Calculation of the fuel consumption, fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions of a heavy-duty vehicle

Abstract

The calculation of the fuel consumption, fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions (CO 2) of a heavy-duty vehicle is detailed. First the forces over a vehicle in motion are calculated and then the necessary torque and the revolutions per minute (rpm) of the engine to provide the tractive force are found. The fuel consumption in kilograms per second for a pair of rpm and torque is obtained from the engine fuel map. The CO 2 emissions are obtained from the fuel consumption. The maxima of the torque and power of a 455 horse power engine are presented as a function of the rpm as well as the specific fuel consumption of the vehicle at the maxima values of the torque. Finally, the fuel economy of the vehicle moving in part of one of the cycles used by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America to certify heavy-duty vehicles to fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions is calculated.