Description:
This Clean Vehicle Retrofit Technology Workshop is being organised by the LowCVP in partnership with the Joint Air Quality Team. The aim of the workshop is to raise awareness amongst the Local Authority community about the role of retrofit technologies in reducing NOx emissions from diesel vehicles, share the findings of LowCVP’s CBTF/CVTF Evaluation Report and share local authority case studies.
The event will take place on Tuesday, 26th September from 10am to 2pm at the Maple House Conference & Training Venue, 150 Corporation Street, Birmingham, B4 6TB. Lunch will be provided following the workshop.
The agenda will focus on:
-
The National Air Quality Plan & £40 million retrofit grant for buses
-
An overview of current vehicle retrofit technologies
-
The recently launched Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme
-
LowCVP’s Clean Bus Technology Fund and Clean Vehicle Technology Fund Evaluation Study
-
Guest speakers explaining their experience and what they learned from running vehicle retrofit projects including Leicester City Council - retrofit SCR buses; Big Lemon – conversion to battery electric buses; Birmingham City Council - conversion to LPG taxis; Brighton and Hove Council - retrofit SCR taxis
To register for the event, please email: secretariat@lowcvp.org.uk
The Clean Bus Technology Fund 2013/2015 and Clean Vehicle Technology Fund 2014 programmes were introduced by the Department of Transport (DfT) to help reduce NOx emissions from diesel vehicles in cities experiencing poor air quality. The total value of the grants was £19 million shared between thirty local and regional authorities. The funding facilitated 2,137 diesel vehicles to be retrofitted with a variety of NOx emission abatement technologies.
The LowCVP was commissioned by the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) to undertake an evaluation of the CVTF and CBTF programmes, with the objectives of determining the efficacy of different retrofit technologies at reducing tailpipe NOx emissions and to determine in service performance.
In addition, the study assessed impacts on other air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. It covered twenty-five local authority projects, five vehicle types and seven technologies including exhaust after treatment such as selective catalytic reduction, fuel saving system such as flywheel hybrids and engine conversion such as electric powertain.
The LowCVP analysed a range of vehicle testing data including chassis dynomemeter and PEMS before and after retrofit equipment was fitted and when in service.
Key findings:
-
The highest NOx emission reductions (80%-100%) were seen for retrofit selective catalytic reduction and diesel bus engine conversion to electric powertrain.
-
Moderate NOx emission reductions (25%-29%) were achieved by retrofit thermal management technology and flywheel hybrid.
-
Low NOx emission reductions (3%-6%) were achieved by mild hybrid, hybrid assist and dual fuel CNG conversion.
-
In the case of retrofit SCR, in service monitoring performed between six months and two years after retrofit SCR equipment has been fitted demonstrated excellent conformity with vehicle emission testing undertaken on fitment of the technology.
-
Vehicle laboratory testing for a small number buses and a van-derived mini-bus has shown retrofit SCR to achieve high levels of NO2 emissions reduction (>80%) and very low tailpipe NO2 emissions. The majority of retrofit SCR systems were fitted with particle filters resulting in high PM reductions (>75%) and exceptionally low PM emissions. Ammonia emissions where shown to be below 10ppm post-SCR fitment. With regards to greenhouse gas emissions (measured as CO2 equivalent), this was shown to increase between 3-5% post-SCR fitment on buses, primarily due to a rise in the proportion of nitrous oxide emissions.
-
Vehicle laboratory testing results for dual fuel CNG conversion for a black taxi showed very low NO2 reductions (3%) and an exceptional high increase in methane emissions (93%).
The outcomes of this study helped inform the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme, in particular highlighting the need for robust and independent vehicle emission testing to demonstrate the performance of retrofit technologies. In addition the study revealed the importance of setting vehicle emission standards for both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from retrofit technologies, thereby ensuring benefits to both air quality improvement and carbon management.
You can register for the event if you are a Local Authority ONLY, please email: secretariat@lowcvp.org.uk