EPA Releases MOVES2010b Mobile
Source Emissions Model Revision:
Questions and Answers
Note: This document is a revised version of the Questions and Answers that were
released in April 2012, when EPA originally released MOVES20lOb as a minor revision
to MOVES2CUO. Important differences from the April 2012 Questions and Answers are
indicated in italics. When necessary, the new release ofMOVES20lOb is referred to as
the "revised version ofMOVES20Wb." All other references to "MOVES2010b" in this
document as well as other MOVES-related documents continue to be applicable.
What is MOVES, and why is EPA releasing a revised version of MOVES2010b?
The MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) is the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA's) state-of'the-art tool for estimating emissions from high-
way vehicles. The model is based on analyses of millions of emission test results and
considerable advances in the Agency's understanding of vehicle emissions. Compared
to previous tools, MOVES incorporates the latest emissions data, more sophisticated
calculation algorithms, increased user flexibility, new software design, and significant
new capabilities. EPA announced the release of MOVES2010 in March 2010 (75 FR
9411), and released a minor revision as MOVESZOlOa in September 2010,
EPA originally released MOVES2010b in April 2012 to allow MOVES users to benefit
from several improvements to general model performance. EPA is now releasing a
revised version of MOVES2010b. As discussed in detail in Question 5 in this document,
agencies that have used the April 2012 version ofMOVES20lOb for ongoing modeling
can complete that work, but any new modeling with MOVES20lOb should be based on
the revised version ofMOVES20lOb. MOVES2010b does not significantly affect the
criteria pollutant emissions results of MOVES2010 and therefore is not a new model.
What has changed from MOVES2010a to MOVES2010b?
J
When EPA originally released MOVES2010b in April 2012, EPA outlined several
performance enhancements to assist as state and local agencies generate MOVES
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA-420-F-13-004
January 2013
-------
Cfl
emissions inventories. For example, MOVESZOlOb works better in networks and has improved
capabilities that make it faster in certain circumstances. Several improvements have been
made to data input managers to make MOVESZOlOb easier to use with more functionality,
MOVESZOlOb also takes advantage of newer versions of Java (version 1.7.0) and MySQL
(version 5.5.1Z),
MOVESZOlOb also included a number of other improvements. These are listed in Appendix
A. The net impact of these changes on emissions is very small in runs at the both County and
Project scale. More detailed pollutant output for air quality modeling is also available.
What has changed in the revised version of MOVES2010b that is being released today?
During ongoing MOVES development work, EPA staff discovered an error in the MOVES database
that was originally released with the April 2012 version ofMOVES2010b. This error affected only
hydrocarbon emissions from the vapor venting process in gasoline vehicles after calendar year 2020.
As a result of this error, the April 2012 version ofMOVES2010b underestimated hydrocarbon
emissions beginning in 2021. The error is small in 2021, but gradually increases with fleet turnover
over time. For example, in generic testing, the error resulted in underestimating total volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) by less than 0.5% in 2021, to almost 6.5% in 2040. This error is unique to the
4/10/2012 database originally included with the April 2012 version ofMOVES2010b and does not
occur in MOVES20IOa or MOVES20IO. This error aiso does not affect any other pollutants or
precursors that were estimated by the April 2012 version ofMOVES2010b.
The revised version ofMOVES2010b released today includes an updated database (dated
10/30/2012) that corrects this error.
What needs to be done to switch to MOVESZOlOb?
Instructions for downloading and installing the revised version ofMOVES2010b are available on the
MOVES web page www.epa.gov/otaq/models/moves/.
Users will find that Run Specifications (RunSpecs) and input databases developed with
MOVESZ010 or MOVESZOlOa need to be changed to run with MOVESZOlOb. EPA has created
tools that easily convert old RunSpecs and databases to the MOVESZOlOb format.
Users should always specify in relevant documentation what version of MOVES was used to
create emissions results for state implementation plans (SIPs), conformity and other purposes.
(1 ^ When should MOVESZOlOb be used for state implementation plans and transportation
1 conformity analyses?
