News
December 09, 2025
CE-CERT and Link Engineering Publish Landmark CRC Report on Non-Exhaust Vehicle Emissions
CE-CERT, in partnership with Link Engineering, has released a landmark CRC report providing the most comprehensive synthesis to date of non-exhaust vehicle emissions from brakes, tires, and road wear. The review of 300+ studies offers critical insights that will help guide future air-quality policy as transportation shifts toward cleaner, electrified technologies.
December 05, 2025
Clearing the Air
Clearing the Air Sarah Nightingale | December 5, 2025 For decades, the Clean Air Act has resulted in clearer skies and better public health across America. While the success of the law is—quite literally—invisible, it’s built on layers of regulations and policies informed by air pollution models that translate complex data into actionable intelligence. At the core of those models are simulations developed over the career of UC Riverside alumnus and research chemist William Carter. Although Carter retired from his full-time faculty position in 2005, he has continued his work as an emeritus
November 25, 2025
Study finds lower emissions from higher-ethanol gasoline
Scientists at the university’s College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology, or CE-CERT, found that increasing the ethanol content in California gasoline from the allowable 10% to 15% cut harmful vehicle emissions, including small declines in nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are a primary precursor to ground-level ozone formation, and more significant reductions in particulate emissions.
November 03, 2025
UV light holds promise for energy-efficient desalination
A team of UC Riverside researchers has identified a potential breakthrough in solar desalination that could reduce the need for energy-intensive saltwater treatment.
October 14, 2025
CE-CERT Hosts STEPCon and Open House 2025
CE-CERT successfully hosted its annual Open House and STEPCon 2025, welcoming over 1,170 students and community members for immersive tours of its world-class labs in air quality, clean energy, and sustainable transportation.
September 29, 2025
CE-CERT Co-Leads Binational Effort to Address Zero-Emission Infrastructure Across California and Mexico
On September 17-18, UC Alianza MX and the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis hosted the kickoff meeting of the re-established Binational Working Group on Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs).
September 19, 2025
CE-CERT Welcomes Two New Faculty Members: Dr. Eunjeong Hyeon and Dr. Abhilash Vijayan
CE-CERT is strengthening its team of researchers with the addition of Dr. Eunjeong Hyeon and Dr. Abhilash Vijayan. The two new faculty members bring valuable expertise in connected vehicle technology and climate research to help expand our leadership in environmental innovation.
September 18, 2025
Rector of Batman University Visits CE-CERT to Explore Energy Research Collaboration
CE-CERT welcomed Prof. Idris Demir, Rector of Batman University, to explore new opportunities for international collaboration in clean energy research, innovation, and academic exchange.
September 16, 2025
CE-CERT Collaborates with University of Houston and Baylor University on Major Air Monitoring Initiative
In a groundbreaking partnership, UCR's CE-CERT, the University of Houston, and Baylor University are launching a high-tech mobile air monitoring campaign across California to uncover invisible pollution and guide efforts for cleaner, healthier communities.
July 14, 2025
CE-CERT Announces 2025-2026 Scholarship Recipients
CE-CERT is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025-2026 Scholarship Awards totaling $47,000. We congratulate them on their hard work and thank our generous donors who made these awards possible.
June 27, 2025
UCR EcoCAR Team’s Year 3 Journey
In May 2025, the UC Riverside EcoCAR team competed in the Year 3 EcoCAR EV Challenge, continuing its role in a national initiative to train the next generation of clean mobility engineers.
June 20, 2025
CE-CERT Team Wins Gold at CVPR DriveX Challenge
A CE-CERT research team has earned the Gold Award at the CVPR 2025 DriveX Workshop, an international competition focused on developing advanced models for connected and autonomous vehicles.
June 19, 2025
UCR Partners with RUSD and Empower You on Community Air Quality Awareness Program
The University of California, Riverside, in partnership with Riverside Unified School District and non-profit organization Empower You Edutainment, launched the Community Air Quality Awareness Program.
June 05, 2025
CE-CERT Students Earn Honorable Mention at 2025 Bob Crommelin Conference
As part of their senior design project, CE-CERT students received Honorable Mention at the 2025 Bob Crommelin Student Presentation Award Meeting for their research on improving EV efficiency at signalized intersections.
June 05, 2025
CE-CERT Measures Brake and Tire Emissions in Real-World Driving Conditions
Researchers at CE-CERT are studying brake and tire wear emissions, which are becoming increasingly important sources of small airborne particles that can affect air quality and health.
June 03, 2025
CE-CERT launches study of ship emissions off SoCal coast
CE-CERT is leading a $3.5 million, 30-month study to better quantify these impacts. Funded through the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, this project represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to date to measure and characterize emissions from oceangoing vessels near the Southern California coast.
June 02, 2025
UCR launches study of ship emissions off SoCal coast
A team of UC Riverside environmental engineers are embarking on a $3.5 million study of air pollution from massive oceangoing vessels that frequent the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—one of the region’s largest sources of toxic air pollution.
