a computer with data signal processing
software. Driver
operates the experimental vehicle via following the
appointed driving cycle. OBDCTS computer displays
current speed, target speed and many other signals.
PEMS is mainly composed of OBS-2200 and ELPI, and
is used to test the emission. OBS-2200 can be used to
measure the instantaneous concentration of CO、CO2、
H2O、NOx and THC, flow rate of emission, temperature,
instantaneous emission pressure of vehicle. ELPI can be
used to measure the instantaneous number concentration
and mass concentration of different Particle Matter (PM)
diameter.
Figure 1 Test System
2.2 Test Vehicles
In china, there is only a test method for fuel
consumption of heavy-duty HEV, and no test method for
pollutant emission now. Based on the references of
GB/T19754-2005 Fuel Consumption Test Method of
Heavy HEV and SAE J2711 Recommended Practice for
Measuring Fuel Economy and Emission of Hybrid-
Electric and Conventional Heavy-Duty Vehicles, the paper
uses the on-board test system to measure the instantaneous
emission of transit bus.
The test vehicles include a parallel hybrid electric bus
(HEB) and a conventional bus(CB). The parallel hybrid
electric bus is no external charging HEV, and batteries are
Gas Sampling and
Flow Measuring
Device
OBDCTS Computer
Host Computer
ELPI
Photoelectric
Speed sensor
OBS 2200 PM Sampling
Pipe
© EVS-25 Shenzhen, China, Nov. 5-9, 2010
The 25th World Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition
mainly used to balance the engine power and vehicle
driving demand power. The basic parameters of vehicles
are shown in table 1. During the test, should weigh the
experimental vehicles and the load is 65% of maximum
capacity. During the test, Vehicles use the experimental
Europe III diesel.
Table1 Parameters of Test Vehicles
Type HEB CB
Dimensions
length*width*height
1198 cm*254
cm *318 cm
1198 cm *254
cm *305cm
Curb Weight 12190kg 11200kg
Max Weight 17800kg 17700kg
Maximum Speed 80km/h 80km/h
Engine Type ISBE 185 32 ISBE 220 31
Engine State Europe III Europe III
Engine
Displacement
5.9L 5.9L
Engine Rated Power 136kW 162kW
Motor Rated Power 65kW /
Battery Pack Type Super
Capacitor
/
Voltage Range 260~380V /
Capacity 41.25Ah /
2.3 Test Driving Cycle
Table2 Parameters of Chinese Typical Cities Bus DC
Running
Time
Running
Distances
Average
Running
Speed
Maximum
Speed
2628s 11.6 km 15.9km/h 60km/h
Maximum
Acceleration
Maximum
Deceleration Idle Time
Proportion
of Idle
Time
0.914m/s2 1.543m/s2 762s 29.0%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Time s
Sp
ee
d
km
/h
Figure 2 Test Cycle
The study uses Chinese Typical Cities Bus Driving
Cycle[2] as the indicated Driving Cycle. The basic
parameters of the Driving Cycle are shown as table 2, and
velocity versus time curve is shown as figure 2.The
Driving Cycle is developed based on buses run features in
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, so the driving cycle is
very suitable for the research of bus fuel consumption and
emission performances.
3. Test processing and analysis
3.1 Test Preprocessing
In accordance with the design of experiment, test
vehicles were conduced vehicle exhaust testing. And
acquired operation data (velocity, acceleraiton, etc) and
instantaneous emission data (emission rate, exhaust
temperature, exhaust pressure, etc.). The instantaneous
emission data and operation data were matched the time
synchronization. Then, these data required quality control
(e.g., interpolation of missing values, etc.) to ensure data
accuracy.
Afer the series of preprocessing, NOx emission rate and
speed of HEB versus time curve was showed Figure
3.When the vehicle speed is below 20km/h, NOx emission
are relatively stability. And other emission and fuel
consumption were the same. Analysis that the engine is
idling in such speeds, and the motor drives vehicle.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Time s
Sp
ee
d
km
/h
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
NO
x
g/
s
Speed
NOx
Figure 3 NOx emission rate and speed of HEB versus time
curve
On each test, acquires correlation analysis of track
speed and target speed. Through the correlation analysis,
correlation coefficient R2 of each test condition is high (up
to 0.98 above).This indicates that following of driving
cycle is effective. And then test results can reflect the
emission condition of buses in the application of China
cities.
