Despite remarkable advances in vehicle technology - enhancing comfort, safety, and automation – productivity of transportation over the road continues to decline. Stop-and-go driving remains one of the most persistent inefficiencies in modern mobility systems, leading to greater travel delays, energy waste, emissions, and accident risk. As vehicle volumes rise, these effects compound into systemic challenges, including driver frustration, unstable flow dynamics, and elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To address these issues, an extensive data-driven evaluation was performed characterizing the underlying causes of traffic instability and uncovering hidden behavioral parameters influencing traffic flow. This research led to the identification of a previously unrecognized metric - the Driver Comfort Index (DCI) - which quantifies an inter-vehicle spacing behavior that reflects intrinsic human driving behavior. Building on this discovery, mixed traffic is explored to identify its

Schlueter, Georg J.

Standardization of On-Vehicle Measurement of BEV Thermal System Energy Consumption and Range Impacts

2026-01-0132

4/7/2026

This paper presents research and digital twin modeling results to support work on a methodology to properly account for the energy consumed by the thermal system of a BEV, for use within both existing Petroleum-Equivalent Fuel Economy (PEFE) calculations, and the proposed addition of hot and cold weather range values to the consumer-facing Monroney label [1]. Properly accounting for thermal system impacts would incentivize minimizing energy consumption of these systems, since 1) BEV PEFE is a direct input to an OEMs overall CAFE performance, and 2) the values on the Monroney label has some impact on consumer vehicle choice. The impetus for this work was Final Rules issued by the EPA and NHTSA in early 2024 eliminating A/C Efficiency Credits for BEVs from the 2027 MY, thus eliminating regulatory incentives to minimize energy consumption of these systems. Higher energy consumption will produce a number of negative secondary effects, including higher real-world greenhouse gas emissions

Taylor, Dwayne

Energy-Efficient Predictive Cruise Control in Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks with Optimization of the Penalty Factor as a Function of Payload

2026-01-0042

4/7/2026

Heavy-duty Class 8 battery electric trucks not only offer the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional diesel trucks but can also provide significant savings in fuel costs. To further enhance energy and freight efficiency, Predictive Cruise Control (PCC) algorithms can be developed that generate optimal acceleration profiles for the vehicle by minimizing a cost function which combines both energy consumption and deviation from the desired velocity. A critical component of the cost function is the penalty factor, which governs the tradeoff between energy use and travel time, which are two conflicting objectives in freight logistics. Selecting an appropriate penalty factor is essential, as freight deliveries are time sensitive, but minimizing energy consumption remains a priority. Moreover, variations in payload significantly affect vehicle dynamics and energy usage, making it critical to adapt the penalty factor to different payload

Safder, Ahmad Hussain, Villani, Manfredi, Wang, Eric, Khuntia, Satvik, Nelson, James, Meijer, Maarten, Ahmed, Qadeer

Assessing Plug-in Electric Vehicle Adoption: Methodologies, Policy Effects, and Diverging Market Pathways in China, the U.S., and Europe

2026-01-0455

4/7/2026

Accurate projection of Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) market sales share is vital for evidence-based policymaking, yet existing studies employ diverse and often fragmented methodologies, creating a need for a systematic review to clarify their analytical foundations and comparative strengths. This study classifies mainstream approaches to market projections into theory-driven and data-driven categories and reviews the merits, limitations, and future directions of five representative models. Analysis reveals that leading approaches increasingly employ cross-scale model coupling, theory-data fusion, and modular design to harness complementary strengths, improving model robustness and predictive accuracy. Furthermore, the study compares PEV policies and market outlooks in China, the United States, and Europe—the world's three largest automotive markets. The findings indicate a strong linkage between projection convergence and policy stability. China demonstrates the highest policy

