Study Shows Environmental Benefits of Ultra-Low Emission HD Natural Gas Engines

The University of California, Riverside College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) and SoCalGas recently announced the results of a new study on ultra-low emission natural gas heavy-duty engines. The study found that a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Agency (Metro) bus equipped with an ultra-low emission natural gas engine performs significantly cleaner than its certification standards across all duty cycles.

Researchers tested the Cummins Westport ISL G near zero natural gas engine in a variety of conditions typical of a Metro bus. In all conditions, the engine performed even better than California’s toughest in the nation standard for smog-forming emissions. In some driving conditions emissions were practically zero.

“We have tested two of the ISL G near-zero 8.9 liter engines, one in a refuse hauler and one in a Metro bus. In both cases, the NOx emissions were surprisingly low and 99 percent cleaner than the current standard and 99.96 percent cleaner than the 2004 standard,” said Kent Johnson, associate research engineer for CE-CERT and lead researcher on this study. “The near-zero engine will provide immediate NOx relief to our region at a low cost, and coupled with renewable natural gas (RNG), would provide long-term stability to our energy and climate change needs.”

Highlights of the study include:

• The engine tested below Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NOx (smog-forming) emissions certification level of 2g/bhp-hr.
• The engine tested below the California Air Resources Board voluntary limit of 0.02 /bhp-hr. This is the only engine to meet the California
• Emissions for some driving patterns, such as stop-and-go traffic were even lower
• In some driving conditions, the bus tested as low as 0.0007g/bhp-hr, or practically zero

The California Air Resources Board set ambitious NOx inventory requirements by 2023 for the South Coast Air Basin in its Air Quality Management Plan. CARB’s air quality modeling shows achieving the 2023 standard will require an additional 70 percent reduction in NOx emissions from current standards. Heavy duty natural gas vehicles can play a vital role in cleaning air in the South Coast today.