3.2 Comparison of emission and fuel consumption
factors
Table3 Comparison of emission and fuel consumption
factors (g/km)
THC CO NOx PM2.5 FC
HEB 0.2084 13.28 12.68 0.268 248.3
CB 0.9157 9.858 14.506 0.558 303.8
Reduction
rate 77.2% -34.7% 12.59% 51.97% 18.3%
Emission factors and FC factor of HEB were lower CB,
except CO factor. The HEB by using braking energy
recovery technology and efficient control strategies can
save 18.3% of fuel consumption compared with
conventional vehicles, while reducing emission produced
© EVS-25 Shenzhen, China, Nov. 5-9, 2010
The 25th World Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition
from use of 18.3% diesel. As the optimization of
combustion, resulted that NOx reduction rate was lower
than fuel consumption, THC and PM2.5 reduction rates
were higher. Author analyses and believes that HC
emission may be excessive reduced resulted that CO
reduction rate was negative. HEB still need to optimize the
engine control strategy to reduce pollutants emission.
3.3 Based VSP test analysis
3.3.1 Methodology
Vehicle Specific Power(VSP) concept was proposed by
Jimenezt[3]. VSP takes into account aerodynamic drag,
tire rolling resistance and road grade. VSP is generally
defined as power per unit mass of the vehicle and is a
function of vehicle speed, acceleration, and road grade.
VSP for transit buses were estimated based on typical
coefficient values that are representative of the types of
buses that are analyzed here.Now, there is no uniform
calculation formula of heavy-duty vehicle VSP[3]~[6].The
paper uses the following formula:
3*049081.3)096403.0sin*807.9( v
M
avVSP +++∗= θ
(1)
where VSP is the Vehicle Specific Power (kw/ton); v is
instantaneous speed at which the vehicle is traveling (m/s);
a is instantaneous acceleration of the vehicle (m/s2); M is
vehicle mass (ton); θ is instantaneous road grade;
0.096403 is rolling resistance term coefficient. VSP was
estimated for each second of measured in-use data.
Related research shows that VSP and Emission have a
strong correlation. Mengliang Li[7] researched based-va
mode emission characteristic, and cosidered that
conventional bus average emission rate change with va is
relatively simple, as a whole V-shaped with the lowest
point in the va=0; Hybrid electric bus average emission
change with va is more complicated, which may be
because the hybrid electric bus with complicated control
strategies. Because VSP can better reflect the vehicle
loading situation than va. The Paper researches based-VSP
mode emission characteristic. Analysis of the emission
rates and fuel consumption rate compared with VSP curve,
it will -20 ~ 20kw/ton VSP (over range part of the data
assigned to the border interval) to be divided into 18
interval Bin by 2.5kw/ton increments, then average
emission rates and fuel consumption rate of each Bin, and
thus research emission and fuel consumption rate of transit
bus as function over VSP[8].
3.3.2 Conventional Bus
After test data were preprocessed, the joint distribution
of emission rate, fuel consumption rate of conventional
vehicle compared with VSP was showed Figure 4. Further
deals with the data, obtains conventional bus emission rate,
fuel consumption rate curves with VSP. As shown on
Figure 5.When VSP is less than 0, which means that
acceleration is at least less than -0.0964m/s2, a certain sum
of HC and CO were exhausted, and HC and CO emission
rates increase with the decrease of VSP; and NOx, CO2,
PM emission rates and fuel consumption rate are stable,
which HC, CO, NOx, CO2, PM emission rate and fuel
consumption rate remaine at 0.018 g /s, 0.032 g/s, 0.030
g/s, 0.50 g/s, 0.95mg/s and 0.14 g/s. When the vehicle is
greater than 0, various emission rates and fuel
consumption rate increase with the increase of VSP, and
are much larger than when the vehicle is less than 0.
Figure 4 The joint distribution of emission rate, fuel consumption
rate of conventional vehicle and VSP
Figure 5 Conventional bus emission rate, fuel consumption rate
curves with VSP
3.3.3 Hybrid Electric Bus
Figure 6 the joint distribution of emission rate, fuel consumption
rate and VSP
The paper used the same approach to deal with the date
of HEB. The joint distribution of emission rates, fuel
consumption rate of HEB compared with VSP is showed
Figure 6. The joint distribution of HEB was seen more
© EVS-25 Shenzhen, China, Nov. 5-9, 2010
The 25th World Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition
decentralized compared with conventional bus, this is
because HEB has more complex engine control.