Luo, Wei, Ou, Shiqi(Shawn), Zhou, Pan, Wang, Tianpeng, Qian, Xiaodong

Fuel Effects on EGR Tolerance of Synthetic Gasoline Fuels in a DISI Engine

2026-01-0305

4/7/2026

Drop-in synthetic gasoline fuels are an attractive alternative to traditional fossil fuels for transportation due to their high energy density, compatibility with the existing fleet and potential to decrease carbon intensity. Despite of meeting gasoline standards, the composition of these fuels can vary depending on the feedstock used for production and the production process, which has been shown to affect engine performance and emissions. This study investigated the effects of synthetic fuel composition on combustion in a direct-injection spark-ignition engine. Spark timing sweeps from the stability limit to the knock limit were performed with three different bio-fuels, methanol-to-gasoline, ethanol-to-gasoline and hydrotreated-biomass gasoline, at different exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rates, and results were compared against a research-grade E10 (10%vol ethanol) regular gasoline representative of petroleum gasoline available in the US. Octane index analyses showed that knock

MacDonald, James, Narayanan, Abhinandhan, Lopez Pintor, Dario, Matsubara, Naoyoshi, Kitano, Koji, Yamada, Ryota, Sugata, Kenji

Technical Outlook on the Potential of HVO and Biodiesel Blends for Cleaner Combustion

2026-01-0316

4/7/2026

The increasing need to decarbonize the transport sector is accelerating the adoption of renewable and low-carbon fuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and biodiesel as sustainable substitutes for fossil diesel. These fuels are evaluated as drop-in solutions requiring no engine recalibration, enabling immediate GHG emission reduction in existing diesel fleets. This study experimentally investigates the combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of a turbocharged common-rail two-cylinder diesel engine (Kohler LWD 442 CRS) operated with conventional fossil Diesel, pure HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), and an HVOB20 blend (80% HVO and 20% biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil and animal fats). Tests were carried out under steady-state conditions at the DIIEM Engine Laboratory of Roma Tre University. The analysis focused on in-cylinder pressure evolution, brake power, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and both regulated and unregulated emissions. Regulated

Zaccai, Martina, Chiavola, Ornella, Palmieri, Fulvio, Verdoliva, Francesco

In-Use Life Digital Twin (Redundant Storage) and Swappable Use Case for Battery Durability

2026-01-0397

4/7/2026

As regulatory frameworks for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continue to evolve, there is growing emphasis on monitoring battery durability and usage throughout the vehicle lifecycle. These regulations increasingly specify the use of data monitors and tracking mechanisms to assess battery health and performance. In addition, regulations require anti tampering mechanisms especially for monitors that have external write access. Historically, regulations focused primarily on vehicle warranty; however, with the introduction of battery durability monitors, clarity is needed for the new battery durability monitors. More specifically if the battery durability monitors track with the lifetime of the vehicle or if they follow the lifetime of the battery. Furthermore, current regulations provide no guidance on high-voltage (HV) traction battery service strategies or methods to protect monitors from tampering by external customers. This paper will classify

Laskowsky, Patricia, Bunnell, Justin, Zettel, Andrew, Albarran, Josue

Effect of Renewable Fuel Blends on Particulate Emissions in Warm-Up Conditions in a GDI Engine

2026-01-0304

4/7/2026

Renewable gasoline offers significant benefits in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this study, five gasolines with different renewable hydrocarbon classes and varying distillation curves were taken to investigate their effect on particle number (PN) emissions in a spark-ignition GDI engine at 10 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) and 2000 rpm. The engine coolant temperature was varied from 90°C to 35°C to investigate the effect of fuel evaporation on soot formation. Injectors with various spray plume targets and start of injection (SOI) timing (300° and 260° bTDC) were used to assess how different gasolines affect engine performance and to determine engine calibration requirements. A simplified transient cycle examines how engine motoring influences PN emissions for test gasolines. A high-speed camera and endoscope were used to identify the sources of soot during fuel combustion. Simulations were done to assess the quality of fuel-air mixing in support of the

Muniappan, Krishnamoorthi, Dahlander, Petter, Helmantel, Ayolt, Alemahdi, Nika, Lehto, Kalle

A Pathway to Exceed 50% Indicated Thermal Efficiency for Gasoline Engines with Active Pre-Chamber

