The HBEFA methodology

Emission factors for road transport can be queried from HBEFA at different aggregation levels and differentiated by various parameters. The tiles below present an overview.

Latest Version:

HBEFA 4.2

DocumentationHelp File

Pollutants

Emission factors for the following components are provided: greenhouse gases (CO2, CO2 equivalents, CH4, and N2O), energy and fuel consumption (gasoline, diesel, electricity, gas, etc.), air pollutants CO, HC, NOx, PM, several components of HC (NMHC, benzene, toluene, xylene), NH3, SO2, Pb, PN, PM10, PM2.5, Black Carbon, (both exhaust and non-exhaust for the latter three)

Emission categories

The following emission categories are taken into account: "Hot" emissions, cold start excess emissions, evaporative emissions (soak, diurnal, and running losses)

Reference years

Activity data (fleet compositions, fuel mixes etc.) are available at least for the time-series 1994-2050 for the countries covered (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and France)

Fleet aggregation levels

HBEFA provides emission factors at various fleet aggregation levels: vehicle category (e.g. passenger cars, trucks, etc.), technology (e.g. petrol, diesel, BEV, PHEV), emission concept (e.g. Euro 5, or Euro 6d) or "subsegment" (e.g. Euro-5 Diesel passenger cars; for some vehicle categories, size classes are distinguished as well). This way, users can extract emission factors at the level of detail matching their activity data.

Traffic situation aggregation levels

Hot emission factors can be queried either for currently 365 individual traffic situations - defined as the combination of area type (rural vs. urban), road type, speed limit, and level of service (or LOS, i.e. traffic density classes). These can additionally be differentiated by different gradient classes. Alternatively, average emission factors for aggregate traffic situations are available (e.g. urban, rural, motorway, or overall average in a given country).

Hot emission factor methodology

"Hot" emission factors of regulated pollutants, CO2, and energy consumption are based on numerous measurements from chassis dynamometers in laboratories, portable emission measuring systems on the road (PEMS), or remote sensing (RS) data from the roadside. Measurements are collected in the "DBEFA" database and processed in the vehicle emission simulation model PHEM, both developed at TU Graz, producing the so-called "base emission factors". These are corrected for influences like age, ambient temperature, energy efficiency, and fuel quality. Emission factors of non-regulated pollutants are based on other sources like the EMEP/EEA emission inventory guidebooks.

Cold start EF methodology

The cold start excess emission factors are calculated based on a methodology developed at EMPA in Switzerland. Measurement data based on the IUFC cycle (Inrets urbain fluide court) are required as input. The cold start excess emission factors are differentiated by ambient conditions such as typical temperature distributions and behavioural parameters (such as trip length distributions, parking time distributions).

Evaporation EF methodology

Evaporation emission factors are based on the methodology of the EMEP/EEA emission inventory guidebooks, which is also applied in the COPERT emission model. As the cold start excess emission factors, evaporation emission factors are differentiated by ambient conditions such as typical temperature distributions and behavioural parameters (such as trip length distributions, parking time distributions), and further by the subprocesses "Soak" (evaporation after stopping, when the engine is still hot), "Diurnal" (evaporation due to daily temperature fluctuations), and "Running Losses" (evaporation during driving).

Stored query parameters

The parameter sets of each emission factor query are stored under a user-specified name. The program then calculates the desired emission factors. The results can be exported to Excel. Users with a full version of MS Access have direct access to the result database for further processing of the emission factors.

Research and Reports

HBEFA Documentation

24.2.22

HBEFA 4.2

HBEFA 4.2 Update Documentation

Documentation of updates with Version 4.2

INFRAS, IVT TU Graz, ifeu, IFSSTAR, ADEME, IVL

Benedikt Notter, Brian Cox, Stefan Hausberger, Claus Matzer, Konstantin Weller, Martin Dippold, Nicolas Politschnig, Silke Lipp, Michel Allekotte, Wolfram Knörr, Michel André, Laurent Gagnepain, Cecilia Hult, Martin Jerksjö

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DE
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Report

7.8.22

HBEFA 4.2

Swedish country data developments for HBEFA 2019-2021

Detailed description of various Swedish country data improvements for HBEFA 4.2

Trafikverket, IVL, WSP

Martin Jerksjö, Cecilia Hult, Tomas Wisell, Katja Berdica, Eva Ericsson, Anna Persson, Helen Lindblom

Featured
DE
EN

Thesis

15.9.21

HBEFA 4.1

Real World Emissionen elektrifizierter Antriebe und Effekte der RDE-Gesetzgebung

On the development of PHEV/BEV inputs for HBEFA 4.1 (in German)

