Millbrook has commenced a comprehensive programme testing various blends of ethanol and gasoline combination fuels for CONCAWE, the Brussels-based oil companies’ European association for environment, health, and safety in refining and fuel distribution.
This programme aims to better the transport sector’s understanding of the effects of ethanol-gasoline blends on the performance of modern European vehicles, particularly on vehicle emissions and driveability performance in real-world situations. Vehicle testing procedures will be used to assess the effect of different fuel blends on tailpipe and evaporative emissions, as well as on low-temperature vehicle starting and hot weather driveability performance. Test fuels have been blended on a large scale and are also being made available to vehicle manufacturers who wish to conduct their own test programmes.
Six of the most popular European vehicles, from different manufacturers and of various weight classes, will be used in the study, all extensively instrumented in order to obtain comprehensive data. The selected vehicles incorporate engine technologies that may become increasingly important in the future, such as gasoline direct injection and smaller engines equipped with super- or turbo-chargers.
Neil Fulton, head of Powertrain engineering at Millbrook, is delighted with the news and commented:
“It is a privilege to be working with CONCAWE on this project. The knowledge, expertise and passion of our people enable us to deliver innovative test programmes for our customers and our team is committed to delivering work of excellence to CONCAWE that will also be important to the entire transport sector.”
Dr. Kenneth Rose, Technical Coordinator for Fuels Quality and Emissions research at CONCAWE, comments on the Millbrook contract award:
“We’re very pleased to be working with a facility like Millbrook on this vehicle programme. The Millbrook team has a strong reputation across the road transport sector and has already shown us that its mix of facilities, including test tracks, emissions laboratories, temperature-controlled vehicle chamber, and evaporative emissions capabilities, is ideally suited for our study. We believe that the results of this technical study will help to guide future specifications for market place gasolines containing ethanol at levels higher than today’s 5% limit.”
More Information
For more information about Powertrain Testing please call Neil Fulton on +44 (0) 1525 408427 or email neil.fulton@millbrook.co.uk, or call our Business Development Team on +44 (0) 1525 408408.
