EU project GasOn (No 652816) : measurements of a CRF prototype vehicle by JRC.
Date: 2019-03-15
Institutions: Joint Research Centre
Subjects: atmospheric pollutant, industrial research, motor vehicle industry, reduction of gas emissions, research report, vehicle

EU project 
GasOn (No 652816) 
measurements of a CRF 
prototype vehicle by JRC 

Giechaskiel B., Martini G. 

2019  

EUR 29692 EN 

 
 
 
 
This publication is a Technical report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science 
and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking 
process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither 
the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that 
might be made of this publication. 

Contact information  
Name:    
Address:  
Email:    
Tel.:  

B. Giechaskiel 
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, via E. Fermi 2749, I-21027, Ispra (VA), Italy 
barouch.giechaskiel@ec.europa.eu 
+39-0332-78 5312 

EU Science Hub 
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc 

JRC116028 

EUR 29692 EN 

PDF 

ISBN 978-92-76-00816-3 

ISSN 1831-9424 

doi:10.2760/340503 

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2019 

© European Union, 2019 

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How to cite this report: Giechaskiel B., Martini G. EU project GasOn (No 652816) - measurements of a CRF 
prototype vehicle by JRC, EUR 29692 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2019, ISBN 
978-92-76-00816-3, doi:10.2760/340503, JRC116028 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contents 

Foreword .............................................................................................................. 1 

Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ 2 

Abstract ............................................................................................................... 3 

1  Introduction ...................................................................................................... 4 

2  Experimental ..................................................................................................... 5 

3  Results ............................................................................................................. 6 

3.1  Laboratory results ........................................................................................ 6 

3.2  On-road results ........................................................................................... 6 

3.3  Results per pollutant .................................................................................... 7 

4  Conclusions .................................................................................................... 10 

References ......................................................................................................... 11 

List of abbreviations and definitions ....................................................................... 12 

List of figures ...................................................................................................... 13 

i 

Foreword 

As written into the Grant Agreement of EU project GasOn (Gas-Only Internal Combustion 
Engines)  contract  n.652816:  “final  assessment  of  the  vehicles  will  be  certified,  as 
“independent  testing”,    by  JRC  (Joint  Research  Centre)  which  will  carry  out  additional 
measurements in their own testing facilities both on chassis dyno and by means of PEMS 
(Portable  Emissions  Measurement  System)”.  For  this  reason,  JRC  has  to  test  demo 
vehicles  at the end of the activities performed on WP2, WP3 and WP4. 

1 

Acknowledgements 

The author would like to thank Mirco Scualti, Philippe Le Lijour and Mauro Cadario for the 
experimental work. 

Authors 

Barouch Giechaskiel, Giorgio Martini 

2 

Abstract 

The demo vehicle of CRF was measured at JRC in summer 2018. In the laboratory the old 
type  approval  cycle  NEDC  and  the  new  type  approval  cycle  WLTC  were  tested.  On  the 
road RDE compliant routes were followed. The results showed that the vehicle fulfilled all 
Euro 6 limits except the NOx at the WLTC. 

3 

1  Introduction 

In  order  to  exploit  the  main  benefits  of  gas-powered  engines,  the  aim  of  the  GasOn 
project  is  to  develop  CNG-only,  mono-fuel-engines  able  to  comply  with  post  Euro  6 
emissions,  2020+  CO2  emissions  targets  and  new  homologation  cycle  and  Real  Driving 
conditions  and  simultaneously  improving  engine  efficiency  and  vehicle  performance  also 
with regard to its CNG range capability. 

According  to  the  Grant  Agreement  the  outcomes  expected  will  be  3  different  segment 
demonstrator  vehicles,  one  per  engine  platform,  able  to  prove  emissions  at  least  below 
half of upcoming Euro 6 limits in combination with new WLTC and a reduction of at least 
20%  in  CO2  emission  levels  (including  CO2  equivalent  unburned  methane  and  N2O) 
compared  with  the  best  in  class  related  segment  vehicles  on  the  market  in  2014.  Real 
Driving emissions will be also part of the demonstration activities, according to the future 
regulation  requirements  and  assessing  the  reliability  of  the  different  technologies 
proposed. 

Within WP7 of GasOn the prototype vehicles are supposed to be finally assessed by JRC. 

4 

 
2  Experimental 

Regarding WP2, the vehicle tested was a Fiat 500L equipped with a 999 cm3 TC CNG DI 
prototype engine and prototype CNG storage system (Power 88 kW). 

The  tests  were  conducted  in  VELA  2  (gas  analysers  MEXA  series  7400)  with  9  m3/min 
CVS  flow  rate.  The  road  loads  were  provided  by  CRF.  The  dyno  was  set  to  FWD  (rear 
synch). 

The  test  cycles  were  NEDC  (with  cold  start)  and  WLTC  (with  cold  start)  (driven  by  JRC 
driver). 

The  on-road  tests  were  RDE  compliant  (driven  by  CRF  driver).  The  PEMS  used  for  RDE 
tests  was  the  AVL  MOVE.  The  results  are  integrated  values,  without  any  correction  or 
post-processing. 

Two repetitions of each test were conducted. 

After  the  RDE  tests,  it  was  found  that  the  catalyst  was  damaged  (confirmed  by  post-
mortem  analysis)  therefore  emission  results  of  tests  after  the  last  RDE  were  not  taken 
into account. 

5 

 
3  Results 

3.1  Laboratory results 

The results of the cold start type approval cycles (NEDC until Sept. 2017 and WLTC from 
Sept 2017) are plotted in Figure 1. 

Figure 1: Results for NEDC and WLTC. Lines show the Euro 6 limits for positive ignition 
vehicles. 

3.2  On-road results 

The on-road RDE results with PEMS are plotted in Figure 2. 

Figure 2: On-road results for RDE compliant route with PEMS. Lines give the laboratory 
Euro 6 limits. Dashed lines show the 2020 RDE limits, which are subject to annual 
revision. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
3.3  Results per pollutant 

The following figures summarize the results per pollutant. 

Figure 3: Total hydrocarbons. Line shows the laboratory Euro 6 limit. 

Figure 4: Non-methane hydrocarbons. Line shows the laboratory Euro 6 limit. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 5: Carbon monoxide emissions. Line shows the laboratory Euro 6 limit. 

Figure 6: Nitrogen oxides emissions. Line shows the laboratory Euro 6 limit. Dashed line 
shows RDE limits that are under annual review (CF=1.43 at the time of writing). 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
Figure 7: Carbon dioxide emissions. 

9 

 
 
4  Conclusions 

A demo vehicle from CRF was tested in the laboratory and on the road. The HCs were at 
the  limit  at  the  cold  NEDC  cycle  and  much lower  than  the limit  at  WLTC  cycle.  The  NOx 
emissions  exceeded  the  limit  at  the  WLTC  cycle,  but  they  were  lower  than  the  limit  at 
NEDC and RDE cycles. PN, PM and CO were very low at all cycles. 

10 

 
References 

GasOn web site: www.gason.eu 

Baratta, M., Misul, D., Jiajie, X., Fuerhapter, A,. Heinde, R., Peletto, C., Preuhs, J., 
Salemi, P., Development of a High Performance Natural Gas Engine with Direct Gas 
Injection and Variable Valve Actuation, SAE Int. J. Engines 10(5):2017, 
doi:10.4271/2017-24-0152, 09/04/2017 

Ferrera, M., Highly Efficient Natural Gas Engine, SAE paper 2017-24-0059, 09/04/2017 

11 

 
 
List of abbreviations and definitions 

CF 

Conformity Factor 

CNG 

Compressed Natural Gas 

CO 

CO2 

CRF 

Carbon monoxide 

Carbon dioxide 

Centro Ricerche Fiat 

CVS 

Constant Volume Sampler 

DI 

EU 

Direct Injection 

European Union 

FWD 

Forward 

HC 

Hydrocarbons 

JRC 

Joint Research Centre 

NEDC  New European Driving Cycle 

NMHC  Non-methane hydrocarbons 

NOx 

Nitrogen oxides 

PEMS  Portable Emissions Measurement System 

PM 

PN 

Particulate Matter 

Particle Number 

RDE 

Real-Driving Emissions 

TC 

Turbo charged 

VELA  Vehicle Emissions Laboratory 

WLTC  World Harmonised Light duty vehicle Test Cycle 

WP 

Work Package 

12 

 
List of figures 

Figure 1: Results for NEDC and WLTC. Lines show the Euro 6 limits for positive ignition 
vehicles. ............................................................................................................... 6 

Figure 2: On-road results for RDE compliant route with PEMS. Lines give the laboratory 
Euro 6 limits. Dashed lines show the 2020 RDE limits, which are subject to annual 
revision. ............................................................................................................... 6 

Figure 3: Total hydrocarbons. Line shows the laboratory Euro 6 limit. .......................... 7 

Figure 4: Non-methane hydrocarbons. Line shows the laboratory Euro 6 limit. .............. 7 

Figure 5: Carbon monoxide emissions. Line shows the laboratory Euro 6 limit. .............. 8 

Figure 6: Nitrogen oxides emissions. Line shows the laboratory Euro 6 limit. Dashed line 
shows RDE limits that are under annual review (CF=1.43 at the time of writing). .......... 8 

Figure 7: Carbon dioxide emissions. ......................................................................... 9 

13 

 
 
 
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doi:10.2760/340503 

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