MOVES (Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator)
For answers to users' questions on MOVES, see our "Frequent Questions" page.
EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) has developed the MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES). This new emission modeling system estimates emissions for mobile sources covering a broad range of pollutants and allows multiple scale analysis. MOVES currently estimates emissions from cars, trucks & motorcycles. We plan to add the capability to model non-highway mobile sources in future releases.
A new version of MOVES is now available. MOVES2010b incorporates new features and a number of performance improvements. Unless substantial work with MOVES2010 and/or MOVES2010a has been done, modelers may wish to use MOVES2010b and take advantage of the improvements incorporated in this version.
Please find the latest guidance on Using MOVES for State Implementation Plans (SIP), Transportation Conformity, Greenhouse Gases, and Fuel Consumption here:
- Using MOVES for SIP and conformity purposes
- Using MOVES for Estimating Greenhouse Gases and Fuel Consumption
For further information:
- MOVES Training Sessions
- MOVES Technical Background Contains technical details on MOVES design and inputs, and information on previous versions of MOVES.
- Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) MOVES Model Review Work Group This work group is focused on providing EPA with stakeholder input on MOVES.
- MOVES staff email: mobile@epa.gov.
- Updates and news on EPA mobile source emission models: Listserv Information
NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.
General Information about MOVES2010b
- MOVES2010b Questions and Answers (PDF) (8 pp, 268K, EPA-420-F-12-014, April 2012) This document highlights the differences between MOVES2010b and earlier versions of MOVES and explains EPA policy on using MOVES2010b in State Implementation Plans and Transportation Conformity Analyses.
- MOVES2010 Mobile Source Emissions Model: Questions and Answers (PDF) (9 pp, 128K, EPA-420-F-09-073, December 2009) Describes the model and provides general information for model use.
MOVES2010b User Documents and Tools
- MOVES2010b User Guide (PDF) (202 pp, 6.04MB, EPA-420-B-12-001b, June 2012)
- MOVES2010b: Additional Toxics Added to MOVES (PDF) (28 pp, 249K, EPA-420-B-12-029a, May 2012)
- Input file converters and other modeling tools Includes spreadsheet tools that help with the transition from MOBILE6.2 to MOVES.
- Software Development Reference Manual for Draft MOVES2009 (PDF) (279 pp, 1.3MB, EPA-420-B-09-007, March 2009) (a new version of the SDRM will be posted soon.)
Downloading MOVES2010b
- Download MOVES2010bInstallationSuite (ZIP) (856MB, revised June 2012) Includes everything needed to install MOVES2010b: readme.txt, executable file for the MOVES software, default database, and the User Guide. After downloading and unzipping the ZIP file, double-click "Setup.exe" icon to install MOVES2010b.
Using MOVES for SIP and Conformity Purposes (also see MOVES2010b Questions & Answers)
- Policy Guidance on the Use of MOVES2010 and Subsequent Minor Revisions for State Implementation Plan Development, Transportation Conformity, and Other Purposes (PDF) (19 pp, 290K, EPA-420-B-12-010, April 2012)
This document describes how and when to use the MOVES2010 (and subsequent minor revisions like MOVES2010b) for SIP development, transportation conformity, general conformity, and other purposes. -
Using MOVES to Prepare Emission Inventories in State Implementation Plans and Transportation Conformity: Technical Guidance for MOVES2010, 2010a and 2010b (PDF) (63 pp, 482k, EPA-420-B-12-028, April 2012)
This document provides guidance on appropriate input assumptions and sources of data for the use of MOVES2010, MOVES2010a, and MOVES2010b in SIP submissions and regional emissions analyses for transportation conformity purposes. - Federal Register Notice of Availability: Official Release of the MOVES2010a and EMFAC2007 Motor Vehicle Emissions Models for Transportation Conformity Hot-Spot Analyses and Availability of Modeling Guidance (PDF) (December 20, 2010)
This notice approves MOVES2010a official use for quantitative CO and PM hot-spot analyses outside of California, and starts a two-year grace period before MOVES2010a is required to be used in these analyses for project-level conformity determinations outside California. This notice is applicable to current and future versions of the MOVES model, unless EPA notes otherwise when approving the model for conformity purposes. This notice also announces the availability of new guidance documents for: (1) completing quantitative PM hot-spot analyses using MOVES and other models; and (2) completing project-level CO analyses using MOVES.
- Federal Register Notice of Availability: Official Release of MOVES2010 Motor Vehicle Emissions Model for Emissions Inventories in SIPs and Transportation Conformity
This notice approves the use of MOVES2010 in official SIP submissions and starts a two-year grace period before MOVES2010 is required to be used in new regional emissions analyses for transportation conformity determinations outside of California.Note: EPA subsequently extended the grace period to March 2, 2013 before MOVES2010 and minor revisions is required for regional emissions analyses for transportation conformity determinations (“regional conformity analyses”). See February 2012 final rule that provides an additional year to the previously established two-year conformity grace period at: www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/conf-regs.htm.
- For further information on transportation conformity and SIPs, see the following website: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/
Using MOVES for Estimating Greenhouse Gases and Fuel Consumption
- Using MOVES for Estimating State and Local Inventories of On-Road Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Consumption – Draft (PDF) (67 pp, 1.5MB, EPA-420-D-12-001, January 2012)
This draft technical guidance describes how to use EPA’s MOVES model to estimate greenhouse gas emissions and/or energy consumption from on-road vehicles in a state or metropolitan area. EPA is accepting comments on this draft guidance until March 31, 2012. Submit comments via email to Laura Berry, berry.laura@epa.gov. After this date, EPA may revise this guidance without further notice. Contact: Laura Berry, phone 734-214-4858, email: berry.laura@epa.gov.