Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks pollution

[ian]

Of cause we should reduce our emissions but not alone. If Australia reduced our emissions to zero and it cost billion. But achieved nothing except. Exported jobs over seas. Because it would make it impossible to manufacture. In Australia.
China has just build 10 super coal fired power stations. Mongolia has the richest coal deposits in Asia. And China just built a rail. Network to import the coal. Don't believe all you hear from the greens Yes China closed 100 coal powered power stations. But they built the 10. Super one to take their place.

[stefcio007]

True, there just needs to be the right amount so that in the long term it can be beneficial to both our economy and the environment. I guess that's the tricky part.

[woofy]

The thing that is very tricky is that energy companies and oil do not want to lose their business. In an ideal world in the 90s we knew oil was running out and they hoped that there would be a point where companies would start researching to keep their business going once they could no longer sell oil. Unfortunately that never happened, the greedy buggers just kept going and even to the point of obscuring research. We long ago in the 70s hit an all time low for reinvestment into research for businesses, many just cut it back to get more profits for the short term. Which means a lot of universities and not for profits like CSIRO are what everyone relies on to do this kind of stuff. And they have been running on less money each year. Elon whatever people think of him, pretty much saw this and had the funds to try some things. He may not have the answer but certainly has shown what could be done. Although tech isn't there with solar etc, we currently get pretty poor efficiency and the arguments hold about the energy cost to make things at the moment, but you have to start somewhere.

[The_Hawk]

Elon whatever people think of him, pretty much saw this and had the funds to try some things.

And he gave away the patents for the technology to encourage others to get on board.

[woofy]

If we had half a brain in our govt and in private investment you'd think we'd migrate our STEM focus onto things like renewables. Likely we will sell off anything useful to someone overseas and buy it back from them. PLenty of highly educated people in Australia sitting in jobs that don't use their actual skills. Plenty of mining workers with zero skills that should have been trained in that job for something long term but of course BHP etc don't care about that. UAE already has the UN worried as the money will dissappear once the oil is gone and the goat herders won't really be wanting to go back to that old life now they have Lambos...

[feenix74]

Fully agree, we missed a great opportunity 5+ years ago to lead the innovation in renewable energy and set our nation up for the future. Luckily, we have still managed to grow some great renewable energy innovations (eg Reposit Power who provide one of the bits of software that help the Tesla Powerwall work) in spite of the system not because of it.

[team_v]

I guess all those massive wind farms in the North Sea/English Channel off Norfolk/Suffolk UK are a failure in that case.

They definitely are a failure:

England not windy enough, admits wind industry chief

[Amalgam]

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2016...-diesel-102854

Skoda is moving away from turbo-diesel engines in Australia as customers shift to increasingly efficient turbo-petrol engines and the Volkswagen Group's 'dieselgate' emissions scandal rolls on.

Very telling!!

[theresanothersteve]

Skoda downgrades diesel – Car Reviews, News & Advice - CarPoint Australia

Skoda is moving away from turbo-diesel engines in Australia as customers shift to increasingly efficient turbo-petrol engines and the Volkswagen Group's 'dieselgate' emissions scandal rolls on.

Very telling!!

I'd be interested to know a bit more about why.

A lot of people don't like diesel because you get dirty hands when filling. I knew someone with a V8 Discovery (because his wife refused to fill a diesel) whose performance was virtually identical to my turbo diesel Discovery. When we talked fuel consumption (His petrol used over twice as much) he just shook his head.

I also think with modern petrol claiming consumption around 5L/100KM people struggle to justify the added expense of buying a diesel powered car.

[Greg Roles]

Skoda downgrades diesel – Car Reviews, News & Advice - CarPoint Australia

Skoda is moving away from turbo-diesel engines in Australia as customers shift to increasingly efficient turbo-petrol engines and the Volkswagen Group's 'dieselgate' emissions scandal rolls on.

Very telling!!

If you read the article they have plenty of diesel powered cars planned, just are dropping the diesel Yeti due to sales. I guess the majority of Yeti owners are town dwellers who want a suburban mini SUV and a petrol engine is fine. Makes sense as it's not a serious 4x4, and only a few of us blokes have nuts big enough to feel comfortable in a small oddball SUV.

So diesel is a looong way from dead, just Skoda are following sales trends, and it would seem the Yeti diesel is going to be canned, most probably to help drive sales of their future SUV diesel models, where the Yeti TDI may be a threat. Who knows, but at least I have a TDI Yeti, and big nuts - Yay.