MOVES (Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator)
To keep pace with new analysis needs, modeling approaches, and data, the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) is developing a modeling system termed the MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES). This new system will estimate emissions for on-road and nonroad sources, cover a broad range of pollutants, and allow multiple scale analysis, from fine-scale analysis to national inventory estimation. When fully implemented MOVES will serve as the replacement for MOBILE6 and NONROAD. The new system will not necessarily be a single piece of software, but instead will encompass the necessary tools, algorithms, underlying data and guidance necessary for use in all official analyses associated with regulatory development, compliance with statutory requirements, and national/regional inventory projections. This project was previously known as the New Generation Mobile Source Emissions Model (NGM).
For further information on MOVES, email mobile@epa.gov.
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For further information or assistance regarding this web page, contact:
ASD Information Line, phone: (734) 214-4636 or email: asdinfo@epa.gov
- MOVES Demo Software & Documentation
- MOVES2004 Software & Documentation
- Planning Documentation
- FACA Materials
- Conference/Workshop Papers and Presentations
- Background Reports
- General Background
- Main mobile sources modeling page
MOVES Demo Software & Documentation
MOVES Highway Vehicle Implementation, Demonstration Version (MOVES Demo) is an update to MOVES2004 and includes the major software features planned for the future MOVES model. MOVES Demo provides an excellent opportunity for modelers to start learning to use the advanced features of the MOVES model and to provide feedback to us as we continue our work on the MOVES model.
Please note that all of the criteria pollutant emission rates in MOVES Demo are placeholder values and do not represent actual emission rates. Users may not use MOVES for any submissions for State Implementation Plans (SIPs) or conformity determinations until EPA approves an “official” version of MOVES.
- MOVES Demonstration Introduction describes MOVES Demo, provides guidelines for MOVES Demo use, and provides contact information for commenters.
- MOVES Demonstration Program Suite Distribution (ZIP, 220M, April 2007) This compressed file includes everything needed to install MOVES Demo, including installation instructions, program software, the MOVES Demo default database, MOVES Demo user guide and the MOVES Demo software design and reference manual. Important! Instructions for downloading and extracting the MOVES Demo Program Suite Distribution ZIP file.
- Documentation:
- MOVES-HVI Demonstration Version User Guide, Draft (PDF) (113 pp, 1.5MB, 420-P-07-002, February 2007) provides detailed instructions on how to use MOVES Demo.
- Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator - Highway Vehicle Implementation (MOVES-HVI) Demonstration Version, Software Design and Reference Manual, Draft (PDF) (231 pp, 1.5MB, 420-P-07-001, February 2007) describes the database structure and software design for MOVES Demo including detailed calculation algorithms.
- Questions & Answers (also available as a PDF file, 3 pp, 93K, 420-F-07-043, May 2007)
Draft MOVES2004 Software & Documentation
- Synopsis & Request for Comments
- MOVES2004 Installation Package (220MB ZIP) (Note: This is a very large file and will take a long time to download.)
- Installation Patch # 2: Download and execute this supplemental installation for required corrections to the version of MOVES2004 currently posted on the MOVES website, (includes all previous patches) (12.9M ZIP)
- Documentation:
- A Roadmap to MOVES2004 (also available as a PDF file, 10 pp, 290K, EPA420-S-05-002, March 2005) provides a general overview of MOVES2004 and its documentation.
