VW Scandal

[PigFish]

US Emissions Tests Question The Future Of Diesel

Volkswagen has set aside €6.5 billion to cover the costs of the growing scandal over cheating on emissions tests in the US. Putting a number on the cost further down line will be far harder, however, as it is a crisis which calls into question the ethical credentials of the company and the industry, as well as posing tough questions about the regulators and authorities who were duped.

This article was originally published on The Conversation.

Although the Volkswagen emissions scandal has caught many by surprise, in fact it has been brewing for a while. It all started when the European wing of the US NGO International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) set out to prove modern diesels were genuinely clean and would therefore be able to make a significant contribution to improving both CO2 emissions and air quality.

The US has higher emissions standards than Europe, which were regularly passed by VW’s diesel-fuelled cars. The ICCT decided to test why this was the case – and had some surprising results.

Partnering with a team from the University of West Virginia, the team fitted portable emissions testing equipment to three vehicles (two VWs and one BMW) on a run from San Diego to Seattle, which turned up very disappointing results for the VWs. The VW Jetta tested on the road trip exceeded NOx (one of the regulated toxic emissions) standards by 15 to 35 times the legal limit.

When similar vehicles were subjected to their official test in the California Air Resources Board’s laboratory, however, they passed.

The road test emissions numbers in the lab all fell within the accepted levels of NOx emissions. Following investigations into the matter, VW has admitted to gaming the US air pollution tests. Nearly half a million cars have been recalled for containing “defeat device” software that only turns on the cars’ emissions controls when they are undergoing official testing.

Death Of Diesel?

Arguably, VW was complying with US law by meeting test standards and this raises an important issue when it comes to the efforts being made to reduce emissions. Global efforts to combat climate change and reduce CO2 emissions have resulted in leniency on diesel cars – not only in public debates concerning the environment, but also in legislation. This is one of the reasons why the EU has followed a more lenient toxic emissions regime for diesel than petrol in recent years.

Along the way, human health and the impact of toxic tailpipe emissions from vehicles, has taken a backseat. But this approach is increasingly being questioned. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, for example, announced plans to ban most diesel vehicles from the city from 2020. Many feel that with potentially low carbon alternatives such as electric and hybrid-electric vehicles increasingly available, as well as, more recently, the first commercial fuel-cell cars, the need for diesel as a carbon reduction technology is becoming less central.

Unanswered Questions

For VW itself, apart from the massive loss of share value in recent days, its corporate social and environmental responsibility has taken a severe knock. Diesel cars represent a large proportion of new car sales in Europe and also of vehicles in use.

Many of these will be Volkswagen Group vehicles bought by people who probably thought that they were helping reduce carbon emissions. While they certainly did so – the TDI-engines in question are among the most fuel-efficient engines available and low fuel consumption means low CO2 – but these same people probably assumed that beyond this, their cars at least complied with toxic emissions standards.

Others, such as the Brussels-based NGO Transport & Environment are probably less surprised. They have long been among those highlighting the fact that the real world experience of many car owners, even in terms of fuel consumption, did not come anywhere near to the official figures that resulted from emissions testing. The question arises of why it takes underfunded NGOs to discover these problems, rather than the regulators themselves.

It is also unclear whether this technique was only used to deal with the particularly tight US and California regulations, or whether it was also used to get around the European test cycle and emissions compliance is being investigated in Asia too. At the same time, it raises serious questions about diesel and public support for this technology may well suffer. What is clear is that this is one of the biggest crises to hit the car industry – and on a par with those that have rocked the banking sector. Perhaps we’ll see the same tightening of regulation that has significantly improved that industry.

... any article that states that banking sector regulations have improved banking, just tossed any credibility of their own writing right in the ashcan. -P

[cigcars]

*Nothing's gonna make me believe that this kind of thing is exclusive to Volkswagen. Just like with countries and leaders who hide their hands with stuff they're not supposed to be doing (or vice-versa); companies that pretend they're meeting quality assurance compliance with their products...in Volkswagen's case - they just got caught.

[Fuzz]

Quite happy with my diesel Merc. Fuel economy is great, lots of grunt (more torque than a V6 Commodore), and gets me where I need to be in style.

[JohnS]

I saw the stock price take a header yesterday. Amazing what people will intentionally do to get around the rules. Heads will roll and wallets will be emptied.

The stock price was falling significantly as a result of this revelation, from 165 Euro on September 17th to 111 Euro at the time of writing this post.

[Duxnutz]

Quite happy with my diesel Merc. Fuel economy is great, lots of grunt (more torque than a V6 Commodore), and gets me where I need to be in style.

That red car is a diesel???

[Fuzz]

That red car is a diesel???

Yep! And a little beauty she is!

