Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MODALES (MOdify Drivers’ behaviour to Adapt for Lower EmissionS)
Reporting period: 2021-03-01 to 2023-05-31
MODALES worked to reduce air pollution from road vehicles by encouraging the adoption of low-emission (L-E) driving behaviour and proper maintenance choice, improving the effectiveness of on-board diagnostics (OBD) devices and technical inspections to detect tampering, analysing the effectiveness of retrofits for different types of diesel vehicles to reduce NOx emissions, and developing training and awareness materials.
The impact of road traffic on local air quality is a major policy concern. Although zero tailpipe emission technologies will make a major contribution towards solving the problem in the longer term, fleet renewal takes time and current road traffic is will still be dominated by internal combustion fleets for years to come. Furthermore, particulate emissions from brakes and tyres are an issue even for electric vehicles. On-road emissions can also be significantly different from laboratory measurements. Real-world emissions can be affected by many factors including vehicle characteristics, ambient temperature, traffic, road layout and driver behaviour. Driver behaviour is regarded as the single biggest determinant of the emissions of a vehicle. MODALES worked to advance the understanding of the co-variability of user behaviour and vehicle emissions and to improve user behaviour via training, assistance and awareness.
The project's objectives were to:
- Understand and correlate driving behaviour with real powertrain (exhaust) emissions and emissions from brakes and tyres, with a focus on Internal Combustion Engine cars and commercial vehicles.
- Promote L-E oriented driving through awareness, training and a real time assistant (smartphone app).
- Assess the real effectiveness of OBD and technical inspections.
- Investigate the legal situation of tampering in Europe.
- Assess the potential impact of retrofits.
The impact of road traffic on local air quality is a major policy concern. Although zero tailpipe emission technologies will make a major contribution towards solving the problem in the longer term, fleet renewal takes time and current road traffic is will still be dominated by internal combustion fleets for years to come. Furthermore, particulate emissions from brakes and tyres are an issue even for electric vehicles. On-road emissions can also be significantly different from laboratory measurements. Real-world emissions can be affected by many factors including vehicle characteristics, ambient temperature, traffic, road layout and driver behaviour. Driver behaviour is regarded as the single biggest determinant of the emissions of a vehicle. MODALES worked to advance the understanding of the co-variability of user behaviour and vehicle emissions and to improve user behaviour via training, assistance and awareness.
The project's objectives were to:
- Understand and correlate driving behaviour with real powertrain (exhaust) emissions and emissions from brakes and tyres, with a focus on Internal Combustion Engine cars and commercial vehicles.
- Promote L-E oriented driving through awareness, training and a real time assistant (smartphone app).
- Assess the real effectiveness of OBD and technical inspections.
- Investigate the legal situation of tampering in Europe.
- Assess the potential impact of retrofits.
The project began by defining low-emission factors (WP2), in which over 250 papers and reports were analysed to define various driving behaviours. It produced recommendations and guidelines for real driving data to be collected in MODALES. A task on OBD inspection and maintenance (I/M) requirements studied I/M practices and the effectiveness of I/M to detect high emitting vehicles. It reviewed OBD protocols and investigated “inspection databases” in some European countries, in order to identify key issues in maintenance behaviour. Data was collected from installations of retrofit systems in buses. A task on low emission (L-E) driving requirements carried out a comparative analysis of L-E driving and eco-driving, taking into account safety criteria. It transferred scientific results into best practices for L-E training and education. Data collection and analysis was carried out on legal issues on tampering in 14 countries in Europe.
Work on the impact of user behaviours (WP3) used a Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS) on a 30 km route in Finland, with a pool of 15 drivers in 6 cars, to measure real powertrain emissions. A brake dynamometer test was set up and was used to perform emission tests on a reference vehicle with two different testing cycles. Tyre wear (mass-loss) measurement campaigns were also carried out, with data collection from taxi fleets in Italy and Greece.
In WP4 on Effectiveness of Inspections and Depollution Systems, the project benchmarked and selected the OBD dongles to be used during the user trials of the smartphone app. Periodic inspections and other anti-tampering solutions involved a market review on devices for CAN Bus data sniffing. A retrofit demonstration for a light commercial vehicle was done, with a mechanical installation, emission testing and integration to vehicle electronics. The system was tested to meet emission reduction requirements and results were satisfactory.
The project developed guidelines and tools for L-E training (WP5) including a scoring algorithm using AI techniques. Guidelines for L-E driving were proposed, functional specifications of the mobile app and a web dashboard were made. The smartphone app with a data collection module was produced in Android and iOS versions. Training videos for L-E driving were developed and made available in 8 languages.
