The “Evaluation of Natural Gas Trucks and Refuelling in Swindon” project is funded by the UK's Department for Transport and the Technology Strategy Board and focuses on vehicles converted to dual fuel (diesel and CNG) usage.

Containing a total of 41 Euro 5 vehicles, the project covers multiple vehicle manufacturers and operators, with a quarterly test cycle over the two-year project. Each test will be conducted on an identical test route, with the vehicles running once on diesel and then on dual fuel the following day. The route will be driven at the same time each day by the same driver, allowing for an accurate comparison between the different vehicles.

Working in conjunction with CMS Supatrak, Emissions Analytics is able to align the data generated during the tests with key information gathered from the vehicle itself. This will show in real time when gas is being substituted for diesel and shows the direct effect of the introduction of the gas on emissions.

Assessing the total hydrocarbons, the trials will also assess emissions during urban stop/start driving, steady-speed motorway driving as well as cold start idling and warm start idling.

Nick Molden, founder and CEO of Emission Analytics, said: ‘Although dual-fuel commercial vehicles work well on paper, it’s important that we understand the real-world benefits, across the variety of operating conditions they will encounter. Measuring emissions on the road is the only way to quantify those benefits.’