Further deals with the data, obtains hybrid electric bus
emission rates, fuel consumption rate curves with VSP. As
shown on Figure 7.Various emission rates and fuel
consumption rate increases with the increase of VSP.
when VSP is lower than 0, various emission rates and fuel
consumption rate are stable, which HC, CO, NOx, CO2,
PM emission rate and fuel consumption rate remaine at
0.001 g/s, 0.045 g/s, 0.019 g/s, 1.81 g/s, 0.50 mg/s, 0.59
g/s. When VSP is lower than 0, HC, CO, NOx and PM
emission rates of the HEB are more than conventional
bus.And CO2 emission and fuel consumption rate is
higher than conventional bus because the engine is still in
a stable status and charges batteries.
Figure 7 Hybrid Electric bus emission rate, fuel consumption rate
curves with VSP
4. Conclusion
By using on-board test system, it helpes well to
understand and study that real world performances, control
strategy of vehicles.
Emission factors and FC factor of the HEB were lower
the CB.The HEB has about 20% the effects of energy-
saving and emission reduction.
The conventional bus: When VSP is less than 0, a certain
sum of HC and CO were exhausted, and HC and CO
emission rates increase with the decrease of VSP; and NOx,
CO2, PM emission rates and fuel consumption rate are
stable.
The Hybrid Electric Bus: The joint distribution of hybrid
electric bus is seen more decentralized compared with
conventional bus, this is because HEB has more complex
engine control. Various emission rates and fuel
consumption rate increases with the increase of VSP.
when VSP is lower than 0, various emission rates and fuel
consumption rate are stable.
By repeating the above method, can get various
emission rates and fuel consumption rate of the same type
of conventional bus with VSP curves.And then, can
predict emission and fuel consumption of this type of
vehicle under different driving cycle.
5. References
[1] LI Mengliang and NIE Yanxin, Emission characteristics of
parallel hybrid electric bus as a function of the instantaneous
degree of hybridization, 5th IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion
Conference, VPPC '09, September.2009, pp: 330-334
[2] GB/T19754-2005 Fuel Consumption Test Method of Heavy
HEV
[3] Jimenez, Understanding and Quantifying Motor Vehicle
Emissions with Vehicle Specific Power and TILDAS Remote
Sensing. Cambridge US: Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
1999.
[4] Frey, H., N. Rouphail and H. Zhai. Link-based Emission
Factors for Heavy-duty Diesel Trucks Based on Real-World
Data . Transportation Research Record: Journal of the
Transportation Research Board, Vol.2058, No.2008, 2008, pp:
23-32.
[5] Koupal, J., M. Cumberworth, and H. Michaels, et al. Draft
Design and Implementation Plan for EPA’s Multi-Scale Motor
Vehicle and Equipment Emission System (MOVES) (EPA420-P-
02-006). Washington: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
2002.
[6] Zhai, H., H. Frey, and N. Rouphail. A Vehicle-Specific Power
Approach to Speed- and Facility-Specific Emissions Estimates
for Diesel Transit Buses [J]. Environmental Science Technology,
Vol. 42, No. 21, 2008, pp: 7985–7991.
[7] LI Mengliang, NIE Yanxin, GAO Jidong and LI Wei, GUO
Xuexun, A comparative study on emission of Hybrid Electric Bus
and Conventional Bus, Automotive Engineering magazine, Vol.
32, No. 3, March. 2010, pp: 193-197.
[8] nieyanxin, Based PEMS Characteristics of Heavy-duty
Hybrid Electric Transit Bus Emission. Wuhan china: WuHan
technology university, 2009
6. Author
Engineer.Yanxin Nie
Electric Vehicle Research & Development
Center, China Automotive Engineering
Research Institute, No.101 Chaotiancun
Chenjiaping.Hi-tech District, Chongqing,
P.R.China
Tel: 86-23-68662112
Fax: 86-23-68662112
Email:nieyanxin@evchina. org
Yanxin Nie, born in 1985, Master’s degree
Researcher. Mengliang Li
China Automotive Technology and
Research Center, No.218 Chenglindao
Dongli District, Tianjin, P.R.China
Tel: 86-22-84771906
Fax: 86-22-84771906
Email: mengliang_li@163.com
Mengliang Li, born in 1964, Master’s
degree
Engineer. Junfang Xu
National NGV Engineering Research
Institute, China Automotive Engineering
Research Institute Co., Ltd. No.101
Chaotiancun Chenjiaping.Hi-tech District,
Chongqing, P.R.China
Tel: 86-23-68651392
Fax: 86-23-68829330
Email:xujunfang2003@163.com
Junfang Xu, born in 1985, Master’s degree