- User Guide (PDF) (92 pp, 1.7MB, EPA420-P-04-019, November 2004)
- Software Design Reference Manual (PDF) (142 pp, 1.1MB EPA420-P-04-017, November 2004)
- Validation Results (PDF) (28 pp, 333K, EPA420-P-05-002, February 2005)
- Highway Vehicle Population and Activity Data (PDF) (99 pp, 445K, EPA420-P-04-020, December 2004)
- Energy and Emission Inputs (PDF) (175 pp, 5.6MB EPA420-P-05-003, March 2005)
- Update of Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emission Factors (PDF) (39 pp, 683K, EPA420-P-04-016, November 2004)
- User Manual and Technical Issues of GREET for MOVES Integration (PDF) (61 pp, 522K, EPA420-P-05-004, March 2005)
- Physical Emission Rate Estimator (PERE)
- Report: Fuel Consumption Modeling of Conventional and Advanced Technology Vehicles in the Physical Emission Rate Estimator (PERE) (PDF) (124 pp, 2.0MB, EPA420-P-05-001, February 2005)
- Model (9.8MB ZIP)
Planning Documentation
- Advanced Technology Vehicle Modeling in PERE (PDF) (50 pp, 477K, EPA420-D-04-002, February 2004) Describes the PERE model for conventional as well as advanced technology light duty vehicles. PERE will be used to generate some emissions rates for MOVES.
- Peer Review of Design and Implementation Plan
- Independent Peer Review of the MOVES Design and Emissions Analysis Plans (PDF) (28 pp, 138K, February 2003)
- Addendum to Independent Peer Review of the MOVES Design and Emission Analysis Plans (PDF) (2 pp, 60K, February 2003)
- Draft Design and Implementation Plan for EPA's Multi-Scale Motor Vehicle and Equipment Emission System (MOVES) (PDF) (92 pp, 899K, EPA420-P-02-006, October 2002) also available as a Report abstract and request for public comments.
FACA Modeling Workgroup Materials
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Modeling Workgroup is focused on providing EPA with stakeholder input on MOVES. Materials from recent workgroup meetings are provided below:
- August 8, 2006, joint meeting with FACA Modeling workgroup and Coordinated Research Council Emissions Committee
- EPA Presentation: Brake and Tire Emissions in MOVES (PDF) (15 pp, 99K) describes planned methodology for brake and tire emissions.
- EPA Presentation: Fuels and Fuel Effects in MOVES2006 (PDF) (14 pp, 100K) describes planned fuels and adjustment for MOVES2006.
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Heavy Duty HC/CO/NOx (PDF) (26 pp, 269K) summarizes heavy duty criteria pollutants planned for MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: Developing Draft Emission Rates for MOVES: Criteria Pollutant Emissions from Light Duty Vehicles (PDF) (55 pp, 941K) recaps MOVES design, reviews data sources, describes options to represent I/M.
- EPA Presentation: Activity in MOVES 2006 (PDF) (15 pp, 105K) overview of VMT & source hours operating, starts and evaporative activity.
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Light Duty Vehicle Engine Start Emissions and Exhaust Emission Adjustments (PDF) (23 pp, 159K) describes engine starts basics.
- EPA Presentation: Approach for Modeling Evaporative Emissions in MOVES (PDF) (30 pp, 241K) describes planned methodology for evaporative emissions in MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Future Emission Rates (PDF) (20 pp, 120K) describes projections of future emission rates: light duty and heavy duty gas and heavy duty diesels.
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Heavy Duty PM (PDF) (26 pp, 448K) describes the plan for heavy duty particulates in MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: Gasoline Particulate Emission Rate Development for MOVES (PDF) (30 pp, 785K) describes Kansas City PM study background, modal trends and elemental and organic carbon rates.
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Status and Overview (PDF) (31 pp, 269K) describes current status of MOVES project.
- December 2, 2003, Workgroup Meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF) (13 pp, 161K)
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Update for FACA Modeling Workgroup (PDF) (6 pp, 117K) describes the status of work on the MOVES model.
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Fleet & Activity Inputs, 1999 Base Year (PDF) (33 pp, 439K) describes the vehicle population and activity data being prepared for MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: Data Acquisition and Management for MOVES (PDF) (35 pp, 482K) describes the vehicle emission rate and energy consumption data being collected for MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: Emission Rate Development (PDF) (34 pp, 405K) describes the characterization and analysis of emission rates for MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: Advanced Technology Vehicle Modeling in MOVES using PERE (PDF) (32 pp, 560K) summarizes how the Physical Emission Rate Estimator will be used to generate MOVES emission rates for advanced technology vehicles.
