Methods and systems for mobile carbon dioxide monitoring

Abstract

A telematics device coupled to vehicle onboard computer system calculates carbon dioxide output of the vehicle. The device uses inputs from existing vehicle performance and parameter sensors, such as speed, fuel efficiency, mass air flow and oxygen present in the vehicle's exhaust, to calculate carbon dioxide output. Speed divided by fuel efficiency results in gallons per hour. An emmission factor, EF, multiplied by the gallons per hour results in weight of carbon dioxide produced by the vehicle per hour. Dividing EF by the efficiency results in pounds per mile. Using input from the mass air flow and oxygen sensors, with an approximation of gasoline molecular weight may produce more accurate results without using EF. If the sensors do not provide values in the units needed, a calibration curve for the mass air flow sensor and oxygen sensor may be used. The telematics device can display the results or upload them.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.