Maciej Andrzejewski

The influence of the driving style on the CO2 emissions from a passenger car

With the invention of specialized, portable research equipment, construction of which enabled road tests of vehicles, it has become possible to verify benefits ensuing from application of eco-driving rules outside the laboratory – the test stand measurements. Test of the vehicles’ operation in terms of ecology are essential especially in case of toxicity of exhaust gases in dynamic, transient conditions of engine operation. Despite the attempt to reflect those conditions in dynamic research tests, it is not possible for fully reconstruct real conditions of operation of vehicles of different homologation categories. Due to this fact in recent years, the biggest research potential in automotive industry has been focused right on the road tests of vehicles in real traffic conditions. The article presents the results of measurements of exhaust emissions of passenger car in real traffic conditions. The aim of this study was to initial verification how the driving style influences on the carbon dioxide emissions from vehicle engine and fuel consumption. The determinants were the measurements of the concentration of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere from the power unit of the tested vehicle. In the measurements, a portable exhaust emission analyser was used.

The environmental and social costs of the intermodal transport of semi-trailers by rail

The dynamic development of transport recorded in recent decades is an important factor in the economic development of the world on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is a significant source of nuisance and environmental problems. The adverse impact of transport can be felt both in the natural environment and in society, where the dynamic development of this sector has enabled significant civilization development, with the effects varying depending on the level of economic development, the degree of advancement and use of the various transport sectors, geographical location (including climate), and also the sensitivity of the elements of the environment. Considering contemporary transport hazards, it is important to prevent them from occurring, and when that is not possible – limiting their impact on the environment and reducing the scale and extent of negative impacts. In the article, the environmental and social nuisance of transport of goods loaded in semitrailers was analysed. The transport of semitrailers using intermodal wagons pulled by the diesel locomotive in accordance with the assumptions adopted in the railway with the maximum length of train composition was taken into account.