J MOVES is EPA's latest motor vehicle emissions model for state and local agencies to estimate
VOCs, nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PMZ.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide (CO),
G
O
-------
*—A
and other precursors from cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles for SIPs and transportation con-
formity determinations outside California,
Because MOVESZOlOb does not significantly affect criteria pollutant emissions results from
MOVESZ010, we are not considering MOVESZOlOb a new emissions model for SIP and trans-
portation conformity purposes under 40 CFR 93.111, and there will be no new grace period for
regional conformity analyses using MOVESZOlOb. The MOVESZ010 grace period for regional
conformity analyses will apply to the use of MOVESZOlOb as well. EPA extended the grace
period for regional conformity analyses to March Z, Z013 (77 FR 11394). For project-level PM
and CO hot-spot analyses, the Z-year conformity grace period for using MOVES ends December
ZO, Z01Z (75 FR 79370). This MOVESZOlOa grace period for PM or CO hot-spot analyses for
project-level conformity determinations will apply to the use of MOVESZOlOb as well. EPA
encourages state and local agencies to use the latest version of the MOVES model available
at the time that any conformity modeling begins, since the model framework enhancements
included will optimize model performance.
In general, EPA believes the states should use the latest version of MOVESZ010 that is avail-
able for SIP development. All states other than California should use today's MOVESZOlOb
release for future SIPs in order to take full advantage of the improvements incorporated in
this version. If states have completed significant work on a SIP with the April Z01Z version
of MOVESZOlOb, such work can be completed and submitted for EPA action. State and local
agencies that have already completed significant work on a SIP with MOVESZ010 or MOVE-
SZOlOa can continue to use it,
EPA has determined that the practical impact from today's release of the revised version of
MOVES2010b is minimal for SIP and conformity modeling. Most state and local agencies have
not yet begun using the April 2012 version ofMOVES2010b for SIP or transportation confor-
mity purposes. As noted above, the corrected database in today's release is intended to ensure that
MOVES2010b VOC emissions estimates for analysis years 2021 and later are consistent with
MOVES20IO and MOVES20IOa. VOC estimates for earlier analysis years and estimates for all
other pollutants and precursor are not affected by today's release. Due to the circumstances involved,
if significant work has occurred with the April 2012 version ofMOVES2010b, that work can be
completed. However, any new SIP and conformity modeling work with MOVES2010b should be
completed with the revised version ofMOVES2010b.
To determine when to use MOVESZOlOb in SIP development and transportation conformity
determinations, refer to EPA's updated policy guidance on the use of MOVES for SIP
development and transportation conformity at:
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy.htm#models. State and local agencies should
consult their EPA Regional Office to resolve any questions for a particular nonattainment or
ft\ maintenance area,
3
cx
-------
c/3
G
O
^^.
j
r
Can MOVES2010b be used to estimate greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes, MOVES is currently EPA's best tool for estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from
the transportation sector. At this time, MOVESZOlOb is the latest version of MOVES that has
been released, and it accounts for all national fuel economy and GHG standards for cars and
trucks as of September 2010. In addition, EPA has developed MOVES technical guidance that
describes how to use MOVES to estimate GHG emissions and/or energy consumption from on-
road vehicles in a state or metropolitan area.1 State and local agencies estimating GHG emis-
sions in the transportation planning process should consider using the latest version of MOVES
for GHG emissions analyses in the future. EPA notes that there are no SIP and transportation
conformity requirements for GHGs,
Can MOVES2010b be used to estimate mobile source toxic emissions?
MOVESZOlOa estimates emissions for the following mobile source air toxics (MSATs): benzene,
1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, naphthalene, ethanol, and methyl tert-
butyl ether (MTBE). MOVESZOlOb adds the other MSATs shown in Table A-Z that were previ-
ously available in the National Mobile Inventory Model (NMIM) and included in the National
Emission Inventory. Consistent with EPA's approach in transitioning from MOBILE/NMIM to
MOVES, additional emission factor test data were included.2
MOVES is EPA's best available tool for quantifying emissions of these MSATs. State and local
agencies, academic institutions, and other parties who are interested in analyzing MSAT emis-
sions from transportation projects are encouraged to use MOVES,
EPA notes that there are no SIP and transportation conformity requirements for air toxics.
