Unveiling the impact of date-specific analytics on vehicle fuel consumption and emissions: A case study of Shiraz city

Understanding the factors affecting internal combustion engine performance is crucial for improving emissions and fuel efficiency in real traffic. This paper investigates the influence of date-specific factors, such as working days and holidays on fuel consumption and emissions of a representative internal combustion engine in the context of Shiraz city. The data was collected by measuring the speed of vehicle on a specific route during peak traffic times on both working days and holidays. The determined route was calculated by a qualitative and quantitative method. K-means clustering and principal component analysis are employed to design representative driving cycles, then combining micro-trips and smoothing them to develop driving cycles. Characteristics of both driving cycles, emissions such as HC, NOx, CO, and fuel consumption were specified under a simulated vehicle model of Peugeot 206 and placed through both real driving cycles by using advanced vehicle simulation software. It has been observed that variations in fuel consumption and emissions between holidays and working days can be attributed to distinct driving patterns and characteristic parameters, such as acceleration, speed, and driving time. Contrary to common assumptions, the study found that fuel consumption was approximately 8 % higher on holidays compared to working days, primarily due to increased driving time and higher average speeds. Moreover, higher acceleration and speed on holidays led to a significant increase in CO emissions (about 36 %) and NOx emissions (about 4 %) compared to working days. However, HC emissions was found to be 27.03 % higher on working days according to lower speed. This study helps in reducing fuel consumption and emissions by uncovering internal combustion engine factors, optimizing driving patterns, and promoting sustainable transport on working days and holidays.