VW Faces $17B Fine for Emissions Scam

The picture says it all

 

I think he meant:

Two peoples separated by a common language.

Bob Wilson

 

You must have chimney sweeps in the US? Mary Poppins? Dick van Dyke playing Bert? Chim chim cher ee? Chimney sweeps cleaning out sooty chimneys with their iconic brush? Surely?

No?

(and someone on here will be able to edit out the spelling mistake and reissue it?)

 

yes, but they don't end up covered in soot, because we burn mostly wood, not coal. creosote buildup is our main problem, which can lead to a chimney fire.

 

Vee double double trouble Vee double U
Vee double double trouble Vee double U
Supercali-fudge-emissions-expialidocious, even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious,
If you do it bad enough, you'll always be remembered
Supercali-fudge-emissions-expialidocious!

 

It is mispeelled?

Bob Wilson

 

Please stop the whole BEVs are dirtier than gassers. it's not true and everyone knows it. Gassers getting cleaner are they? not! I for one thought the Golf Electric was a great drive. Very similar interior space to a Leaf. More power to VW to come out of this dieselgate, full steam ahead with EVs.

 

And coal is only 22% of electricity generation here - and reducing. Renewables now over takes coal and you can also get renewable only electric - which is what I'm on. Can't get that with petrol.

 

oil is renewable, just takes a bit longer.

 

Is that from the movie "Mary Poopins"?

 

Today I saw an article about VW facing 40B euro estimated fines/charges. The executive in charge is being 'disinvited' from his other boards. And all of this made me sad even though earned.

Until VW actually delivers their fixes, there really isn't any technical content coming out. So I'll probably pass on any updates. The automotive press and TDI advocates have a character test but I have as much interest as I do in Hummers.

Bob Wilson

 

... though she wasn't actually a fortune 100 exec, the most high profile person the last two decades to do hard time was, if I'm not mistaken, Martha Stewart? Even still, the good Mrs. Stewart wasn't exactly breaking rocks in the hot sun. Was she?

Last time they actually perp-walked a Fortune 100 exec, threw him in the big house, save who may, for hard time with the brothas, hoodlums, punks and gang-bangers to fend for himself? In the 240 year history of the United States, I don't think that's ever once happened. Whensoever the policy community takes down one of their fellow one-percenters, they're always mollycoddled off to secret special cushy country club style prisons the little people aren't supposed to know about...

Several of them around the country, closest one to me is up there somewhere in San Luis Obispo County.

Emissions notwithstanding, that VW knowingly, fraudulently took government subsidies in the marketing, advertising and promotion of clean diesel technology, exposes senior execs to indictments for false advertising, mail fraud, and tax fraud. Any of the three, a federal offense, were our intellectually bankrupt judicial system functioning properly, VW's top echelon would otherwise be facing extradition from der fatherland and, minimum, 7 years incarceration in a United States federal penitentiary.

Mail fraud, alone, they gave Capone Alcatraz? Were I a VW exec, I'd lend thought to looking into fake passports, fictitious identities, cosmetic surgery, begin the process in earnest getting my family well safe from NATO countries, launder my financials to the Caribbean -- Samuel, '04 Ruthiemobile.

 

Commentators on GreenCarReport claim VW TDIs have already killed 100,000 people in Europe. The number is extremely low (according to my estimate of how efficiently Germans can kill... << insert sarcasm).

Hybrid owners' Schadenfreude is well deserved but consider the following scenario for a moment...

If the heat is too much for VW Group financially, do we think they would sit there and take it or go down the bankruptcy route for the US division, cut their losses, dismantle the Chattanooga factory and leave 2500-3000 workers to welfare... meaning you and me to support???

Considering how many diesel-powered semis, commercial trucks and p/u trucks we have in the US, 500,000 TDIs is a baby pissing in the ocean. VW could tune their focus on the Asian market where they are at the top in China but weak or absent in SE Asia and India. If you haven't noticed, America's middle class is a fading breed while Asia's is rising. Me personally, I'd like to see them come out of this mess intact because competition is always good and fun for the consumer. VW has more going on in their R&D than TDI, so growth means more jobs for Americans. While American corporations are rarely ashamed of exporting jobs to 3rd world countries, German firms like VW invest in the US... 600k employed, average compensation $73k.

