Assessment of real world CO2 emissions from passenger cars using simulation models and PEMS data

The European vehicle type approval procedure for CO2 emissions and fuel consumption is based on controlled laboratory conditions. In this paper, the possibility to evaluate real-world CO2 emissions with generic vehicle simulation models developed on the basis of measurements with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) is investigated. For this purpose, the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption for real-world driving profiles are simulated with validated vehicle models using OEM specifications and the results are compared against experimental data. The same procedure is repeated for newly developed vehicle models using generic data, such as the engine map and the powertrain losses. A comparison between the simulated CO2 emissions of the above mentioned vehicle model types and the measurements is conducted. Parameters that needed further calibration were highlighted and addressed. The error of total simulated CO2 emissions was lower than ±3% for all models and the error of the instantaneous cumulative fuel consumption remained within ±5% over the entire test.