Fuel Economy and CO2 Improvement Potential of Conventional ICE Powertrains

This whitepaper examines the potential for improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions in conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains used in heavy-duty vehicles. It discusses the relationship between fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing that better fuel economy directly correlates with lower emissions. The document outlines various idle reduction technologies, such as Neutral Idle (NI), Automatic Engine Shutdown (AES), and Stop-Start (SS) systems, detailing how these technologies can significantly reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The analysis includes examples of fleet compositions and the effectiveness of these technologies in different vehicle types. The whitepaper also references the Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Model (GEM) as a tool for assessing the benefits of these technologies. The findings suggest that implementing these strategies can lead to substantial reductions in emissions, comparable to the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, while still allowing for the continued use of conventional powertrains until more advanced technologies are fully developed.