Influence of fuel formulation on exhaust emissions from gasoline direct injection vehicle

Abstract

Fuel formulations are adjusted seasonally to optimize engine performance and emissions control. This study examines the impact of these changes on emissions from a Euro 6 vehicle during a real driving emissions cycle in Madrid, Spain. Keeping temperature constant, we compared winter and summer gasoline. Results show that using winter gasoline in summer increases nitrogen oxides emissions by 12.6 %, while in winter, it raises particulate emissions by 17.2 % compared to summer gasoline. Additionally, in a typical scenario—using summer gasoline in summer and winter gasoline in winter—particle emissions were 17.7 % higher with winter gasoline. These findings highlight the need to refine fuel formulations, as internal combustion engines will continue to coexist with electric and hybrid vehicles, especially in freight transport, agriculture, and rural mobility. Understanding how seasonal gasoline variations affect emissions is crucial for developing strategies to reduce environmental impact and improve air quality year-round.