Study on the control targets and measures for total diesel consumption from mobile sources in Beijing, China

Abstract

Based on the current air pollution control and CO2 emission reduction policies, this study analyzed the energy structure, number of motor vehicles and nonroad mobile machinery, energy consumption and pollutant emissions in Beijing. Furthermore, the diesel consumption characteristics and challenges for emission reduction in key fields were investigated, such as medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks, long-distance passenger and tourist diesel vehicles, and nonroad machinery, which are areas with difficult-to-reduce diesel consumption. Control targets and measures for total diesel consumption were also proposed. The results indicated that the higher diesel consumption per unit area in Beijing is related to the larger passenger car and freight truck populations. In recent decades, the number of diesel vehicles has increased, the vehicle type structure has been optimized, the proportion of vehicles with high emission standards has increased, and the absolute pollutant emissions have decreased. Among these, nitrogen oxides (NOx), fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions of different models decreased by 39.5%, 75.3% and 42.8%, respectively, while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from diesel combustion decreased by 32%. Moreover, medium and large passenger vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and construction machinery are the main contributors to diesel consumption. These vehicle types are also difficult to control and reduce, and their replacement by new-energy vehicles is relatively limited. The main control measures for diesel consumption are as follows. First, a green transportation mode can be adopted for goods that can be converted from roads to railways. Second, fuel consumption reduction for nonroad mobile machinery can be realized by tightening fuel consumption limits, setting appropriate maximum retirement life, establishing low- or ultralow-emission zones, and establishing demonstration plots for electric vehicle (EV) substitution for mobile machinery. To improve the air quality and take the lead in carbon neutrality in the future, Beijing must further accelerate the energy structure adjustment and the development of new-energy vehicles in the transportation sector. Carbon neutralization is an important opportunity for diesel consumption reduction, and the synergistic control of atmospheric pollution and carbon emissions from diesel combustion must be strengthened.