Characterization of Real-World Particle Number Emissions during Reignition Events from a 2010 Light-Duty Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Abstract

Despite the increasing popularity of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), few studies have compared the real-world particle emissions of HEVs from internal combustion engine (ICE) reignition events with that of a conventional vehicle (CV) during real-world driving. Reignition events occur under unstable combustion conditions and frequently result in particle number (PN) emission rates (PNERs) that exceed those for stabilized engine operation. Tailpipe PNERs from a CV and an HEV 2010 Toyota Camry were quantified on a 32-mi route over rural, urban, and freeway roadways in Chittenden County, Vermont, with the total onboard tailpipe emissions measurement system. This study directly compared the CV and HEV PNERs and characterized the operation of the HEV in a new HEV ICE operating mode framework. Mean PNER for reignition events (7.19 pM 11.8 × 10¹⁰ particles/s) were on average four times greater than for stabilized HEV operation (1.79 ± 3.99 × 10¹⁰ particles/s). Under urban, rural, and freeway driving, HEV reignition event operation accounted for 58.7%, 44.6%, and 5.0%, respectively, of the total PN inventory. Mean HEV PNER was 1.8 times greater than that of the CV in urban driving, while under freeway driving, where the two vehicles operated similarly, average CV PNER was 2.4 times greater than that of the HEV. The data show that the typical fuel consumption benefits of HEVs in urban driving are associated with a trade-off in PN emissions. The HEV ICE operating behavior has implications for the spatial distribution of PN hot spots as well as the associated microscale modeling of alternative vehicle technology emissions.