A comprehensive assessment of vehicular performance and emission characteristics during real-time test-runs using selected bio-ethanol–gasoline blends

Abstract

To reduce vehicular emissions, it is crucial to investigate the potential of low-carbon fuels in the operation of commercial vehicles. The current study aims to investigate vehicular performance while operating a typical Indian motorcycle using various ratios of bio-ethanol-blended gasoline (10%, 20%, 55%, and 85% by vol.). Three different test conditions, viz., steady-state engine testing, chassis dynamometer test measurement, and on-road vehicle performance tests, are conducted for a four-stroke motorcycle. The experimental results highlight that the E20 blend (20% ethanol and 80% gasoline by vol.) increased the power and torque output by 2% and 3.4%, respectively, compared to the base gasoline (E0). Further, the tailpipe emissions reduced significantly during assessment using E20 blends. However the performance was deteriorating, while using higher ratios of ethanol-blended gasoline. E55 blend decreased the power and torque by 22.3% and 27.8%, respectively, and an increased acceleration time of 3.1 seconds was observed in comparison to E0. A maximum increase of 38 % in total fuel consumption is observed with E85 and an increase of 34.3% in fuel filter pressure drop compared to E0. The reduced emissions and non-requirement of major modifications to a typical motorcycle's engine indicate that E20 could be an attractive fuel blend.

Keywords:

• Low-carbon fuel
• ethanol gasoline blends
• motorcycle test
• vehicle performance
• emissions

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the Automotive Research Centre, VIT, vellore for providing the test facilities to carryout this research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.