The Kansas City Light-Duty Vehicle Emission Study

Mobile sources significantly contribute to ambient concentrations of particulate matter, criteria gases, and air toxics. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Coordinating Research Council (CRC), the Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Emission Inventory Improvement Program (EIIP) have initiated a program to evaluate exhaust emissions from light-duty, gasoline powered vehicles in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The program consists of measuring PM2.5, air toxics, and criteria gases in exhaust emissions of up to 480 randomly selected, light-duty motor vehicles using a portable chassis dynamometer. Continuous PM2.5, HC, CO, and NOx; integrated PM2.5, VOC, and aldehyde; fuel; and lubricating oil samples will be collected for each vehicle. A select number of vehicle samples will be analytically speciated for PM (metals, EC/OC, ions, and SVOCs), VOCs, and aldehydes. In addition, a select number of vehicles will be outfitted with on-board emissions and activity monitors to compare criteria gas emissions from chassis dynamometer testing using a specified urban driving cycle with real world driving. The results from the study will be used to improve mobile source inventories, develop emission profiles for source apportionment studies, and enhance future emissions and exposure models. This presentation provides details on the project with an emphasis on applicability to the development of improved emission inventories.