Air pollution from motor vehicles: standards and technologies for controlling emissions

This handbook presents a state-of-the-art review of vehicle emission standards and testing procedures and attempts to synthesize worldwide experience with vehicle emission control technologies and their applications in both industrialized and developing countries. It is one in a series of publications on vehicle-related pollution and control measures prepared by the World Bank in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme to underpin the Bank’s overall objective of promoting transport development that is environmentally sustainable and least damaging to human health and welfare. Chapter 1 surveys vehicle emission standards adopted in various countries, emphasizing the international system of standards employed in North America and Europe. Chapter 2 discusses the test procedures used to quantify vehicle emissions in order to verify compliance and estimate emissions actually used. Chapter 3 describes the engine and aftertreatment technologies developed to enable new vehicles to comply with emission standards, as well as the costs and other impacts of these technologies. That measures to control emissions from in-use vehicles are an essential complement to emission standards for new vehicles is the subject explored in Chapter 4. Lastly, the role of fuels in reducing emissions is reviewed in Chapter 5, which discusses both the benefits of reformulating conventional gasoline and diesel fuels and the potential benefits of alternative cleaner fuels.