ITnA TU Graz

Dipl.-Ing. - BSc Silke Lipp

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DE
EN

Report

4.6.21

HBEFA 4.2

Derivation of emission factors for Diesel PC with software updates (in German)

Update of emission factors for Diesel PC with software updates for HBEFA 4.2: Euro 5 vehicles other than the EA189 engine (already covered in HBEFA 4.1) and Euro 6ab vehicles

TU Graz, Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulstion Systems

Martin Dippold, Stefan Hausberger

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DE
EN

Thesis

21.2.21

Bestimmung von Kraftstoffverbrauch und Abgasemissionen von Pkw in realen Betriebszuständen mittels Messung und Simulation

On the development of PC emission factors for HBEFA 4.1 (in German)

ITnA TU Graz

Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. BSc Claus Matzer

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DE
EN

Thesis

20.10.20

HBEFA 4.1

Emission Models for Heavy Duty Vehicles Based on On-road Measurements.

On the development of HDV emission factors for HBEFA 4.1.

ITnA TU Graz

Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. BSc Konstantin Weller

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DE
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Update description

24.10.19

HBEFA 4.1

HBEFA 4.1 October 2019 update

Describes the October 2019 update of HBEFA 4.1 (fuel mix NO, introduction schemes A, aggregate TS A, NH3 EF for LPG PC)

INFRAS

Benedikt Notter

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

11.9.19

HBEFA 4.1

HBEFA 4.1 Development Report

This report documents the adaptations in HBEFA Version 4.1

INFRAS, ifeu, FVT TU Graz

Benedikt Notter, Mario Keller, Hans-Jörg Althaus, Brian Cox, Wolfram Knörr, Christoph Heidt, Kirsten Biemann, Dominik Räder, Marie Jamet

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

11.9.19

HBEFA 4.1

HBEFA 4.1 Hot emission factors

This report of the TU Graz documents the derivation of hot emission factors for HBEFA Version 4.1

ITnA TU Graz

Claus Matzer, Konstantin Weller, Martin Dippold, Silke Lipp, Martin Röck, Martin Rexeis, Stefan Hausberger

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DE
EN

HBEFA Documentation

11.9.19

HBEFA 4.1

HBEFA 4.1 Traffic situations and driving cycles

This report documents the update of definitions and driving cycles of traffic situations for HBEFA Version 4.1

WSP Sweden, HSDAC

Eva Ericsson, Heinz Steven

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

23.5.17

HBEFA 3.3

Development of emission factors for EURO 4, EURO 5 and EURO 6 Diesel passenger cars for the HBEFA Version 3.3

This report describes the model approach (PHEM), the available data and shows results of the hot emission factors developped for HBEFA 3.3

IVT TU Graz

Stefan Hausberger, Claus Matzer

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

21.4.17

HBEFA 3.3

HBEFA 3.3 Background Documentation (English)

Documentation of the updates with HBEFA Version 3.3

MK Consulting GmbH, INFRAS, IVT TU Graz

Mario Keller, Stefan Hausberger, Claus Matzer, Philipp Wüthrich, Benedikt Notter

Featured
DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

21.4.17

HBEFA 3.3

HBEFA 3.3 Background Documentation (German)

Documentation of the updates with HBEFA Version 3.3

MK Consulting GmbH, INFRAS, IVT TU Graz

Mario Keller, Stefan Hausberger, Claus Matzer, Philipp Wüthrich, Benedikt Notter

Featured
DE
EN

HBEFA Documentation

17.7.14

HBEFA 3.2

Update of Emission Factors for EURO 5 and EURO 6 vehicles for the HBEFA Version 3.2

Update of hot emission factors of Euro 5 and 6 vehicles for HBEFA Version 3.2

FVT TU Graz

Martin Rexeis, Stefan Hausberger, Jörg Kühlwein, Raphael Luz, Norbert Ligterink, Gerrit Kadijk

Featured
DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

25.5.10

HBEFA 3.1

HBEFA 3.1 Hot emission factors (PC, LCV, HDV)

This report describes the model approach (PHEM), the available data and shows results and uncertainties of the hot emission factors developed for HBEFA 3.1.

