Light-duty vehicle emissions activity focuses on exhaust emissions from passenger cars and light trucks, specifically as affected by conventional fuel composition, or the replacement of conventional fuels by alternative fuels such as natural gas, LPG, and alcohols. In addition, detailed exhaust characterization such as hydrocarbon speciation, measurement of air toxins, and sampling and analysis of particulate matter are conducted. Test cycles include those required by the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board, as well as the ECE and Japan. Off-cycle conditions (hard accelerations, high power absorption, and others) are also run, and test temperatures can be controlled from 20 to 120 °F (-12 to 49 °C).