- Environ Presentation: Review of MOVES Draft Design (PDF) (19 pp, 332K) Describes the Coordinating Research Council's review of the MOVES design.
- EPA Presentation: Discussion of CRC & NYDEC Comments (PDF) (13 pp, 203K) Provides EPA responses to MOVES comments from the Coordinating Research Council and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
- Draft EPA Report: EPA MOVES Greenhouse Gas RunSpec GUI Details (PDF) (15 pp, 348K, EPA420-D-03-002, November 2003) Describes the Graphical User Interface planned for the MOVES 2004 release.
- June 13, 2002, Workgroup Meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF) (1 pp, 24K)
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Progress Update (PDF) (34 pp, 122K) (also available as a 480K Powerpoint) Describes plans for MOVES implementation and work on emission rate development.
- June 10, 2003, Workgroup Meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF) (35 pp, 557K) (Includes EPA presentation "MOVES Update for FACA Modeling Workgroup")
- February 11, 2003, Workgroup Meeting
- Meeting Summary(PDF) (12 pp, 116K)
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Update for FACA Modeling Workgroup (PDF) (14 pp, 116K) Provides update on MOVES progress and status.
- Robert Slott Presentation: Comments on MOVES Reports (PDF) (32 pp, 300K) Provides comments on EPA reports EPA420-R-02-027 and EPA420-P-02-008.
- November 6, 2002, Workgroup Meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF) (9 pp, 43K)
- July 15, 2002, Workgroup Conference Call
- Call Summary (PDF) (15 pp, 39K)
- February 12, 2002, Workgroup Meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF) (4 pp, 18K)
- EPA Presentation: New Generation Model Update (PDF) (16 pp, 207K) (also available as a 792K Powerpoint) Describes plans and progress on MOVES.
- Workgroup Presentation: New Generation Model Status Report (PDF) (14 pp, 20K) (also available as a 78K Powerpoint) Describes results of MOVES survey sent to FACA modeling workgroup members.
- October 23, 2001, Workgroup Meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF) (6 pp, 16K)
- EPA Presentation: EPA's New Mobile Source Emissions Model: Progress and (Some) Proposals (PDF) (22 pp, 147K) (also available as a 217K Powerpoint) Describes plans and progress on MOVES.
- April 23, 2001, Conference Call
- Meeting Summary(PDF) (4 pp, 10K)
- April 10, 2001, Conference Call
- EPA Presentation: New Generation Mobile Source Emissions Model - Initial Proposal and Issues (PDF) (35 pp, 610K) (also available as a 710K Powerpoint ) Describes plans for MOVES.
- January 16, 2001, Workgroup Meeting
- Meeting Summary (PDF) (4 pp, 12K)
- EPA Presentation: New Generation Mobile Source Emissions Modeling (PDF) (28 pp, 47K) (also available as a 710K Powerpoint) Describes rationale and options for a new mobile source emissions model.
Conference/Workshop Papers and Presentations
- EPA Presentation: The MOVES Approach to Modal Emission Modeling (PDF) (30 pp, 496K) Presented at Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2004. Describes development of emission rates using the Modal Binning Approach.
- EPA Presentation: Running Energy Consumption Rates within the MOVES Modal Framework (PDF) (32 pp, 832K) Presented at Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2004. Summarizes analyses performed to populate the MOVES emission rate table for running energy consumption by motor vehicles.
- EPA Presentation: Medium and Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Modeling Using a Fuel Consumption Methodology (PDF) (27 pp, 640K) Presented at Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2004. Describes development of a Fuel Consumption Methodology using the PERE model for Medium and Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles.
- EPA Presentation: Advanced Technology Vehicle Fuel Consumption Modeling in PERE (PDF) (28 pp, 676K) Presented at Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2004. Describes the PERE model for conventional as well as advanced technology vehicles. PERE will be used to forecast energy consumption for MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Fleet & Activity Inputs 1999 Base Year (PDF) (17 pp, 404K) Presented at Coordinating Research Council on On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2004. Describes the vehicle population and activity data being prepared for MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: MOVES Update (PDF) (17 pp, 436K) Presented at Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2004. Describes status of work on MOVES model.
