VW Faces $17B Fine for Emissions Scam

nice

 

Interesting and fascinating.
That's a huge and potentially devastating scandal for VW.

The other thing I wonder about, is the exclamation from the EPA that VW would be required to "fix" the cars for free.
How?
If the EPA's desire or contention is to force VW to make the vehicles legitimately produce the emission results they were producing falsely due to the defeat mechanism hidden in their software, I don't see how VW does "fix" the problem. The software evidently was specifically designed to defeat the test, but the vehicles aren't designed to operate in the real world with the same parameters.

If I was a VW owner I'd be very upset. My vehicle suddenly doesn't meet the emission standards it was suppose to meet, AND even IF VW can/could make software/hardware adjustments necessary for the vehicle to honestly and legitimately meet those standards would the vehicle then perform in the manner I have come to expect and in the manner it performed when I purchased it?

What a mess.

VW's new slogan should become " Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive! '.

VW is evidently cooperating with investigation. I'll be interested in how this all plays out as more information is brought to light. Who knew what and when.

I suppose I should say, at this point it's allegations and accusations.

 

With the EPA story just coming out Today... wonder if VW can pull it off still if EPA fines them $18 billion.

 

VW? That story doesn't surprise me, clean diesel my a**!

 

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-nearly-500000-vehicles-over-emissions-software.html?_r=0

The Environmental Protection Agency issued the company a notice of violation and accused the company of breaking the law by installing software known as a “defeat device” in 4-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2009-15. The device is programmed to detect when the car is undergoing official emissions testing, and to only turn on full emissions control systems during that testing. Those controls are turned off during normal driving situations, when the vehicles pollute far more heavily than reported by the manufacturer, the E.P.A. said.

Bob Wilson

 

Yikes, this may require its own thread, but part of the plug-in push may be that vw has been cheating on emissions tests in the US
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-nearly-500000-vehicles-over-emissions-software.html

Its not hybrid news, but if they were making hybrids they probably wouldin't have tried to cheat.

 

As I said I think it's a very interesting story.
I'll be interested to hear more details, and interested as to how the media, EPA and VW and VW owners react.

 

This covers one of our cars.
I'm not real happy about it.
From the NY Times,

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-nearly-500000-vehicles-over-emissions-software.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

 

this is war, fella's. corporations are people.

 

It was found that the cars would detect when it was being emission-tested. In normal operation, it would emit up to 40x over EPA limits for nitrogen oxides, a greenhouse gas and respiratory irritant.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-nearly-500000-vehicles-over-emissions-software.html

VW could face $18-billion fine for evading smog rules, cheating pollution tests - LA Times

VW, Audi TDI Diesel Cars Had 'Defeat Device' That Violated EPA Rules, 500K Cars Recalled: BREAKING

EPA Says Volkswagen Cheated On Emissions With 482,000 Diesel Cars (Updated)

 

"Circumventing the standards meant affected cars emitted as much as 40 times the allowable level of certain pollutants."

Feds allege widespread Volkswagen cheating on clean-air rules

 

I think a long visit back to the dealer and revised performance parameters (power, efficiency, and/or reliability) are now in his future.

 

i'd like to be a fly on the wall at the vdub fanboys site.

 

Which would be right here:

Official: Volkswagen's Clean Air Act violations on 2009+ TDIs triggers massive recall - TDIClub Forums

VWVortex.com - NYT: EPA Orders VW to recall nearly 500,000 vehicles

I can very much sympathize with them. They used the best info they had available and made as rational of choices as they could given the specs that VW presented as true.

 

The allegation is that VW/Audi installed on 4-cyl diesel engines from 2009 a defeat device (software which detected when the vehicle was undergoing smog testing and turned pollution controls on, leaving them off in normal operation). The fine could be up to $37k per car or up to $18B. VW has admitted to using the devices. There could also be criminal penalties and look for class action lawsuits claiming the cars, as retrofitted to remove the devices, do not achieve the advertised mileage.

 

So all this song and dance they made about diesels being able to match petrol for emissions was a total load of ****? No wonder European cities are dying under smog clouds when the manufacturers are saying their diesel vehicles comply, when clearly they don't.

VW should pay for this. The German run EU will see that they're let off in Europe, but they should be punished, so hopefully the US will kick them hard.

 

AutoNews Now: EPA: VW 'defeat device' skirts emissions rules

 

Well, it's actually just VW's implementation on small engines. BMW, MB, and even bigger-engine'd VWs diesels that utilize a consumable "diesel fluid" (actually a urea compound in some sort of solvent) that is added to the exhaust, which neutralizes these NOx compounds. This does represent added complication, equipment, and of course purchase/maintenance costs... but it works. VW was adamant that they found a way to make a small diesel engine and emissions system without this consumable urea compound and all the requisite equipment and maintenance, while offering a more affordable car.

Well, we now know that it was too good to be true.