Reducing emissions when we drive
Motor vehicle emissions are the main contributor to two air pollution problems know as photochemical smog (as ozone) and, to a lesser extent, fine particles.
Ozone, the main component of photochemical smog, is a secondary pollutant formed from emissions referred to as NOx (oxides of nitrogen) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Photochemical smog is a whitish haze formed from the action of sunlight on chemical compounds.
Particle pollution is evident as the brown haze sometimes seen in the cooler months of the year. There are many sources of particles in the air from both natural process, like bush fires, and human activity such as motor vehicles.
The pie charts below show the impact on air quality that motor vehicles contribute to in Sydney compared to other emission sources (such as industry, commercial, off-road transport such as planes, trains and ships).
Road transport is also a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Between 1990 and 2007, emissions from road transport increased by 26.1 per cent or 14.2 million tonnes. In 2007, road transport was responsible for 68.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2012, road transport is estimated to have accounted for 84 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector (source: Australian Government, Department of Environment, 2013).
On average, for every litre of petrol used in a motor vehicle, 2.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide is released from the exhaust (source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy, 2009).
Australia has improved the emissions performance of new vehicles by promoting the adoption of more stringent fuel and emission standards. Since the early 1970s, these standards have progressively tightened. The current standards reflect Australia's commitment to harmonise with the vehicle standards developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
The State's Motor Vehicle Policy includes the NSW Cleaner Vehicles Action Plan which is a package of initiatives to make the motor vehicles on NSW roads cleaner.
- The Green Guide – a consumer guide to the environmental performance of new cars and light trucks
- Clean Fleet Program – reducing diesel vehicle emissions from trucks and heavy vehicle commercial fleets
- The Green Truck Partnership was an alliance between Roads and Maritime Services and the road transport industry that ran from 2009 to 2017. It undertook independent testing of products that claim to improve the environmental performance of heavy vehicles. Please see relevant case studies below:
Case studies
Automated Manual Transmissions
The purpose of this trial was to assess the fuel efficiency benefits of Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) systems for heavy vehicle operation relative to conventional fully automatic transmission systems. the trial vehicles were urban tippers operating in the Greater Sydney region in NSW.
B20 biodiesel (tallow derived)
This trial sough to quantify the differences in fuel consumption associate with the use of B20 relative to the use of conventional diesel fuel for heavy vehicle operation. The trial involved the comparison of fuel consumption under diesel (before) and B20 (after) in eight linehaul vehicles operating in regional Victoria and NSW.
CNG (spark-ignition engines)
The purpose of this trial was to assess the economic and environmental performance of CNG spark-ignited engine technology relative to conventional compression-ignition diesel technology. The trial involved the comparison of the fuel consumption data derived from the in-field operation of three diesel trucks with two CNG trucks. All five vehicles were concrete agitators operating in the Greater Sydney region of NSW.
Aerodynamic canopies
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefits of installing aerodynamic canopies. The trial was conducted for three vehicles running metropolitan LPUD applications in Melbourne and Sydney.
Electric standby refrigeration
The objective of this trial was to assess the fuel efficiency and GHG outcomes of two refrigerated vehicles under two scenarios:
- When plugged in to a three-phase power source
- When using diesel generated power
Both vehicles operated in a metropolitan distribution application in Brisbane, Queensland.
Environmental Driver Training - Prime Mover
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefits of implementing driver training. The trial was conducted for one vehicle running metropolitan urban haul in Melbourne.
Environmental Driver Training (rigid vehicle)
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefits of implementing environmental driver training. The trial was conducted for nine rigid vehicles running LPUD (local pick-up and delivery) applications in Sydney and Melbourne.
Hybrid technology (general freight LPUD)
The objective of this trial was to assess the economic, operational and emissions performance of a hybrid electric vehicle relative to a conventional diesel vehicle. The comparison was conducted for two local pick-up and delivery vehicles operating in the Sydney metropolitan area.
Manual tyre inflation management
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefits of manual tyre inflation management. The trial was conducted with six vehicles running a mixture of metropolitan LPUD in Melbourne.
Automatic tyre inflation management
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefits of an automatic central tyre inflation system. The trial was conducted with two cement tankers running regional linehaul applications in NSW.
Dual fuel Liquefied Natural Gas
The objective of this trial was to assess the fuel efficiency and GHG outcomes of dual-fuel LNG technology involving the assessment of a prime mover using LNG (throttle body injection) and operating a regional haul application in NSW.