2026-01-0300

4/7/2026

Research on high efficiency and low emission control strategies are crucial for addressing energy security and pollution challenges for combustion engines of vehicles. This paper investigates the effects of increasing the compression ratio and excess air coefficient (λ) in naturally aspirated engines via active pre-chamber technology, and further enhancing λ through the synergy of active pre-chamber with intake boosting and Miller cycle technology, on combustion efficiency and pollutant emissions. Experiments were conducted on a high-compression-ratio (up to 16.6) single-cylinder gasoline engine. Under natural aspiration, the effective compression ratio was raised via valve timing, while λ was increased using integrated passive and active pre-chamber systems. Under boosted conditions, intake flow was controlled via a flow meter, and λ was controlled via an active pre-chamber to analyze the λ distribution and thermal efficiency at high-efficiency operating points. Results indicate that

Deng, Jun, Li, Xiaoliang, Miao, Xinke, Xu, Bingxin, Zhang, JianQi, Li, Liguang

CuSCR Catalysts Under H ₂ -ICE Exhaust Gas Conditions

2026-01-0361

4/7/2026

In the near to mid-term, hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) can be a bridge technology for reducing carbon emissions. A few challenges anticipated under lean-burn H2-ICE operation are the significant drop in turbo-out temperatures, combined with higher water content, and the possible presence of unburned hydrogen in the exhaust, which could have a potential impact on performance and durability of the downstream exhaust aftertreatment system, particularly oxidation and SCR catalysts, as these conditions can suppress low-temperature oxidation activity, perturb Cu-site speciation and redox cycling in SCR catalysts, and exacerbate hydrothermal aging under sustained wet operation. This study examines the impact of excess water and residual hydrogen on Cu-SCR durability, active site chemistry, and stability for the case with and without an upstream oxidation catalyst, through aging tests at 450 °C and 550 °C. Changes in Cu redox cycles were assessed through site quantification

Kim, Mi-Young, Daya, Rohil, Kamasamudram, Krishna

Challenges to Ranking Diesel Fuels for NO _x Emissions Using a Constant-Volume Combustion Chamber

2026-01-0348

4/7/2026

The market is witnessing an unprecedented proliferation of low-emission fuel components. To effectively evaluate the suitability of these novel fuels for engine applications, fuel blenders and original equipment manufacturers require rapid and reliable assessment methodologies. Traditionally, such evaluations rely on comprehensive engine testing, which, while thorough, is both time-intensive and costly. In response to the growing diversity of emerging fuel options, this work aims to establish a streamlined screening approach capable of effectively replicating the outcomes of full-scale engine testing. We examined the use of a constant volume combustion chamber for the measurement of fuel effects on NOx emissions, with the goal of developing a method to rapidly screen or rank fuels in a small - volume experiment. A small amount of fuel was injected into air at 650°C and 20 bar, where it ignited and burned. The chamber was sampled post-combustion using a chemiluminescence NOx analyzer

Luecke, Jon, Rahimi, Mohammad, Mohamed, Samah, Naser, Nimal, Chausalkar, Abhijeet, McCormick, Robert

Development of Technology to Distinguish Contaminants using LiDAR Near-Field Point Cloud based on Real-Field Data

2026-01-0020

4/7/2026

Reliable environmental perception under adverse and contaminated conditions is a critical requirement for autonomous driving systems. Although LiDAR sensors play a central role in such perception, their performance is significantly degraded by surface contamination caused by environmental factors such as rain, snow, dust, anti-icing materials, and bug splatter impacts. However, most existing public datasets and prior studies rely on simulated or laboratory-generated contamination scenarios, which limit their applicability to real-world autonomous driving. To address this gap, we construct a large-scale real-world dataset collected from approximately 22,000 km of on-road driving across diverse regions of the United States, covering a wide range of naturally occurring environmental contamination conditions. The dataset was acquired using a multimodal sensing platform integrating LiDAR, perception RGB cameras, infrared camera sensors, and external monitoring systems, enabling

