Alternative Diesel Fuels Testing
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Report | Description | Release Date |
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) contracted with the University of California at Riverside (UCR) Bourns College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) to evaluate oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from the use of renewable diesel (RD)/biodiesel (BD) blends in comparison to conventional CARB ULSD in a legacy 2006 Tier 2 tractor engine without exhaust gas recirculation, selective catalytic reduction, and diesel particulate filtration. | July 2023 | |
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) contracted with the University of California at Riverside (UCR) Bourns College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) to evaluate oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from the use of renewable diesel (RD)/biodiesel (BD) blends in one on-road and one off-road new technology diesel engine (NTDE) with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) exhaust aftertreatment systems, and one off-road non-NTDE (legacy engine) without DPF and SCR. | November 2021 | |
Renewable Diesel Fuel Effects on Exhaust Emissions from a Tier 3 GE ES44C4 Locomotive | Renewable diesel has become an increasingly common diesel fuel substitute in California. It is important to understand the effects renewable diesel use has on vehicle emissions. To determine how renewable diesel affects locomotive emissions, locomotive exhaust emissions testing was completed on various fuels and fuel mixtures at the Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) Locomotive Technology Center (LTC). This report documents the effects of renewable diesel on locomotive exhaust emissions. | April 2021 |
| Confirmatory and Efficacy Testing of Additive-Based Alternative Diesel Fuel Formulations | The purpose of this study was to confirm results of regulatory certification testing for two recently certified biodiesel additive packages, test the emissions from those two additives certified under Appendix 1 of the ADF regulation, and examine the potential efficacy of these, and other additives, in reducing NOx | March 2020 |
CARB Comprehensive B5/B10 Biodiesel Blends Heavy-Duty Engine Dynamometer Testing | The goal of this study was to conduct a more comprehensive study of the emissions impacts of lower level B5 and B10 blends in CARB diesel fuel. For this study, B5 and B10 biodiesel blends with both an animal-based and a soy-based biodiesel feedstock were tested. These fuels were tested in a 2006 Cummins ISM engine and a 1991 Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) Series 60 Engine over the standard Federal Test Procedure (FTP), the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS), and the Supplemental Emissions Test (SET). | June 2014 |
| The goal of this study is to evaluate different B20 additive blends as potential emissions equivalent biodiesel fuel formulations for California. For this work, preliminary tests were performed on soy-based B20 blends with 5 different additive combinations. A full emissions equivalent certification test was then performed on one of the B20-soy additive. The results showed that although some additives provided reductions in NOx emissions with B20 blends, none of the additives tested provided sufficient benefits in NOx emissions to provide the level of NOx mitigation required to pass a full emissions equivalent certification test procedure at a B20 level. | July 2013 | |
| The goal of this study is to evaluate different B5 blends as potential emissions equivalent biodiesel fuel formulations for California. For this work, a full emissions equivalent diesel fuel certification test was conducted on two low level biodiesel blends using CARB protocols. The two B5 blends included blends of one animal-based and one waste vegetable oil-based biodiesel with a CARB reference fuel. The certification test was successful for the animal-based B5 blend, with NOx showing a 0.5% reduction relative to the CARB reference fuel, but was unsuccessful for the WVO-based B5 blend, which showed an increase of 1.0% in NOx emissions. Preliminary testing done on a soy-based B5 blend also indicated that it likely would not pass the CARB certification test due to a NOx increase. The results of this study provide the initial framework for the development of certified emissions equivalent biodiesel formulations that could be implemented into the California diesel fuel market. | April 2013 | |
In order to better characterize the emissions impacts of renewable fuels under a variety of conditions, CARB has conducted a comprehensive study of biodiesel and other alternative diesel fuels with CARB diesel. This program was coordinated by CARB in conjunction with researchers from the University of California Riverside (UCR), the University of California Davis (UCD), and others including Arizona State University (ASU). The goal of this study was to understand and, to the extent possible, mitigate any impact that biodiesel has on NOx emissions from diesel engines. The study also looked at the impact of biodiesel on toxic emissions. This study provides an important assessment of the potential impact of renewable fuel use in California and a basis for the development of NOx mitigation strategies for meeting CARB xxv regulations. This study also makes an important contribution to the scientific knowledge of the impacts of biodiesel with “clean” or CARB-like diesel in heavy-duty engines.
| October 2011 | |
| This biodiesel fleet durability study was performed in the following major areas: (1) A thorough literature review of potential durability issues associated with biodiesel use. The literature review also included cold weather issues, fuel stability, storage and handling, and engine manufacturer’s warranty. (2) A literature review of biodiesel fleet use experiences. (3) A comprehensive biodiesel fleet user experience survey. The survey focused on the biodiesel fleet repair and maintenance records. Other biodiesel use experiences, such as year round operability, storage and handling, fuel feedstocks, blend level, fuel price, fleet engine performance and fuel economy etc., were also included in the survey. A total of 40 agencies responded to the survey, including national park sites, airports, county and municipal fleets, school districts, private companies, state Department of Transportation agencies, various city transit agencies, as well as a few other users of biodiesel, such as the US Postal Service. | July 2010 | |
In order to better characterize the emissions impacts of renewable fuels under a variety of conditions, CARB is conducting a comprehensive study of biodiesel and other alternative diesel fuels. The goal of this study is to understand and, to the extent possible, mitigate any impact that biodiesel has on NOx emissions from diesel engines. The full test matrix of the program includes testing on 2 heavy-duty engines, 4 heavy-duty vehicles, and 2 off-road engines. This memorandum summarizes the results from the first test engine, a 2006 Cummins ISM, under this comprehensive program. | August 2009 |