- EPA Presentation: Design and Implementation of MOVES: EPA's New Generation Mobile Source Emission Model (PDF) (32 pp, 413K) Presented at the International Emission Inventory Conference "Emission Inventories - Applying New Technologies" San Diego, April 2003. Summarizes EPA plans for developing MOVES.
- EPA Presentation: Consistency in On-Road Mobile Source Activity Modeling, with an Application to Parked Passenger Cars (PDF) (21 pp, 227K) Presented at the International Emission Inventory Conference "Emission Inventories - Applying New Technologies" San Diego, April 2003. Describes relationships between vehicle activity distributions, focusing on an example of vehicle time-spent-parked and time-spent-running.
- EPA Presentation: Emission Analysis Approach for EPA's Multi-scale Motor Vehicle & Equipment Emission System (MOVES) (PDF) (36 pp, 905K) presented at Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2003. Describes proposed approach for characterizing and analyzing emissions for MOVES.
- Ford Presentation: A Physical Emissions Rate Estimator for MOVES (PDF) (36 pp, 389K) Presented at Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2003. Describes a model to estimate emissions using physical parameters of a vehicle.
- Ford & EPA Presentation: Speed Anomalies in VSP Based Emissions (PDF) (30 pp, 305K) Presented at Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, April 2003. Describes research on estimating emissions using Vehicle Specific Power.
- EPA Presentation: Planning for Quality in MOVES: EPA's Next Generation Mobile Source Emissions Model (PDF) (20 pp, 216K) Presented at the National Conference on Managing Quality Systems, April 2003. Describes plans to assure model quality in MOVES.
- Workshops
- March 16, 2005 Workshop Materials: a one-day public workshop on the recently-released MOVES2004 model 3.4M ZIP
- A 3-day modeling workshop was held in Ann Arbor, MI, November 5 through 7, 2002. Only the second day of the workshop (November 6) was devoted to the MOVES model. The first and third days were devoted to the NONROAD model and the MOBILE6 model, respectively.
- Mobile Source Present and Future Models Workshop, November 5-7, 2002 (PDF) (4 pp, 395K) (November 2002) Workshop Announcement and Tentative Agenda
- Workshop Daily Agendas (final version)
- Workshop Presentations
- Presentations from the 1-day NONROAD Session
A "zip" file containing the agenda and all of the presentations in either "PDF" formats 361K ZIP or PowerPoint97 formats 246K ZIP. The presentations provide details on the development of the NONROAD model and include: "Introduction," "Technical Developments: Model Results," "Technical Developments: Default Inputs," Code Modifications," "Geographic Allocation," "Sensitivity Analysis," and "Model Release and Guidance." - Presentations for the 1-day MOVES Session
A "zip" file containing the agenda and the presentations in "PDF" formats 1.3M ZIP as well as a transcript of that day's session. The presentations provide detail on the plans for and progress on the MOVES model. They include: "Design and Implementation Plan," "Software Implementation," "Emission Analysis Overview," "Candidate Emission Analysis Methods," "Emission Analysis Plan for MOVES GHG," "High Emitter Characterization," "Uncertainty Estimation," and "PEMS Progress Report." - Presentations for the 1-day MOBILE6 Session
The MOBILE6 session consisted of five EPA presentations and a user forum in which three presentations were submitted by individual users.
A "zip" file containing the agenda and all five of the EPA presentations in either "PDF" formats 1.4M ZIP or PowerPoint97 formats 2.7M ZIP The presentations provide details on MOBILE6 results and guidance. They include: "MOBILE6 Model Update," "MOBILE6 Policy Update," "MOBILE6 Sensitivity Analysis," and "MOBILE6 Validation Studies."
A "zip" file containing the agenda and all three of the user submitted presentations in "PDF" formats 1.4M ZIP The presentations provide information on how MOBILE6 has been used in various context. The presentations are: "Development and Management of Link-level MOBILE6-Based Emissions Inventories", "Use of MOBILE6 to Develop and Quality Assure 'Link-Based' Inventories for the 8-County Houston/Galveston Nonattainment Area", and "M6Link, A Tool for Integrating Transportation Model Output and MOBILE6 Output".