IVT TU Graz

Stefan Hausberger, Martin Rexeis, Michael Zallinger, Raphael Luz

Featured
DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

23.8.04

HBEFA 2.1

HBEFA 2.1 Swiss activity data update (in German)

Update of Swiss activity data and fleet compositions for HBEFA 2.1

INFRAS

René Zbinden, Mario Keller

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

30.7.04

HBEFA 2.1

Emission factors for passenger cars and light-duty vehicles for HBEFA 2.1

Development of hot and cold start emission factors for LDV for HBEFA 2.1

INFRAS

Peter de Haan, Mario Keller

Featured
DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

6.5.04

HBEFA 2.1

HBEFA 2.1 Verkehrsgrundlagen Deutschland (in German)

Update of German activity data and fleet compositions for HBEFA 2.1

ifeu

Wolfram Knörr

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

22.12.03

HBEFA 2.1

HDV Emission factor update - amendment

Ergänzungsbericht/Amendment: Update der Emissionsfaktoren für Schwere Nutzfahrzeuge nach EURO 3 (2003) for HBEFA 2.1, Dez. 2003 (in German)

FVT TU Graz

Stefan Hausberger

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

8.12.03

HBEFA 2.1

Emissionsfaktoren Motorisierte Zweiräder (2-wheelers)

Update der Emissionsfaktoren für Motorräder, ausgeführt durch RWTüV im Rahmen des UBA-Vorhabens Nr. F+E 298 43 100/02 (alt 205 06 100/02) - in German

RWTÜV Fahrzeug GmbH

Heinz Steven

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

4.12.03

HBEFA 2.1

HBEFA 2.1 Verkehrsgrundlagen Österreich

Update of Austrian activity data and fleet compositions for HBEFA 2.1 (in German)

FVT TU Graz

Rudolf Pischinger, Stefan Hausberger, Martin Rexeis

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DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

16.12.02

HBEFA 2.1

Update of the Emission Functions for Heavy Duty Vehicles in the Handbook Emission Factors for Road Traffic

Update of the Emission Functions for Heavy Duty Vehicles in the Handbook Emission Factors for Road Traffic for HBEFA Version 2.1.

FVT TU Graz

Rudolf Pischinger, Stefan Hausberger, Dieter Engler, Mario Ivanisin, Martin Rexeis

Featured
DE
EN

HBEFA documentation

1.1.99

HBEFA 1.2

Handbuch Emissionsfaktoren des Strassenverkehrs Version 1.2

Documentation of the Version 1.2 (Germany) of the HBEFA (in German)

INFRAS, ifeu

Mario Keller, Wolfram Knörr

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DE
EN

Development partners and data providers

The following partners keep optimizing the Handbook of Emission Factors with essential data and knowledge:

INFRAS

INFRAS has been leading the development of the Handbook of Emission Factors for Road Transport since its first version in 1995. INFRAS coordinates the methodology development at each version update, develops and distributes the HBEFA software, and offers support to users.

TU Graz, Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems

The Institute of Thermodynamics and Sustainable Propulsion Systems at Graz University of Technology carries out emission measurements, collects measurement data from laboratories all over Europe and develops the base emission factors for HBEFA using the detailed vehicle emission model PHEM (Passenger car and heavy duty emission model).

ifeu

The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu) in Heidelberg has been participating in HBEFA development from its start in 1995. As developer of TREMOD, the German national transport emission model, ifeu contributes German country data as well as other inputs such as non-regulated pollutant emission factors.

WSP Sweden

WSP Sweden contributes to the development of the HBEFA traffic situation scheme and its underlying driving patterns, and contributes Swedish country data in collaboration with IVL.

IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute

IVL elaborates Swedish country data for HBEFA, and contributes to the development of age and temperature correction functions for hot emission factors based on remote sensing (RS) data.

Université Gustave Eiffel

Université Gustave Eiffel prepares the French country data for HBEFA and has co-developed the HBEFA traffic situation scheme.

Statistics Norway

Statistics Norway provides the Norwegian country data for HBEFA.

TU Dresden, Institute of Transport Planning and Road Traffic

The Chair of Transport Ecology at the Institute of transport planning and road traffic of TU Dresden measures and analyses remote-sensing (RS) data to derive the deterioration and temperature correction functions, as well as for the validation of hot emission factors in the Handbook.

Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)

The Laboratory for Automotive Powertrains of the Empa develops the cold start excess emissions methodology for HBEFA and carries out exhaust measurements.

LAT (Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics), Aristotle University Thessaloniki

The Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics (LAT) at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki carries out emission measurements and develops emission calculation methods. Together with Emisia, it develops the COPERT emission model which the Evaporation emissions methodology in HBEFA is based on.

Emisia

Emisia is a spin-off company of the Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics (LAT) at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It develops the COPERT emission model, which the Evaporation emissions methodology in HBEFA is based on.

AVL MTC

AVL MTC carries out emission measurements on vehicles and contributes inputs on vehicles with alternative fuels (such as biofuels, gas etc.)