Gasoline Vehicles High-Emitter Estimation Using Remote Sensing Device

Abstract

In “Japan Clean Air Program” (JCAP) project, we are developing air quality simulation model which reproduces real world air quality. In Japan, the existence of high-emitters has not been recognized, and thus has never been considered in air quality model simulation. To consider the effect of high-emitters on air quality, we have investigated real world vehicle emissions using a Remote Sensing Device (RSD), and determined the percentage and emission level from high emitter gasoline vehicles. Our investigation on gasoline vehicles showed that approx. 5 to 15% of gasoline vehicle fleet in urban areas was high emitters, and their emission levels were about 4 to 8-fold higher than normal emitter gasoline vehicles. By our estimation using air quality model, in view of the existence of high emitters, the percentage of emissions from high emitters in emissions from gasoline vehicle fleet in the specified area for Kanto NOx/PM Laws accounts for about 25% for CO, 30% for HC and 50% for NOx in 2000, and would reach about 80% for NOx in 2015. Our investigation and determination of the percentage and emission level from high emitter gasoline vehicles would help improvement in reproducibility of the air quality model, and would contribute to cleaner air quality. We will determine the percentage and emission level from high emitter diesel vehicles in the next step.