- Presentations from the 1-day NONROAD Session
- Conference Paper: EPA's Plan for MOVES: A Comprehensive Mobile Source Emissions Model (PDF) (14 pp, 247K) Presented at the International Emission Inventory Conference "Emission Inventories - Partnering For The Future," Atlanta, April 2002 The paper presents EPA's progress to date on MOVES, focusing on initial efforts regarding model design, emission analysis, software development, and quality considerations.
- CRC Presentation: EPA's Plan for MOVES: A Comprehensive Mobile Source Emissions Model (PDF) (16 pp, 141K) (also available as a 127K Powerpoint) Presented at the CRC On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop, San Diego, April 2002 The presentation describes EPA's progress to date on MOVES.
Background Reports
- Proof of Concept Investigation for the Physical Emission Rate Estimator (PERE) to be Used in MOVES (PDF) (82 pp, 2.4MB, EPA420-R-03-005, February 2003) This report provides a proposal for the Physical Emission Rate Estimator (PERE) to be used in MOVES. By Dr. Edward Nam of Ford Motor Company
- An assessment of methods for developing emission rates based on the results on the on-board shootout discussed below is documented in Methodology For Developing Modal Emission Rates For EPA's Multi-Scale Motor Vehicle & Equipment Emission System (PDF) (286 pp, 1.09MB, EPA420-R-02-027, August 31, 2002) produced by North Carolina State University.
- An effort to inventory second-by-second data generated outside of EPA and process it for inclusion in MOVES analyses is documented in Mobile Source Observation Data (MSOD) Database Update, Interim Report (PDF) (60 pp, 684K, EPA420-R-02-033, October 31, 2002) Produced by Eastern Research Group, Inc.
- An onboard emission analysis "shootout" was conducted by EPA to evaluate potential methods for analyzing onboard emission data in MOVES. A pilot dataset of onboard data was provided to three contractors: University of California at Riverside, North Carolina State University, and ENVIRON Corporation. The contractors developed models with these data which were used to predict a set of independent operation on an additional set of vehicles. EPA also participated in the shootout. Methods and results for all approaches are summarized in (EPA420-R-02-033, October 31, 2002) EPA's Onboard Analysis Shootout: Overview and Results (PDF) (66 pp, 780K, EPA420-R-02-026, October 2002) Individual contractor reports are posted below, including the test program report from Sensors, Inc.
- University of California at Riverside: College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology: Mobile Source Emissions New Generation Model: Using a Hybrid Database Prediction Technique (PDF) (67 pp, 4.8MB) and Appendix (PDF) (12 pp, 2.6MB, February 6, 2002)
- ENVIRON International Corporation: Onboard Emission Data Analysis and Collection for the New Generation Model (PDF) (48 pages, 1.7MB, February 22, 2002)
- North Carolina State University: Computational Laboratory for Air, Energy and Risk, Department of Civil Engineering: Recommended Strategy for Onboard Data Analysis and Collection for the New Generation Model (PDF) (272 pp, 3.8MB, February 4, 2002)
- Sensors, Inc. On-Road Emissions Testing of 18 Tier 1 Passenger Cars and 17 Diesel Powered Public Transportation Buses (PDF) (64 pp, 1.1MB, EPA420-R-02-030, October 22, 2002)
General Background
- EPA's New Generation Mobile Source Emissions Model: Initial Proposal and Issues (PDF) (52 pp, 200K, EPA420-R-01-007, April 2001) This report outlines an initial approach for the model, for the purpose of eliciting comments from stakeholders and model users. The comment period ended July 1, 2001.
- The recommendations contained in the National Research Council's report "Modeling Mobile Source Emissions" (May 2000) are a major driver for the New Generation Model effort. To view this report on-line, go to http://www.nap.edu/books/0309070880/html/