Since we are Prius owners, there's a good chance many of us give an occasional thought to the environment. For those of you who are conscientious about being green, take a vacation in Germany and you'll see how very far behind we are. Even a progressive state like California, home to the Sierra Club, the California Coastal Commission and CARB, it's still behind. VW didn't build the Chattanooga factory just to look good. It reflects their country's commitment to being green... Germany's Renewable Energy Sector.

....and the e-Golf is a hoot to drive! Does Toyota have something similar to entice me besides a toaster on wheels?



MERGED

Tax evasion was the excuse the government used to lock up Al for other deeds the FBI couldn't prove. (But Al gave us the expiration date on milk containers, did you know that?) Clean Air Act has loopholes to minimize the probability of criminal prosecution of executives... but they could face other charges if the government feels like it. Who knows, maybe Obama has Eco-wingnuts leaning on him right now.

BTW, EPA needs its nice person kicked as well for sleeping on the job... or maybe Margo Oge knew all along but waited for the years to roll by and liability to pile up.

 

Forgive the pancakes but Martha was an individual defying the IRS. Individuals do NOT mess w/the IRS. That said ... a historical search for wrongdoers on par to the VW fraud, you have to think of the likes of Jeff;

Ex-Enron CEO Jeff Skilling to leave prison early - CBS News

The moral of the story seems to be financial fraud that kills vis a vis pollution is not as bad as simply wiping out others finances. Goldman Sachs 2008 financial crash crimes weren't even crimes/jail worthy because they had the good sense to use their whore legislative puppets to legalize their behavior. So yea - mpg & respiratory/pollution fraud? Highly unlikely society finds that to be jailworthy.
.

 

Not unless you consider an FCV a hoot.

 

Any views on this;

2016 VW diesels have new software affecting emissions tests - Yahoo News

"Volkswagen confirmed to The Associated Press that the "auxiliary emissions control device" at issue operates differently from the "defeat" device software included in the company's 2009 to 2015 models disclosed last month."

 

By "hoot" I don't mean just the type of powertrain but the "fun to drive" factor, which consists of chassis tuning, suspension geometry, spring rates, shock valving and alignment set-up. Toyota is not incapable of designing a fun car; they just don't want to. The FCV is interesting but we'll have to see about its driving characteristics. There's also the the price issue. If it's $69k as reported, I'd rather get a Jetta TDI.... uh I mean its cousin the Boxster or Cayman.


MERGED

This applies to the 2016 TDIs. At the moment the EPA is still looking into this "auxiliary emissions control device", whether it's legit or another "sub-routine" to skirt emission rules. The term itself is used by the EPA and it allows certain circumstances whereby the ECU can run unhindered by emission control hardware.

"Open-Loop" is an example where ECU can run unhindered...

- Cold starts: engine runs rich to warm up catalytic converter and Lambda sensors
- Abrupt shift in throttle position: if you hit the pedal hard, the motor runs rich to prevent knocking
- WOT: same as above

...in the above conditions, an engine would be pumping out much higher HC than what is normally allowed. The EPA allows such "auxiliary emissions control device" so manufacturers can meet their factory durability guidelines. Apparently, a manufacturer has to submit them to the EPA for certification and VW didn't.

 

The very first question worth asking would be "Was this 2016 Software "device" written by the same group of rogue SW interns that wrote the emissions code causing the present issues?"

 

The current unsold stock is very high, they are acting "quickly" to clean up the issue.

Here in Europe, Euro6 models (2015-) have always been said to conform the emission limits...meaning they have been sold, so no rush from VW to disclaim.

 

I stopped monitoring this thread because it was becoming too depressing. But today, Autoline Daily has an editorial warning that the punishment should not end VW and the suppliers . . . 'punishing those who were not the crooks'. I'm going to add my thoughts but if you have any, the comment section would be good today:

AD #1725 &#8211; Best September Ever, Nissan Offers Mobility Services, Don&#8217;t Kill VW w/ Punishment &#8211; Autoline Daily

Bob Wilson