How we can help
Real-world emissions data provides cities with powerful public information to address dirty air.
The TRUE Initiative uses real-world vehicle emissions data to address the gap often found between laboratory and on-road vehicle exhaust measurements. Accurate emissions data provides cities with a clearer picture of the levels and causes of high emissions, information on vehicle fleet characteristics, and insights into effective emission curbing measures.
Our approach
The TRUE Initiative’s goal is to improve urban air quality and reduce the negative health and climate impacts of vehicle emissions in cities across the globe. We drive action towards cleaner urban transport through data collection, analysis, and policy recommendations.
Collect
Real-world vehicle exhaust measurements from urban transport.
Analyze
The emissions impact of road vehicles and key contributors to air pollution are identified and quantified.
Support
Develop evidence-based policy solutions for cities to improve air quality and public health.
The TRUE Initiative has compiled a large database of real-world emissions data collected through on-road testing campaigns, third-party institutions, and research consortiums. With ongoing data collection since 2017 in cities around the world, our database now contains over 75 million vehicle records from 5 continents.
How we work
Each city government has a unique set of needs and resources to address air quality at home. The TRUE Initiative works with city officials to determine what type of research and analysis would best suit their needs and lead to the greatest reduction in transport emissions and their impact on quality of life.
Remote sensing
A non-intrusive technique to capture a sample of emissions data from vehicles during normal, on-road operation in a city. The technique can gather hundreds of thousands of records in a few weeks.
Database and toolkit analysis
Utilising existing data sets and fleet modelling tools, new conclusions can be drawn about vehicle fleets and their impact on local environments.
Policy scenario modeling
Air quality, human health, exposure disparities, society damages, and climate benefits of various policies can be quantified to determine impacts across different geographies and demographics.
Researchers at the TRUE Initiative have used these types of analyses in cities such as London, Mexico City, Warsaw, Jakarta, and New York to assist policymakers and advocates in a variety of ways.
- Inform how policies and standards can be crafted to work as intended, or to provide support for new policies aimed at accelerating electric vehicle adoption and alternative forms of mobility
- Provide evidence and build public support for city-level low-emission transportation policies and actions by identifying high-emitting vehicle classes
- Develop improved estimates of emission factors for use in air quality modeling and health impacts assessment
Role of the city
As TRUE studies are highly localized, it is vital that city officials regularly engage with the project team before, during, and after testing. Cities may be called upon to select testing sites, obtain permits, review initial data, and provide assistance to develop policy recommendations that are realistic and actionable.
Interested in exploring a partnership with the TRUE Initiative? Contact us.
Explore the regions and cities where TRUE has worked
Recent research
Pollutant emissions from light-duty vehicles across North America: A comparative analysis
Evaluation of real-world vehicle emissions in Kampala, Uganda