Regarding the analysis of MSAT emissions in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
process, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has responsibility for implementing NEPA
for federally-funded or approved transportation projects.
What other resources are available for MOVES2010b?
The MOVES web page (www.epa.gov/otaq/models/moves/index.htm) is the source for
MOVESZOlOb software as well as previous versions of MOVES, technical documentation,
' The latest version of "Using MOVES for Estimating State and Local Inventories of On-Road Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Energy Consumption -Final" (EPA-420-B-12-068, November 2012) is available on the EPA web site
at www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/ghgtravel.htm.
2 These data are described in the technical documentation for the MOVES model. For example, publicly available
test data from the Coordinating Research Council and the Health Effects Institute's Advanced Collaborative Emis-
sions Study (ACES) program are included for exhaust from diesel engines and permeation from gasoline engines for
MSATs. For air toxics that have been added, newer data are also used for advanced technology gasoline vehicles.
However, for air toxics in MOVES20 10a,factors for gasoline vehicles are unchanged; thus, only very minor changes
in results are anticipated.
-------
guidance documents, tools for using MOVES, and information on MOVES training. The fol-
lowing documents provide additional information on the MOVES2010, MOVES2010a, and
MOVES2010b:
• The MOVES User Guide (available at www.epa.gov/otaq/models/moves/ and in the
MOVES Help menu) provides detailed instructions for using MOVES and has been
updated for MOVES2010b.
• "Policy Guidance on the Use of MOVES2010 (and Subsequent Minor Revisions) for
State Implementation Plan Development, Transportation Conformity, and Other Pur-
poses: Revision to April 2012 EPA Guidance" (available at
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy.htm#models) describes how and when
to use MOVES2010b for SIP development, transportation conformity, general confor-
mity, and other purposes,
• "Using MOVES to Prepare Emission Inventories in State Implementation Plans and
Transportation Conformity: Technical Guidance for MOVES2010, MOVES2010a and
MOVES2010b" (available at
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy.htm#models) provides guidance on
creating a RunSpec and adding local data using the County Data Manager for SIPs and
regional transportation conformity analyses,
• "Transportation Conformity Guidance for Quantitative Hot-spot Analyses in PM2.5 and
PM10 Nonattainment and Maintenance Areas" (available at
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy.htm) provides guidance on using
MOVES for quantitative PM10 and PM2.5 hot-spot analysis for transportation projects,
• "Using MOVES in Project-Level Carbon Monoxide Analysis" (available at
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy.htm) describes how to use MOVES to
model CO emissions from transportation projects,
• "Using MOVES for Estimating State and Local Inventories of On-Road Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Energy Consumption - Final" (available at
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/ghgtravel.htm) describes how to use MOVES to es-
timate GHG emissions and/or energy consumption from on-road vehicles in a state or
metropolitan area.
If you have technical questions about MOVES2010b, please contact the MOVES team at
mobile@epa.gov. If you have SIP policy questions, please contact Rudy Kapichak
(kapichak.rudolph@epa.gov), and for conformity questions, contact Meg Patulski
(patulski.meg@epa.gov).
OJ
ex
-------
Appendix A
Table A-l. Changes from MOVES2010ato MOVESZOlOb1
Change from MOVES2010a to MOVES2010b
1) Allows multiple workers on an individual
computer. Addition of debugging features and
improvements in error recovery during network
interruptions
2) Additional error checks added to County Data
Manager (COM) and Project Data Manager (PDM)
3) Alternative Vehicle and Fuel Technologies
(AVFT) moved from "Strategies" panel to COM
and PDM
4) Custom domain improvements allow users to
define separate zones, with separate vehicle miles
traveled (VMT) and some other activity inputs for
each zone and Source Code Classification (SCC)
output available
5) Added functionality to Emission Rates option:
- Refueling emissions added to RatePerDistance
and RatePerVehicle tables and
-Improved calculation of extended idle emissions in
SCC output
6) Added nitrous acid (HONO) and split
naphthalene into gaseous and particulate fractions
7) Uses newer versions of Java (version 1.7.0) and
MySQL (version 5. 5. 12)
8) New fuel fields, T50 and T90, which are more
detailed measures of fuel volatility, added to default
fuel formulation tables
9) Added new counties in Alaska and Colorado that
were created after 2000
10) Included all Mobile Source Air Toxic (MS AT)
pollutants previously available in the National
Mobile Inventory Model (NMIM)
Implication
Potential for performance improvements in some use cases.
