A comparison of the US and European auto/oil programmes

Working paper

The US and European Auto/Oil Programmes were designed to help improve air quality by providing further knowledge (and advising regulators) about the relationships between fuels, engine technology, vehicle emissions and urban air quality. Through testing and air quality modelling studies they demonstrated some of the potential improvements due to vehicle technology and fuel (especially gasoline) reformulation.
The US Air Quality Improvement Research Program (AQIRP) was initiated in 1989 and was the first large-scale project to involve the environmental self-regulation and collaboration of two major industries, the automotive and oil industries (with a coordinating body). The European Auto/Oil Programme was inspired by the US Program, it had a similar framework but several important differences.
This paper compares the two programmes and considers the differences and similarities in the fuels and vehicles tested, the emissions measured, the methods and the results. It examines the major motivating factors behind these choices; these include contrasting air qualities and problems, environmental priorities, influences behind the programmes, legal histories and existing fuel and vehicle situations.

Authors: Legge, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
• Series: OIES paper
• Publication date: 1997-01-01
• Edition: Publisher's version
• Paper number: EV23
• ISBN: 1901795012
• Language: English
• Keywords: inter-industry research; OIES; air quality; Europe automotive industry; energy and environment; gasoline; oil industry; USA; oil; vehicle technology; country and regional studies; fuel; vehicle emissions; legislation