Impact of alternative fuels on performance and pollutant emissions of a light duty engine tested under the new European driving cycle

Two alternative fuels, a gas to liquid (GTL) fuel from a low temperature Fischer–Tropsch process and a biodiesel produced from animal fats, have been tested using a light duty diesel engine with road load simulation (RLS) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The engine used has a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), exhaust gas recirculation with cooling (EGR), common rail with split fuel injection and diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC). Regulated emissions have been evaluated and noticeable reductions in THC and CO were observed with both alternative fuels whereas only slight decrease was obtained in NOx emissions with biodiesel. With respect to results on particle matter, important reductions in both particle number and particle mass were obtained with both alternative fuels.