[wabashcr]

I have a feeling this could be the beginning of the end of VW in the US. The fines will be substantial, but the lawsuits and brand damage will be even worse. They were already losing ground in the US market, and now their recall fix will make their cars much less appealing to drive. They're basically alienating their best customers. There's also talk of prosecutions and jail sentences for VW execs here.

It's funny to me that this is all over environmental concerns. As far as I know, nobody at GM was prosecuted over the faulty ignition switches, nobody at Toyota was prosecuted over the stuck throttles, and nobody at Ford or Firestone went to jail over their SUV tires. These are all issues these companies knew about, covered up, and directly resulted in actual deaths. But GM, Toyota and Ford all have the political clout to buy their way out via deferred prosecution agreements. I don't think VW will be so fortunate. So their crimes against the environment will be punished much more severely.

Not saying VW is getting worse than they deserve. I would be pissed if I owned one of those cars, and was required to get the software update to make it run slower and less efficiently. The duplicitous nature of what they were doing is pretty shocking. But the real audacity was conspiring to do this without having people in the right places, to help pull them out of the fire when they inevitably got caught.

[HarveyBoulevard]

The stock price was falling significantly prior to this revelation, from 165 Euro on September 17th to 111 Euro at the time of writing this post.

Stock price at end of day Friday...before announcement. That big dip...that's Monday when the news broke.

[JohnS]

Stock price at end of day Friday...before announcement. That big dip...that's Monday when the news broke.

Yes, I did not factor in the weekend...my error. I rectified my original post.

[gigabyte056]

You are all missing the point, where can I find a download link for the software?

Might be handy when they start regulating cigar smoke

[CaptainQuintero]

assume that is for europe? can't inagine the states will miss them, either.

They said that VW has put aside around 5 billion sterling for dealing with the problem legally. I'm guessing that they have massively underestimated the slapdown that is coming their way. Like you say I think the EU and US would file seperate disputes, not that I'm an expert by any means.

[Homebrew]

We have a 2013 VW Passat TDI. Got an urgent request for software update, its going in this Saturday. Yeah that's pretty shady business they did, but still would buy one. This one does close to 1100 km on 65 l. tank. That's real economy highway/city and I am not exactly an easy driver. Diesel but this thing is a rocket.

Get ready for your fuel mileage to plummet, A clean burning diesel engine, is not as efficient, as a dirty burning one. The software update, will kill your mileage, but save the environment. A case in point, a truck driver, that I know, took all of the emissions control off of his new frieghtliner, and sent his computer to Canada, from the US, to be reprogrammed to operate without the controls. Before he did this, he was averaging 5 mpg, and the truck was weak. After, he had a truck that would out pull, most trucks on the road, and got 6-7 mpg, pulling 70K -80K lbs loads.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

[Lotusguy]

I have a feeling this could be the beginning of the end of VW in the US. The fines will be substantial, but the lawsuits and brand damage will be even worse. They were already losing ground in the US market, and now their recall fix will make their cars much less appealing to drive. They're basically alienating their best customers. There's also talk of prosecutions and jail sentences for VW execs here.

It's funny to me that this is all over environmental concerns. As far as I know, nobody at GM was prosecuted over the faulty ignition switches, nobody at Toyota was prosecuted over the stuck throttles, and nobody at Ford or Firestone went to jail over their SUV tires. These are all issues these companies knew about, covered up, and directly resulted in actual deaths. But GM, Toyota and Ford all have the political clout to buy their way out via deferred prosecution agreements. I don't think VW will be so fortunate. So their crimes against the environment will be punished much more severely.

Not saying VW is getting worse than they deserve. I would be pissed if I owned one of those cars, and was required to get the software update to make it run slower and less efficiently. The duplicitous nature of what they were doing is pretty shocking. But the real audacity was conspiring to do this without having people in the right places, to help pull them out of the fire when they inevitably got caught.

Totally with you - nobody died but I am certain they will get taken to the cleaners far worse than any of those other companies.

[wabashcr]

Get ready for your fuel mileage to plummet, A clean burning diesel engine, is not as efficient, as a dirty burning one. The software update, will kill your mileage, but save the environment. A case in point, a truck driver, that I know, took all of the emissions control off of his new frieghtliner, and sent his computer to Canada, from the US, to be reprogrammed to operate without the controls. Before he did this, he was averaging 5 mpg, and the truck was weak. After, he had a truck that would out pull, most trucks on the road, and got 6-7 mpg, pulling 70K -80K lbs loads.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

Fuel mileage and performance (torque) will both likely be affected. The resell value of these cars will take a huge hit. I would be furious if I owned one of these.

