I Outline and results of previous research (JCAP)

a.The outline of Japan Clean Air Program (JCAP) is as follows.

Period

1997 to 2001 (JCAP ), 2002 to 2006 (JCAP )

Purpose

eduction of automotive emission aiming at air quality improvement

Organization

Implementation of joint study between the automobile industry and the petroleum industry

Results

Future automotive emission reduction technologies and necessary fuel qualities are clarified at the same time.

b.Actual results and effects on policies are as follows.

• Sulfur contents of gasoline and diesel fuel with the latest after-treatments were reduced to make the automotive emission cleaner (NOx and PM reduction) and improve the fuel efficiency.4 to 5% improvement in fuel efficiency was confirmed.
  
  As a result, sulfur-free gasoline and diesel fuel are available since January 2005 due to petroleum industry's voluntary efforts, leading the rest of the world.

• It was confirmed that the use of gasoline mixed with 8% ETBE cause no problem to the automotive emission and vehicle performance.
  
  For carrying out the Kyoto Protocol target achievement plan, each member company of the Petroleum Association of Japan devised a plan to introduce a certain amount of bio-ethanol as ETBE, corresponding to 20% of total gasoline demand in FY 2010 (approx. 360,000 KL/year, equivalent to 210,000 KL/year of crude oil). The above research results were utilized as a database in the planning Furthermore, trial introduction was started from April, 2007.

• Effects of sulfuric acid ash content volume, sulfur content, and phosphorus content in engine oil on the post-treatment equipment were confirmed.
  
  The above results were accordingly reflected on the JASO DH- 2 specification (new specification prepared by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan) for diesel engine oil for heavyduty vehicles such as trucks and buses.

• Highly accurate air quality simulation model has been developed.
  By utilizing this model, the effects of the air quality improvement for 2009 emission regulation are predicted quantitatively.
  
  As a result, the above outcome was reported to the hearing by the Automobile Exhaust Emission Technical Committee in the Central Environmental Council of the Ministry of Environment.

II Launching JATOP

Based on the unchanged objective and preconditions of JCAP's activities, “Air quality improvement”, and also with a view to contributing to the eventual solution of the global warming and energy security issues, we set in motion our new projects (JATOP:Japan Auto-Oil Program) for five years from 2007. Through these projects, we aim at establishing the optimal automobile and fuel utilization technologies that can solve three issues simultaneously, namely, “reduction of CO₂”, “diversification of fuels”, and “reduction of automotive emission.
[Overview]
a) Technologies for expanded utilization of biomass fuels
b) Technologies for widespread use of diesel vehicles excelling in automotive emission and fuel efficiency
c) Technologies for investigation and evaluation of air quality (Utilization and improvement of air quality model)

III Contents of JATOP projects

a)Expanded utilization of biomass fuels for diesel

[Objectives]
Technical issues (oxidation stability decrease and poor low temperature performance, etc.) when biomass fuels for diesel are utilized at a high concentration level are clarified to establish technical findings including corrective measures for automobiles and fuels.
[Technical issues]

• Investigation of corrective measures against the decrease in oxidation stability of bio diesel (FAME)
• Investigation of new utilization style (bio hydro-treated diesel fuel, etc.)

b)Expanded utilization of biomass fuels for gasoline

[Objectives]
Technical issues to expand utilization of ETBE or ethanol mixed gasoline are clarified. And the guidelines for redesigning fuel quality necessitated by the changes in fuel property (distillation, etc.) are clarified.
[Technical issues]

• Investigation of measures for drivability, exhaust emission, and evaporative emission
• Investigation of fuel quality suitable for the latest gasoline vehicles

c)Investigation of fuel quality suitable for the latest diesel vehicles

[Objectives]
Fuel quality such as sulfur content and distillation property required to reduce exhaust emission and improve the fuel efficiency of the latest diesel vehicles are clarified.
[Technical issues]

• Sulfur content and distillation property affecting the latest after- treatment system and engine combustion performance are investigated.
• Operating conditions for the improvement of diesel vehicles’ potential are investigated.

d)Technologies for the prediction of effects on air environment

[Objectives]
In JCAP, a top-level air quality simulation model in the world was developed that could predict the concentration distribution of air pollutants from wide range (whole country level) to roadside (roadside near an intersection, etc.). In JATOP, this air quality simulation model is further developed and utilized to clarify contributions of automobiles to the issues of NO2 and fine particles such as PM2.5 on roadside. Effects of the measures for air quality improvement are predicted and then intended to be reflected in the relevant policies.

*PM2.5 : fine particles with a size of 2.5 m or less of particulate matter in the air. Smaller particles can easily pass through tracheas and stick to portions farther than air passage, such as pulmonary alveolus. Therefore, it is said that these fine particles adversely affect the human health.