New Vehicle Emission Test Cell for US Environmental Protection Agency

AVL was awarded a contract by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for equipping another chassis dynamometer test cell at the National Vehicle and Fuel Laboratory (NVFEL) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The new test cell, which is particularly designed to measure the smallest concentrations of vehicle emissions in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 1066 testing procedures, is a duplicate of one recently inaugurated at the NVFEL. Both will be used for the verification and compliance of Greenhouse Gas Regulations and Tier 3 Regulations as well as general emission compliance activities. Furthermore, the updated test cells help the EPA implement clean vehicle assessment programs for gasoline, diesel, natural-gas powered and hybrid vehicles.

“These test cells focus on cleanest, state-of-the-art vehicles. The EPA will only do new vehicle certification for Tier 3, which will become effective in 2017 and requires highly precise measurement technology and state-of-the-art exhaust automation. In addition, the EPA will be capable of HEV, PHEV and EV testing,” said James Williamson, North America regional business manager at AVL Test Systems, Inc.

To optimize testbed operation, the two exhaust chassis dynamometers are fully equipped with the latest AVL iGENERATION Series II measurement technology. For SUV and light-duty vehicle testing, the test cells include the AVL CVS i60 SII MD exhaust dilution system, which features a FLOWSONIXTM dilution air flow measurement system. Particulate measurement in diesel and gasoline direct injection (GDI) vehicles can be done with the double dilution version of the PSS i60 SII DD particulate sampler. Testbed automation is based on the AVL iGEM Vehicle automation system for emission testing with its 1066 test cycle package.

While the EPA chose AVL as a technology partner for many reasons, the key reason is AVL’s ability to meet the technical demands placed on the measuring equipment and automation system. In addition, AVL offers solutions for testing hybrid and pure electric vehicles in addition to conventionally powered vehicles.

The EPA will now run four of their seven chassis dynamometer test cells with AVL emission equipment and five with AVL iGEM Vehicle automation system. In addition, the NVFEL will use an AVL AMA i60 emission bench for verifying and renaming span gases for all test cells.

About AVL Emission Test Systems

With more than 300 employees in Germany AVL Emission Test Systems GmbH headquartered in Neuss and Gaggenau produces and develops since more than 40 years state-of-the-art exhaust measurement technology for engines and vehicles.

Contact

AVL Emission Test Systems GmbH

Graf-Landsberg-Straße 1C

41460 Neuss

Phone: +49 2131 5124-0

Fax: +49 2131 5124-111

sales.emission@avl.com