Analysis of application of alternative drive systems for international heavy-duty transport on Wroclaw-Dresden-Prague routes

Wroclaw Unviesrity of Science and Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Braci Gierymskich 164, 51-640 Wrocław

^* Corresponding author: maria.skretowicz@pwr.edu.pl

Abstract

The depletion of the fossil fuels resources, significant increase of the air pollution caused by the use of internal combustion engines, and emission of carbon dioxide which is responsible for the greenhouse effect escalates the development of vehicle’s alternative drive systems. Generally, the emphasis is given to the alternative fuels (natural gas CNG, mixture of propane-butane gases LPG, hydrogen, alcohol fuels, biofuels) and hybrid or electric vehicles. Roads between large industrial and commercial centres, i.e. Wroclaw – Dresden – Prague, are used mainly by heavy-duty vehicles. Consequently, the contribution of the road transport to the ecological threat in this realm is significant. The objectives of this research were the assessment of the traffic volume and emission rate of exhaust gases caused by heavy-duty vehicles on the analysed roads and evaluation of the possibility of using existing and alternative drive systems in vehicles driving on the roads in the analysed region.