Chassis test cycles for assessing emissions from heavy duty trucks

Emissions from internal combustion engines can be evaluated by testing the engine itself or testing a whole vehicle using a chassis dynamometer. Recent concerns over atmospheric pollution and the drive to examine alternative fuel technology have led to an interest in chassis testing of trucks and buses. In particular these chassis tests permit the examination of changing emissions over the life of the vehicle. Identification of the chassis test protocols for heavy duty vehicles remains inchoate, but this paper seeks to assuage part of the problem by offering a practical test schedule for Class 8 trucks and truck-tractors in the 15000 to 36,360 kg GVW range. 8 refs., 15 figs., 1 tab.