Cold start emissions of an ethanol-fuelled engine with heated intake air and fuel

► Heated intake air and ethanol reduces raw exhaust HC and CO emissions. ► Raw exhaust NOX emissions are slightly reduced with heated intake air and ethanol. ► Heated intake air and ethanol increases HC and CO catalytic converter efficiency. ► NOX catalytic reduction efficiency is unaltered by heated intake air and ethanol. ► Post-catalytic aldehydes are not altered by heated intake air and ethanol. This works presents the exhaust emission levels from a flexible fuel engine with heated intake air and fuel during cold start operation. A vehicle powered by an ethanol-fuelled flexible fuel engine was used in the experiments, following the US FTP-75 test schedule. The conventional gasoline injection system for cold start assistance was removed. Heating of intake air and fuel was provided by electric resistances. The results demonstrate that intake air and fuel heating can attend cold start expectations and simultaneously reduce exhaust hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions.