Effect of idle-start-go on the economy and emissions of gasoline vehicles

Abstract

The idle start-go (ISG) system has been widely used, but there have been few relevant studies of its effect on emissions. This paper investigates fuel economy, total hydrocarbon (THC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate mass (PM), and particle number (PN) emissions from China VI gasoline direct injection (GDI) vehicles with and without ISG. Three test cycles were performed under hot start conditions, that is, the worldwide harmonized light vehicle test cycle (WLTC), the China light-duty vehicle test cycle (CLTC), and the USA federal test procedure-75 (FTP-75). About 28 idling phases were selected to specifically analyze the influence of ISG system. The results reveal that ISG system helps decrease fuel consumption, THC and CO emissions but aggravates NOx and solid PN emissions. Also, ISG system increases the proportions of sub-23 nm and nucleation-mode particle emission. Idling time plays a role in fuel economy, THC and CO emissions, while accelerated speed affects the emissions of THC, CO, NOx, and PN.