[ElPuro]

CEO resigned

[HarveyBoulevard]

Totally with you - nobody died but I am certain they will get taken to the cleaners far worse than any of those other companies.

That is what really gets me the most. A car company makes a calculated risk v. cost decision that results in the death of human beings and they will end up getting off lighter than a car company manipulating emissions readings. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone the emissions monkey business (and I am sure VW isn't the only one), but to come down harder on emissions manipulation v. predictable death due to manufacturing decisions is sheer lunacy.

[moryc]

Get ready for your fuel mileage to plummet, A clean burning diesel engine, is not as efficient, as a dirty burning one. The software update, will kill your mileage, but save the environment. A case in point, a truck driver, that I know, took all of the emissions control off of his new frieghtliner, and sent his computer to Canada, from the US, to be reprogrammed to operate without the controls. Before he did this, he was averaging 5 mpg, and the truck was weak. After, he had a truck that would out pull, most trucks on the road, and got 6-7 mpg, pulling 70K -80K lbs loads.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

You make some good points. I guess I will see how this will affect the mileage.

[moryc]

Fuel mileage and performance (torque) will both likely be affected. The resell value of these cars will take a huge hit. I would be furious if I owned one of these.

I am a little bit pissed off, but like it was mentioned other companies have done much worst things than that. Not really worrying about they resell value on that thing as I have driven all of my VWs to the scrap yard in the end. Till death due us part. My last one was a '94 GTI, 430 k rust bucket but still drove smoother at 140 km/h than some of the new American or Japanese cars. Apart from the Passat we also have 08 Rabbit (gas) and this things drives like a champ 180 k virtually repair free.

[wabashcr]

I am a little bit pissed off, but like it was mentioned other companies have done much worst things than that. Not really worrying about they resell value on that thing as I have driven all of my VWs to the scrap yard in the end. Till death due us part. My last one was a '94 GTI, 430 k rust bucket but still drove smoother at 140 km/h than some of the new American or Japanese cars. Apart from the Passat we also have 08 Rabbit (gas) and this things drives like a champ 180 k virtually repair free.

It's still going to be a good car. It's not like it's going to be a lemon. I could handle the gas mileage dropping, because I doubt it will be too severe. I'd be a lot more worried about losing some power and torque, because that would make the car a lot less enjoyable to drive for me. But I really don't know what to expect in that regard. Hopefully you won't even notice it.

[backslide]

We have a 2013 VW Passat TDI. Got an urgent request for software update, its going in this Saturday. Yeah that's pretty shady business they did, but still would buy one. This one does close to 1100 km on 65 l. tank. That's real economy highway/city and I am not exactly an easy driver. Diesel but this thing is a rocket.

Prob won't be a rocket once they reflash the ECU... People pay up to 1000.00 for a performance flash you received free.

Sent from my Nexus 5

[backslide]

Fuel mileage and performance (torque) will both likely be affected. The resell value of these cars will take a huge hit. I would be furious if I owned one of these.

Im not sure they will. I bet there's goimg to be a market for people that didn't take the car in for a reflash.

Sent from my Nexus 5

[BBS]

My work ride is a 2004 Jetta TDI with ~190K on it. Not affected by this issue, not even emission tested in the State of WA. I get about 42 MPG all the time, really love my little oil burner. Plans are to replace it with something nice when I retire, but I have to admit the Jetta is a great car. 500 miles to a tank, leather interior, sun roof....this one's a keeper.

[moryc]

Prob won't be a rocket once they reflash the ECU... People pay up to 1000.00 for a performance flash you received free.

Sent from my Nexus 5

So I am wondering what will happen if I don't get it flashed? That kind of ran through my head as well. Will that mean that it won't pass emission tests? I was at my mechanics today (German car specialist) and they have no idea what would happen in this case. They are agreeing though that this will take a hit on the performance and told me to pick these guys apart when I go to the dealership. See what information I can squeeze out of them.

[moryc]

[perkinke]

That is what really gets me the most. A car company makes a calculated risk v. cost decision that results in the death of human beings and they will end up getting off lighter than a car company manipulating emissions readings. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone the emissions monkey business (and I am sure VW isn't the only one), but to come down harder on emissions manipulation v. predictable death due to manufacturing decisions is sheer lunacy.

One factor that plays into this is that GM and Ford, even though their deliberate acts killed people, are American companies. The public at this point in time generally doesn't support politicians coming down hard on US companies no matter the transgression. VW is likely to face stiffer penalties solely because it is a foreign based company, even though I'm reasonably sure there are more American parts and assembly labor in my Jetta than in my parents Expedition (that was true of my last car, a Subaru outback).

I'm actually surprised we have higher emissions standards than Europe, I assumed because population density is higher they would have had stricter controls.