Environment / Energy
With the aims of promoting energy conservation and preserving the urban environment
The reduction of exhaust gas emissions and the saving of energy have become common topics throughout the world as a direct consequence of air pollution and global warming. In addition to strengthening regulations for exhaust emissions, advanced countries are planning to introduce fuel ecomony regulations. Exhaust gas of diesel vehicles is an especially significant factor preventing nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the atmosphere from meeting the environmental criteria. As a result, there has been increasing demand to promptly reduce the exhaust gas of diesel vehicles.
Responding to this demand, the Japan Automobile Research Institute has been studying advanced diesel combustion systems to realize ultra-high efficiency and ultra-low pollution, investigating new hybrid automobile technology to achieve energy saving, examining atmosphere simulation to assess atmospheric environments, studying methods for measuring and analyzing harmful trace matter and nano particles for high-accuracy measurement of substances exhausted from vehicles, and evaluating various measures to prevent global warming. Furthermore, JARI is endeavoring to comprehensively assess exhaust-gas emission of heavy-duty diesel vehicles cooperating with the Joint Research Center for Advanced Diesel engine system (JRCD) National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).
Toward the maintenance of health and development of clean cars
Air pollution caused by nitrogen oxide (NOx) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) is becoming a serious problem for large cities. These substances are emitted from automobiles and stationary factories. SPM is also formed in the atmosphere from several gas components by secondary reactions. These substances have attracted the attention of many people lately as a high concentration of SPM also adversely effects human health.
JARI has continued its research into inhalation exposure using small laboratory animals and cultured cells to clarify the effects on health of particulate matter in diesel emissions because diesel particulates are known to be high in SPM. We introduced the highly sensitive and versatile molecular biological approach including gene expression analysis to clarify the mechanisms of the health effects.
We also conduct mutagenicity tests including Ames tests that support the research using small animals and cultured cells, and are able to easily evaluate the safety of automobile emissions.
For a comfortable sound environment
Road traffic noise is one of the serious social problems. In order to take measures against this problem, various kind of countermeasures, such as reduction of vehicle traveling noise, improvement of the road environment, and traffic flow control, are under consideration. For taking efficient measures, it is important to predict the effect of each measure in advance. JARI has developed a technique to simulate road traffic noise from traffic flow on urban roads and is predicting noise reduction by various measures.
One of the measures to reduce vehicle traveling noise is to reduce tire/road noise. To reduce the tire/road noise, it is necessary to take measures for both tire and road surface. JARI is studying tire/road noise reducing measures by investigating tire/road noise generating mechanisms using drum-type tire noise testing equipment. JARI is also analyzing the difference of tire/road noise on various types of road surfaces.
Furthermore, on the occasion of the establishment of the measurement method for vehicle noise, JARI provides various kinds of data to international organizations, such as ISO, for international harmonization.