Kim, Hunjae

1D System Evaluations for Efficiency Trade-Offs for a Heavy-Duty H2ICE Concept

2026-01-0274

4/7/2026

Lean H2 combustion strategies have shown promising gross thermal efficiency and ultra-low engine-out NOx emissions for H2-fuel based internal combustion engines (H2ICE) in heavy-duty (HD) transport. Implementing lean combustion strategies require excessive air flow demand that further increases with the engine load increase. To meet such air flow demands efficiently across a wide engine operating region, a detailed system optimization is warranted including next generation turbocharging systems. In this 1D system analysis campaign, a detailed study of various air-system configurations was conducted for a modified HD, direct-injection (DI), H2ICE concept based-off a Cummins heavy-duty 15L engine. The concept engine configuration had a geometric compression ratio of 10.4 and no external exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) was implemented. First, a calibrated 1D engine model representing the H2ICE concept was developed. Using the 1D model, a detailed system-level analysis was conducted at

Kumar, Praveen, Sari, Rafael, Merritt, Brock, Popuri, Sriram

Cradle-To-Grave Assessment of Austrian Passenger Car Traffic based on Actual Vehicle Movements and Derivation of Future Forecasts for Minimising Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2026-01-0457

4/7/2026

As part of the decarbonisation process for passenger car fleet in Austria, battery electric cars in particular have been subsidised in recent years, as these vehicles are considered to be largely emission free during use and are expected to reduce emissions in future. However, in order to sustainably reduce the global greenhouse gas emissions of Austrian passenger car traffic, taking into account all types of fuel systems, it is necessary to apply a cradle-to-grave approach, as is commonly done in comparable analyses in the literature, which evaluates the emissions of the entire vehicle life cycle. The most important phase in the life cycle assessment remains the well-to-wheel phase, which includes emissions from energy supply and vehicle use. Due to the large number of influencing factors, highly simplified models are usually used for this phase in the literature. As part of this work, a methodology was developed that, allows an in-depth analysis of entire vehicle fleets by linking

Lischka, Gregor, Tober, Werner

A Correction Method to Estimate Wake Effects for Aerodynamic Performance Metrics

2026-01-0601

4/7/2026

Wake effects modify the aerodynamic performance of a road vehicle when driving in traffic. Analysis of wind-tunnel measurements conducted in flows with wake characteristics, using a traffic-wake-simulation system, suggests that conventional uniform-wind performance coefficients can be scaled, using wake-flow-field information, to predict the influence of wake effects. This paper presents a flow-field-averaging method that estimates a dynamic-pressure correction and yaw-angle correction for application to uniform-wind data, to account for changes in performance due to wake effects. This first-order method is shown to provide reasonably-good accuracy when reverse correcting the wind-tunnel wake-effects measurements. Drag-coefficient data for light-duty-vehicle models, which showed wake effects exceeding 20%, were corrected to within 5% of uniform-wind values, while data for heavy-duty-vehicle models, which showed wake effects exceeding 15%, were corrected to within 2% of uniform-wind

McAuliffe, Brian

Optimal Vehicle Sampling for Fleet-Wide Emissions Monitoring using Submodular Maximization

2026-01-0283

4/7/2026

This article addresses the problem of optimal vehicle sampling for fleet-wide in-use emissions monitoring, a necessity driven by the absence of direct emissions sensors in modern production vehicles and the variable impact of in-use changes and operational factors (mileage, time-in-service, workload) on emissions performance across a fleet. Recognizing that comprehensive fleet testing is impractical due to significant downtime and cost, we propose a novel approach to identify a small, yet optimally informative subset of vehicles for sampling. The proposed approach leverages submodular function maximization, a technique rooted in optimal experimental design, specifically D-optimal design, to maximize the determinant of the information matrix (e.g., of XTX, where X is the regressor/design matrix in the case of a linear in parameters model). This approach ensures that the collected data yields maximum information for refining and building accurate models for emissions changes. We compare

Zhang, Jiadi, Li, Xiao, Kolmanovsky, Ilya, Tsutsumi, Munecika, Nakada, Hayato

Tensile and Fatigue Behavior of High Pressure Die Cast AE44 Magnesium Alloy at Elevated Temperatures