May 21, 2025
CE-CERT Conducts Real-World Study on Ammonia Emissions from Light-Duty Vehicles
Researchers are collecting real-world emissions data on ammonia, a pollutant that contributes to the formation of secondary fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which has known impacts on air quality and human health.
May 14, 2025
North America Unites Around Hydrogen Combustion at First H2EA Conference
As decarbonization pressures rise, hydrogen combustion is stepping into the spotlight, with technical momentum and industry support behind it.
May 12, 2025
Riverside Launches Innovative Hydrogen-Powered Carshare Program for Cleaner Mobility
Riverside Launches Innovative Hydrogen-Powered Carshare Program for Cleaner Mobility May 12, 2025 The City of Riverside, in partnership with Mobility Development Operations, the University of California, Riverside’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), CALSTART, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and California Energy Commission, successfully launched the Riverside Clean Air Carshare (RCAC) program during a community event on April 28. The event, held at CE-CERT, marked the official debut of a hydrogen-powered carsharing fleet designed to provide clean
May 12, 2025
CE-CERT Awarded $1.1M to Advance Research on Zero-Emission Trucks, Buses, and Off-Road Equipment in California
CE-CERT has been awarded two major contracts totaling $1.1 million by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
May 06, 2025
UC Riverside joins launch of hydrogen carshare program
UC Riverside, in partnership with city and state agencies, has helped launch the nation's only hydrogen-powered carshare program—offering a clean, affordable transportation alternative to Riverside residents.
February 27, 2025
UCR and U of Michigan launch hydrogen-engine alliance
Officials at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), the University of Michigan, and several industry partners launch of the Hydrogen Engine Alliance of North America (H2EA-NA) to promote hydrogen as a viable alternative fuel.
November 22, 2024
UCR collaboration brings in electric truck manufacturer
Voltu Motor Inc., an Argentine company recognized for its sustainable and versatile electric vehicles, will establish its global headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Riverside.
April 23, 2024
From polluting waste to sportswear
A UCR professor receives $1.45 million federal grant to further develop a chemical process that takes plant waste from wood processing and farming to make fibers for clothing fabrics and other products.
March 06, 2024
Enduring gut-churning flights in quest for Arctic climate data
UCR Professor Markus Petters and two grad students are spending more than a month with an international research team that’s making bumpy flights from northern Sweden to the Arctic Ocean to collect data needed to better understand climate change.
March 15, 2023
UCR environmental engineers to referee California’s big rig truck emission regulation
They won’t be wearing vivid black and white striped shirts, but they could.
University of California, Riverside, environmental engineers will soon serve as referees in California’s drive for big rig trucks to meet the state’s tailpipe emission standards.
July 05, 2022
NSF-funded project aims to enhance STEM graduate training in sustainable transportation
New UC Riverside program will train doctoral students on translating science into public policy
September 23, 2021
UC Riverside receives $2 million to monitor air quality impacts of goods movement in Inland Southern California
The grant comes from the California Attorney General’s Office Automobile Emissions Research and Technology Fund
June 25, 2021
UC Riverside wins grant from Southern California Energy Innovation Network
A $450,000 grant lets UCR continue helping clean energy entrepreneurs advance their ideas
July 24, 2020
UC Riverside research team fuels the hemp revolution
A new hemp pulping method that converts 100% of the plant to useful components moves toward commercialization
August 01, 2019
Supercomputing improves biomass fuel conversion
Researchers combine supercomputing with nano-imaging to reveal how to efficiently break down plant biomass and transform it into transportation fuels
July 10, 2019
Steering into the future of connected and automated vehicles
More than 1 billion motor vehicles travel roadways worldwide and that number is expected to double within one or two decades. The rise in automobiles and trucks have led to increased social, economic, and safety issues, such as the more than 30,000 deaths from car related accidents on US highways every year, according to a US Department of Transportation (DOT)
June 05, 2019
UC Riverside reaffirms MOU with EPA
A number of environmentally focused activities with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be continuing, thanks to the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EPA’s Region 9 and the University of California, Riverside.
September 11, 2018
Renewable natural gas can help California meet climate goals
UC Riverside study finds California can replace up to 5 percent of its natural gas supply using existing raw materials and infrastructure, recommends new state standard
August 30, 2018
Natural gas engine can reduce smog from heavy-duty trucks
Simulated on-road testing shows the engine maintains near-zero emissions during all duty cycles
July 11, 2018
Donation brings zero-emissions vehicles one step closer to reality
New light-duty emissions testing facility gives UC Riverside the inside track toward the goal of zero-emission vehicles
July 02, 2018
Award-winning inventions improve electronics and renewable natural gas
Graphene thermal interface and steam hydrogasification receive TechConnect National Innovation Awards
June 07, 2018
Symposium celebrates 50 Years of clean air leadership
CARB’s 50th Anniversary Technology Symposium and Showcase highlighted CARB’s history driving innovative technologies that have made monumental improvements to California’s air quality