Lightweight trailer
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefit of a lightweight, reduced-height trailer. The trial was conducted for one prime mover and a customer-designed, lightweight (reduced-height) tipper trailer running in a regional linehaul application in NSW.
Ongoing Environmental Driver Training Case Study - Prime Mover
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefits of ongoing environmental driver training, following a case study on the initial benefits of driver training in Phase 2 of the Green Truck Partnership. The trial was conducted for one prime mover running an urban haul application in Melbourne.
Ongoing Environmental Driver Training Case Study - Rigid
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefits of ongoing environmental driver training, following a case study on the initial benefits of driver training in Phase 2 of the Green Truck Partnership. The trial was conducted for four rigid trucks running an LPUD (local pick-up and delivery) application in Sydney and Melbourne.
Aerodynamic device - Deflector
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefit of a trailer fitted with aftermarket deflector device to reduce aerodynamic drag. The trial was conducted for one tipper and dog running a regional linehaul application in New South Wales.
Aerodynamic device – vortex generators
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefit of an aftermarket device fitted to trailers to reduce aerodynamic drag. The trial was conducted for one truck and dog running a regional linehaul application in New South Wales.
Aftermarket aerodynamic trailer device
This trial sought to quantify the fuel efficiency benefit of an aftermarket device fitted to trailers to reduce aerodynamic drag. The trial was conducted for one B-double running a highway linehaul application between Sydney and the NSW North Coast.
Battery-electric distribution truck
This trial sought to quantify the difference in energy requirements and emissions of using an electric vehicle in place of a conventional diesel truck. The trial was conducted using one battery-electric truck in place of three medium sized rigid diesel trucks in three different applications in Queensland.
Electric off-engine refrigeration
The objective of this trial was to assess the economic, operational and emissions performance of a hybrid truck with an electric refrigeration system against a hybrid truck using conventional engine-powered refrigeration technology. The comparison was conducted for two local pick-up and delivery vehicles operating in the Melbourne metropolitan area.
Battery-electric distribution van
This trial sought to quantify the difference in energy requirements and emissions of using an electric vehicle in place of a conventional diesel van. The trial was conducted using a small battery electric van in place of a medium sized van in a set mail distribution run in Melbourne.
Driver incentives for environmental driving - prime mover
This trial sought to further quantify the fuel efficiency benefit of financial incentives supporting environmental driver training. The trial analysed historic data from a fleet of B-double and single semi-trailer trucks, running in a regional pickup and delivery program.
Aerodynamic device - Vortex generators on road train
This trial sought to further quantify the fuel efficiency benefit of an aftermarket device fitted to reduce aerodynamic drag. The trial was conducted for one road train tip truck running a bulk material line haul application in Western Australia.
Aerodynamic device - Vortex generators on semi-trailer
This trial sought to further quantify the fuel efficiency benefit of an aftermarket device fitted to reduce aerodynamic drag. The trial was conducted for one semi-trailer running a regional line haul application in Perth.
Meta studies
Engine idle management
This study examines idle reduction strategies. The potential benefits of using idle reduction technologies in freight transport are discussed, as well as the key limitations and barriers. Some case study examples of effective idle reductions are also presented.
Technology study - Alternative fuels
This study examines alternative fuel options. The potential benefits of alternative freight transport are discussed, as well as key limitations and barriers. Some case study examples of alternative fuels are also presented.
What is Roads and Maritime doing to reduce vehicle emissions?
Roads and Maritime, along with other agencies has developed and implemented a range of initiatives to reduce the impact of vehicle emissions on air quality in NSW:
- Reducing petrol emissions - With the amount of vehicles on our roads increasing every year, vehicle emissions are a serious issue. It's important that we all do our bit to work together to improve vehicle emissions. More information about reducing petrol emissions.
- Reducing diesel emissions - Roads and Maritime is a leading participant in the Diesel National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) that seeks to reduce the impact of emissions from diesel vehicles in Australia by facilitating new vehicle emission standards, better fuel quality, travel demand management and new diesel vehicle emissions technologies. More information about reducing diesel emissions
- Improving fuel and vehicle emission standards - As a result of tougher vehicle emission standards for new cars and trucks and enhanced fuel quality standards, emissions from motor transport are declining. This will continue the trend over the last 20 years which has resulted in cleaner and more fuel efficient cars and trucks on our roads. More information about fuel and emission standards.