2026-01-0234

4/7/2026

Tensile and cyclic behavior of high pressure die cast AE44 magnesium alloy have been studied at room temperature and elevated temperatures up to 350°C. Anelastic behavior has been found in both tensile and cyclic loading at the temperature below 200°C. With increasing temperature, the anelasticity disappears, and tensile and cyclic behaviors become like other engineering materials, such as steels and aluminum alloys, i.e. the total strain contains only elastic strain and plastic strain. A method to determine the yield strength at 0.2% plastic strain (σ0.2) is proposed. By using the proposed method, the yield strength σ0.2 is found to be higher than that determined using the traditional method, which is more suitable to the materials that do not exhibit anelasticity. It is believed that the anelasticity is closely related to twinning in Mg alloy, which disappears at elevated temperatures.

Liu, Yi, Yang, Wenying, Coryell, Jason

The Effects of Ethanol on Combustion in a Super-Lean-Burn Engine

2026-01-0303

4/7/2026

To mitigate global warming, many countries are working toward carbon neutrality. Reducing CO₂ emissions from vehicles requires electrification technologies in hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs, PHEVs) and improving thermal efficiency of internal combustion engines (ICEs). Lean-burn combustion is one approach to improving ICE thermal efficiency. Biofuels and synthetic fuels can also reduce CO₂ emissions in existing vehicles. Ethanol, a bio-derived fuel, is widely used in varying contents worldwide, and its further utilization is anticipated. This study examines the effects of ethanol blending on emissions, thermal efficiency, knocking, and combustion speed in a super-lean-burn engine. Gasoline surrogates with varying ethanol contents were tested at an excess air ratio (λ) of 2.5. Higher ethanol content reduced nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions due to lower adiabatic flame temperature. Total hydrocarbon (THC) emissions measured by a Flame Ionization Detector (FID) showed a

Sugata, Kenji, Matsubara, Naoyoshi, Yamada, Ryota, Kitano, Koji

Combustion Characterization of Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) as an Alternative Fuel for Use in IC Engines

2026-01-0317

4/7/2026

In the endeavors to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, synthetic fuels from less carbon intensive feedstocks have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional fuels. These synthetic fuels have gained traction in the aviation industry as sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). One such fuel is a synthetic paraffinic kerosene derived from hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA). Preliminary research has also suggested that this fuel may also be favorable for use in IC engines. This investigation will explore the combustion characteristics of HEFA in an IC engine in more detail. The thermophysical properties of HEFA were investigated and found comparable to or improving upon those of ULSD. Spray atomization analysis revealed more than 25% smaller SMD compared to ULSD, and lower span factor indicating a more uniform spray which can promote faster formation of a homogenous mixture. A tribological analysis using a pin-on-disk tribometer revealed

Soloiu, Valentin, Willis, James, Norton, Coleman, Davis, Zachary, Peralta Lopez, Guillermo, Rahman, Mosfequr

Improving Winter Driving Range of EVs with a Novel Desiccant Device: Ceramic Humidity Regulator (CHR)

2026-01-0117

4/7/2026

With rapid growth of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the market, challenges such as driving range, charging infrastructure, and reducing charging time needs to be addressed. Unlike traditional Internal combustion vehicles, EVs have limited heating sources and primarily uses electricity from the running battery, which reduces driving range. Additionally, during winter operation, it is necessary to prevent window fogging to ensure better visibility, which requires introducing cold outside air into the cabin. This significantly increases the energy consumption for heating and the driving range can be reduced to half of the normal range. This study introduces the Ceramic Humidity Regulator (CHR), a compact and energy-efficient device developed to address driving range improvement. The CHR uses a desiccant system to dehumidify the cabin, which can prevent window fogging without introducing cold outside air, thereby reducing heating energy consumption. CHR is based on desiccant dehumidification

Sakai, Naoki, Takahiko, Nakatani, Shinoda, Narimasa, Ihara, Yukio, Wakida, Norihiro, Kato, Kyohei, Anoop, Reghunathan-Nair

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