Evaluation of low emission zone policy on vehicle emission reduction in Beijing, China

This study evaluates the effect of the LEZ in Beijing from the perspective of vehicle emission reduction based on developing an urban street-scale vehicle emission inventory on the basis of the local emission factors and the dynamic or static traffic data via a bottom-up approach. In 2016, before the implementation of the LEZ, the vehicle emission of CO, HC, NOx, and PM were 49.01×104, 6.31×104, 5.96×104, and 0.12×104 t, respectively. According to the simulation results, the LEZ policy would have an obviously positive effect on emission reduction, especially for CO and HC. In order to realize the long-term mitigation target, it is necessary to update and amend the detailed terms of the LEZ policy regularly according to the traffic development and vehicle emission change.