Alternative fuel effects on vehicle emissions and indoor air quality.

摘要

There are two main reasons for using alternative fuels in the transportation sector. One is to reduce the dependence on petroleum oil. The other to reduce emissions produced by on-road vehicles. This thesis is concerned with the emissions effects of using alternative fuels to replace conventional gasoline and diesel in transportation. Each chapter in the thesis is based on a stand alone paper. One study is a literature survey on the effects of alternative fuels on road vehicle emissions. The next study describes the emissions results of a propane to natural gas fuel conversion of forklifts. The final study characterizes the effect of the conversion project with a model relating indoor vehicle use to indoor air quality. The major conclusion of this thesis is that, if proper care is taken in vehicle technology, alternative fuels can be used to reduce vehicle emission and to help improve air quality.