Temporal-spatial dynamic characteristics of vehicle emissions on intercity roads in Guangdong Province based on vehicle identity detection data

Estimating intercity vehicle emissions precisely would benefit collaborative control in multiple cities. Considering the variability of emissions caused by vehicles, roads, and traffic, the 24-hour change characteristics of air pollutants (CO, HC, NO_X, PM_2.5) on the intercity road network of Guangdong Province by vehicle categories and road links were revealed based on vehicle identity detection data in real-life traffic for each hour in July 2018. The results showed that the spatial diversity of emissions caused by the unbalanced economy was obvious. The vehicle emissions in the Pearl River Delta region (PRD) with a higher economic level were approximately 1–2 times those in the non-Pearl River Delta region (non-PRD). Provincial roads with high loads became potential sources of high emissions. Therefore, emission control policies must emphasize the PRD and key roads by travel guidance to achieve greater reduction. Gasoline passenger cars with a large proportion of traffic dominated morning and evening peaks in the 24-hour period and were the dominant contributors to CO and HC emissions, contributing more than 50% in the daytime (7:00–23:00) and higher than 26% at night (0:00–6:00). Diesel trucks made up 10% of traffic, but were the dominant player at night, contributed 50%–90% to NO_X and PM_2.5 emissions, with a marked 24-hour change rule of more than 80% at night (23:00–5:00) and less than 60% during daytime. Therefore, targeted control measures by time-section should be set up on collaborative control. These findings provide time-varying decision support for variable vehicle emission control on a large scale.