Debugging and error recovery features make network
operation more efficient.
Prevents run failures due to conflicts between RunSpec
parameters and user data
Data entry now consistent with other user inputs. Takes
advantage of COM and PDM error checks. May require
modification to previous Run Specs. We have created
converters that easily convert those RunSpecs and databases
to MOVES201 Ob format.
Reduces the number of runs needed and increases
functionality. Multi-county custom domain with individual
counties defined as separate zones now possible. Emission
results can be produced separately for each zone. SCC
output option now fully functional in custom domain runs.
Allows calculation of refueling emissions and improved SCC
output for extended idle in rates mode
RunSpec options that are not applicable for emission rates
calculation are now grayed-out in the graphical user interface
(GUI)
Enhanced output for air quality modeling
Installation Suite installs the correct versions and users may
retain or delete previous versions. Takes advantage of new
functions of updated software
These fields allow for more detailed modeling of specific
fuel effects for users who need this capability. Most users
will not need to change fuel specifications in MOVES, but
existing user input databases created with previous version of
MOVES will need to be converted. We have created
converters that easily convert those RunSpecs and databases
to MOVES201 Ob format.
Allows MOVES to keep pace with current county
boundaries. No default data are available for these counties;
thus they are not included in national scale runs.
Maintains functionality for National Emission Inventory
(NEI) and air quality modeling previously available. See
Table A-2 for pollutant list.
1 For a description of the changes between MOVES2010 and MOVES2010a, please see "EPA Releases
MOVES2010a Mobile Source Emissions Model Update, Questions and Answers," EPA-420-F-10-050, August
2010. www.epa.gov/otaq/models/moves/MOVES2010a/420fl0050.pdf
-------
Table A-2. Mobile Source Air Toxic Pollutants Added to MOVESZOlOb
MOVES PollutantID
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
Pollutant Name
2,2,4-Trimethylpentane
Ethyl Benzene
Hexane
Propionaldehyde
Styrene
Toluene
Xylene
Mercury Elemental Gaseous
Mercury Divalent Gaseous
Mercury Particulate
Arsenic Compounds
Chromium 3+
Chromium en-
Manganese Compounds
Nickel Compounds
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene particle
Fluoranthene particle
Acenaphthene particle
Acenaphthylene particle
Anthracene particle
Benz(a)anthracene particle
Benzo(a)pyrene particle
-------
MOVES PollutantID
75
76
77
78
81
82
83
84
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
Pollutant Name
Benzo(b)fluoranthene particle
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene particle
Benzo(k)fluoranthene particle
Chrysene particle
Fluorene particle
lndeno(l,2,3,c,d)pyrene particle
Phenanthrene particle
Pyrene particle
1,2,3, 7,8,9-Hexachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin
Octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin
Octachlorodibenzofuran
1,2,3,4, 7,8-Hexachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin
1,2,3, 7,8-Pentachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran
1,2,3,4, 7,8,9-Heptachlorodibenzofuran
2,3,4,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran
1,2,3, 7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran
1,2,3,6,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran
1,2,3, 6, 7,8-Hexachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin
2,3,4,6, 7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzofuran
1,2,3,4, 7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran
-------
MOVES PollutantID
146
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
181
182
183
184
185
Pollutant Name
1,2,3, 7,8,9-Hexachlorodibenzofuran
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene gas
Fluoranthene gas
Acenaphthene gas
Acenaphthylene gas
Anthracene gas
Benz(a)anthracene gas
Benzo(a)pyrene gas
Benzo(b)fluoranthene gas
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene gas
Benzo(k)fluoranthene gas
Chrysenegas
Fluorene gas
lndeno(l,2,3,c,d)pyrene gas
Phenanthrene gas
Pyrene gas
Naphthalene gas
------- |