February 13, 2023
Stuttgart, 13 February 2023 – Air pollution is a complex problem to be tackled. The co-funded EU-Project AeroSolfd aims to reduce traffic-related emissions through the deployment of three retrofit (filtration) solutions for tailpipes, brakes and (semi-)closed environments. AeroSolfd will be present at FILTECH, the largest filtration show worldwide, which will take place in Cologne from 14 to 16 February 2023. The project coordinator MANN+HUMMEL will be available at their exhibition stand for questions and exchanges. Additionally, MANN+HUMMEL and project partner VERT-Association will hold two presentations addressing the project’s solutions to traffic-related air pollution.
AeroSolfd logo
AeroSolfd, an innovation action of Horizon Europe, aims to achieve rapid success in reducing the overall footprint of existing fleets by developing retrofit filters for tailpipes already addressed by VERT, as well as brakes and (semi-)enclosed environments. This can involve filtering emissions at the source (exhaust and brake) or, in semi-enclosed environments, filtering the air to reduce overall exposure.
The overall project methodology is based on two pillars: A) Development to bring existing retrofit technologies from product validation/demonstration to market-readiness (TRL 4-7 to TRL 8), and B) Market preparation, including sustainability assessment, public awareness, stakeholder engagement and proposal of incentive schemes.
Emissions of highly toxic but invisible ultrafine particles from petrol engines can reach levels similar or higher to those from diesel engines in untreated exhaust and therefore pose a widely underestimated health and climate risk. Exhaust gas filtration for petrol engines (GPFs) can effectively reduce these emissions.
VERT-Association identified the technical, legal and, to some extent, political framework conditions for the introduction of particle filters and the prospects for a widespread introduction of exhaust gas filtration for petrol engines (GPFs). The anticipated very long presence of petrol engines in individual transport (more than 40 years) confirms the relevance of the efforts taken.
A technology is needed that must be flexible enough to be used on in-service vehicles, and the EU is looking for a technical demonstration that proves this technology can be made available within three years at an affordable implementation cost. As part of the AeroSolfd project, VERT will therefore test a statistical sample of 1000 vehicles for ultrafine particle emissions to get a sense of the scale and urgency of the problem and retrofit 50 vehicles of different makes in three different countries. VERT presents the best available technology for this project and the first results with different GPFs in terms of size-specific filtration and toxic gas emission.
Air pollution remains a major health risk for premature death. A significant contribution is traffic-related. While exhaust emissions have been significantly reduced over the years through ongoing legislation, non-exhaust emissions will for the first time be subject of the planned EURO7 legislation for new vehicles. For the existing vehicle fleet, retrofit solutions could address this issue.
MANN+HUMMEL focuses on the development of two solutions: the brake dust particle filter aims for reducing emission directly at the source. Stationary filtration solutions for (semi-)closed environments target to reduce fine dust exposure level at e.g. metro stations. In the presentation, MANN+HUMMEL outlines the ongoing development from product validation/demonstration to market-readiness (TRL 4-7 to TRL 8) and the methodology considered for the next steps, alongside the initial results for assessing the status quo of brake emissions on city bus routes as well as exposure at metro stations.
The three filtration solutions that AeroSolfd is developing to reduce traffic-related air pollution enable cleaner mobility and a healthier environment for everyone. Making an appearance at this renowned filtration event, AeroSolfd takes the next step into the public, as the project will continue to do in March at VERT Forum.
Project Coordinator