In User Trials and Evaluation (WP6), an Evaluation Plan was created, followed by the recruitment of volunteer drivers for naturalistic trials of the training and app. The 170 drivers at seven European sites (in Finland, UK, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey) drove in baseline mode for at least a month using the MODALES app coupled with an OBD dongle for data collection only . Then the drivers viewed the training video and updated the MODALES app so that it provided on-trip and post-trip feedback. They drove in this treatment phase using the app and the before and after data was compared for each user. The driving data from the dongle and app were transmitted to a server at MODALES partner LIST in Luxembourg and treated anonymously, with full respect for GDPR. Drivers also responded to different evaluation questionnaires. On-road trials also took place in Nanjing, China, but because of Chinese legal requirements, the MODALES app could not be used, only the training.
The trial results were largely positive, especially with respect to reducing brake emissions. An impact assessment study was performed.
WP7 of MODALES produced annual dissemination plans and communication tools (e.g. website and brochure), media and messages, as well as technical dissemination mainly in the form of physical and online events and scientific papers (23 published). An Awareness Campaign (in 11 languages) was disseminated via the project website and the social media of motoring organisations in several European countries, as well as the driver training videos. WP1 carried out the Project Management, including Innovation, Ethics and Data Protection.
Work on the impact of user behaviours (WP3) used a Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS) on a 30 km route in Finland, with a pool of 15 drivers in 6 cars, to measure real powertrain emissions. A brake dynamometer test was set up and was used to perform emission tests on a reference vehicle with two different testing cycles. Tyre wear (mass-loss) measurement campaigns were also carried out, with data collection from taxi fleets in Italy and Greece.
In WP4 on Effectiveness of Inspections and Depollution Systems, the project benchmarked and selected the OBD dongles to be used during the user trials of the smartphone app. Periodic inspections and other anti-tampering solutions involved a market review on devices for CAN Bus data sniffing. A retrofit demonstration for a light commercial vehicle was done, with a mechanical installation, emission testing and integration to vehicle electronics. The system was tested to meet emission reduction requirements and results were satisfactory.
The project developed guidelines and tools for L-E training (WP5) including a scoring algorithm using AI techniques. Guidelines for L-E driving were proposed, functional specifications of the mobile app and a web dashboard were made. The smartphone app with a data collection module was produced in Android and iOS versions. Training videos for L-E driving were developed and made available in 8 languages.
In User Trials and Evaluation (WP6), an Evaluation Plan was created, followed by the recruitment of volunteer drivers for naturalistic trials of the training and app. The 170 drivers at seven European sites (in Finland, UK, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey) drove in baseline mode for at least a month using the MODALES app coupled with an OBD dongle for data collection only . Then the drivers viewed the training video and updated the MODALES app so that it provided on-trip and post-trip feedback. They drove in this treatment phase using the app and the before and after data was compared for each user. The driving data from the dongle and app were transmitted to a server at MODALES partner LIST in Luxembourg and treated anonymously, with full respect for GDPR. Drivers also responded to different evaluation questionnaires. On-road trials also took place in Nanjing, China, but because of Chinese legal requirements, the MODALES app could not be used, only the training.
The trial results were largely positive, especially with respect to reducing brake emissions. An impact assessment study was performed.
WP7 of MODALES produced annual dissemination plans and communication tools (e.g. website and brochure), media and messages, as well as technical dissemination mainly in the form of physical and online events and scientific papers (23 published). An Awareness Campaign (in 11 languages) was disseminated via the project website and the social media of motoring organisations in several European countries, as well as the driver training videos. WP1 carried out the Project Management, including Innovation, Ethics and Data Protection.
- Analysis of real effectiveness of OBD inspection and maintenance.
- Analysis of main parameters related to effective functioning of retrofit devices.
- Knowledge on legal situation regarding tampering in Europe.
- Data and analysis from PEMS measurement campaign near Helsinki, including variability among drivers and different cars.
- Brake dynamometer test data showing brakes dissipated 20% less energy in a driving cycle based on MODALES guidelines than in the case of the reference WLTP-Brake cycle.
- Validation of emission models for powertrain, brakes and tyres, allowing the ranking of driving behaviour KPIs. Sophisticated simulation models and mathematical equations for all three emission sources were well calibrated with various data (e.g. field measurements, in-lab tests, published literature)
- L-E training videos on project website aimed at car, light commercial and heavy commercial vehicle drivers.
- Provision of low-emission driving guidelines, awareness campaign and a driver support app, tested and validated in 7 countries with 170 drivers.
- Analysis of main parameters related to effective functioning of retrofit devices.
- Knowledge on legal situation regarding tampering in Europe.
- Data and analysis from PEMS measurement campaign near Helsinki, including variability among drivers and different cars.
- Brake dynamometer test data showing brakes dissipated 20% less energy in a driving cycle based on MODALES guidelines than in the case of the reference WLTP-Brake cycle.
- Validation of emission models for powertrain, brakes and tyres, allowing the ranking of driving behaviour KPIs. Sophisticated simulation models and mathematical equations for all three emission sources were well calibrated with various data (e.g. field measurements, in-lab tests, published literature)
- L-E training videos on project website aimed at car, light commercial and heavy commercial vehicle drivers.
- Provision of low-emission driving guidelines, awareness campaign and a driver support app, tested and validated in 7 countries with 170 drivers.