Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks pollution

[bluey]

There is no diminishing the scale of what VW has done....

There is no dimishing the reality of what they have done, but I haven't yet found exactly what they have done - yet to see a code analysis. Media has gone to town without full facts like usual. Well, you can't create interested viewers with just facts.

[bluey]

[...]Bottom line is VW have been busted with stealth programming to simply beat the test, and that's going to hurt come EPA fine time.[...]

Apparently VW admitted it, but haven't managed to find an official statement yet on what they did admit. EPA case appears to hinge on "defeat device" - so the lawyers will be weighing in heavily when it comes to the money. From a PR perspective, looks like VAG is trying to get all the dirty laundry out now so that future press will be positive rather than negative.

The reason the anomaly showed up was because the real world test of 3 vehicles - 2 VAG, 1 BMW X5 - the BMW did better that the VAGs by a long way. But BMW has been fitting LNT for a lot longer. So probably random luck that the testers pinned that on a software fix, given the test results in the ICCT white paper which is far more inclusive. The ICCT looks pretty squeaky as far as independent non-profits go. But the experimental data came courtesy of the "Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC)". So maybe VW has been working hard behind the scenes to have ICCT bring out this timely report.

It was the ICCT who originally contracted Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions at West Virginia University to conduct in-use testing of three light-duty diesel vehicles, using a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS). So the anomalous results led to the broader investigation in the white paper.

This problem has been known for years in Europe - ICCT 2012. Laboratory versus real world: Discrepancies in NOx emissions in the EU | International Council on Clean Transportation

Similar problem for CO2 and fuel consumption - real world vs test. Vehicle emissions testing in the EU: Why we are still struggling with the dead hand of the past—and what the future is likely to bring | International Council on Clean Transportation

Note new Euro standards will permit 2x NOX in real world test vs lab test.

I agree that our cars should test better with better fuel. No doubt the storm will generate more research activity.

[wai]

Unfortunately, the longer that VW do not come clean and disclose exactly what was done to pass the test, there will be speculation as to what they did. We have speculation out there that tries to make the detection of the test very complicated. Whether it was that or something much simpler like the order of events in the lead up to a test by way of a check list of things to do or systems to turn off, only time will tell. The longer that VW let this go on, the worse it will be for them.

From reports, they have already delayed the process by almost a year. The silly thing is that if they had cooperated with the researchers in the first place, they could have come out and said there was an unforeseen flaw in their software that gave an unintended result and that they were now working on a solution that would be rolled out as a matter of urgency. VW would have probably come up smelling like roses, rather than the manure they currently smell of.

But, you know, this would not be something limited to diesel vehicles. It would not surprise me one bit if just about every manufacturer do similar things to their cars where tailpipe emissions are measured. So, the only way to regain any confidence in the emission testing regime would be for ALL manufacturers (diesel, petrol or hybrid) to make all their ECU and other software freely available to the authorities so that the authorities are certain that no similar thing happens again.

Right now, I am absolutely certain that EVERY car manufacturer is going over their software with a fine toothed comb just to make sure that if there is a requirement for the software to be submitted that it would not be found to be similarly flawed.

[No457 Snowy]

The CEO has just resigned last night.

Volkswagen boss quits over diesel emissions scandal | Reuters

EDIT: Just realised someone already posted about this.

[bluey]

VW might be toast. Same problem 17 years ago for heavy diesels and software was deemed a "defeat device".

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress...2566a60069ad2e

[Greg Roles]

Meh, they could just flog off Porsche to Hyundai for a billion.

[PerthMTB]

In the absence of a statement from VW Australia (poor form guys - get your act together!) would Bluey and others that seem to know what they are talking about please clarify a few things for me...

As I understand it VW sells the older Euro V compliant diesel engines in Oz, and they only have a DPF fitted for particulate reduction, no SCR or EGR for Nox reduction because Oz regulations aren't that stringent, and they can meet them without needing expensive extra pollution reduction technology, or for that matter needing to use the "cheat" software.

Is this the case?

If so, then unlike Europe and the US where removing the cheat software will mean VW need to de-tune the performance and/or fit extra pollution control devices to meet the emissions standards, here in Oz nothing would need to be done.

Have I got that right?

Of course, a definitive statement for VW Oz would be nice, instead of us having to speculate like this ourselves!

[kaanage]

An interesting piece on the industry-wide history of cheating regulations
Volkswagen Test Rigging Follows a Long Auto Industry Pattern

[Sumodog68]

Makes perfect sense that the scrutiny would eventually shift to ALL VW diesel engine variants and possibly to ALL German diesels.

*START RANT*
However, I did not purchase a VW because of its green credentials. Far from it. I bought a VW because it's a nice car. It looks good, is a very comfortable cruiser and gets great mileage. I can get up to 1,250km out of a 65L tank of diesel without even trying too hard. What's not to like???

I could not give a rat's whether or not the (supposedly) massive volume of poisonous emissions from every litre of diesel I burn is turning a patch of the Amazon into wasteland, causing whales to beach themselves or even asphyxiating Baz the houso on Bludger St. Oh PULEEZE!

I'm stoked with my car's performance. I don't care what it's belching out behind me on the road.
*END RANT*

I smell potential class actions in various regions of the world if VW's fix adversely affects the performance, economy and maintenance costs of the suspect diesel powered vehicles.

I would probably sign up to the lawsuit if things go that way.

Don't care what your car is belching out behind you ? You bought a perfect car

[Transporter]

Meh, they could just flog off Porsche to Hyundai for a billion.

Nah, it's not needed. The worst case scenario; it will just delay their entry into F1.