A Truck and Bus Chassis Dynamometer Developed for Fuels and Lubricants Research

This paper describes the design and use of a chassis dynamometer facility developed to test fuels, lubricants, and vehicle performance under laboratory conditions. It is unique in its ability to accommodate vehicles with a wide range of weight and power while meeting the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Dynamometer Schedule (HDDEDS). The control system uses state-of-the-art computer software and hardware which yield a higher degree of accuracy and repeatability than other chassis dynamometers of its class. The paper also describes the emissions instrumentation that has been added to the system and research programs which have been conducted with both diesel and methanol vehicles.