SAE International Introduces New Standard to Measure Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Economy of Hybrid Ve

With the increase in both popularity and production of hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) worldwide, attention often turns to the exhaust emissions and fuel economy of such vehicles. A new revised standard from SAE International provides the procedures to accurately measure both of these readings.

“J1711 – Recommended Practice for Measuring the Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Economy of Hybrid Electric Vehicles, including Plug-in Hybrid,” was recently released by SAE International. The revised standard provides test procedures cognizant of the expanded design diversity of PHEVs. Also, it provides procedures to more consistently evaluate these vehicles under a wider range of evaluation cycles, and offers a technology neutral way allowing potential fuel savings of these vehicles to be evaluated in a realistic manner.

Michael Duoba, an automotive engineer with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and also chair of the SAE International Hybrid J1711 Task Force, which created the revised standard, said the new procedure helps to provide consistent information to the consumer. “Until now, the fuel economy claims for plug-in hybrids were not calculated according to similar procedures, making car-to-car comparisons virtually impossible. What makes this procedure – and other SAE-developed recommended practices – significant is that EPA typically considers them as the basis for the automotive regulations it promulgates. Ultimately, the consumer benefits with valuable vehicle information that can help guide a purchase decision.”

“J1711 – Recommended Practice for Measuring the Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Economy of Hybrid Electric Vehicles, including Plug-in Hybrid,” was developed by SAE International’s Hybrid J1711 Task Force. For more information about the standard, visit http://standards.sae.org/j1711_201006 .

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International’s core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International’s charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series.