VW Emissions Scandal – Case StudySUMMATIVE ASSIGNMENT
German prosecutors raided Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg, Germany, headquarters on
December 3, as part of a fresh investigation into diesel VWs. This time, they are
reportedly interested in the EA288 four-cylinder engine, successor to the EA189 diesel
engine around which the Dieselgate investigation has centered. Reuters cited
Volkswagen as saying the EA288 engine did not have a “defeat” device to beat
emissions testing. We will update with new information as it becomes available.
General Motors and Toyota had their massive scandals. Now it’s Volkswagen’s turn.
The company, which owns 70 percent of the U.S. passenger-car diesel market, is in
major trouble for cheating on diesel-emissions tests. After years of promoting “Clean
Diesel” as an alternative to hybrid and electric vehicles—the company even marched on
Washington with a squadron of Audi TDI models—Volkswagen is stewing in its own
toxic vapors. Here’s our handy guide to what’s happening.
What happened?
Volkswagen installed emissions software on more than a half-million diesel cars in the
U.S.—and roughly 10.5 million more worldwide—that allows them to sense the unique
parameters of an emissions drive cycle set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the EPA and the California Air Resources Board, which were tipped off by
researchers in 2014, these so-called “defeat devices” detect steering, throttle, and other
inputs used in the test to switch between two distinct operating modes.
In the test mode, the cars are fully compliant with all federal emissions levels. But when
driving normally, the computer switches to a separate mode—significantly changing the
fuel pressure, injection timing, exhaust-gas recirculation, and, in models with AdBlue,
the amount of urea fluid sprayed into the exhaust. While this mode likely delivers higher
mileage and power, it also permits heavier nitrogen-oxide emissions (NOx)—a smogforming pollutant linked to lung cancer—up to 40 times higher than the federal limit.
That doesn’t mean every TDI is pumping 40 times as much NOx as it should. Some
cars may emit just a few times over the limit, depending on driving style and load.
Which cars are affected? Will my car pass state inspection?
The following Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche diesel models have been cited by the
EPA for emissions violations. There is no recall, and the cars pass all state inspections,
at least for now. Remember, VW has admitted to violating federal emissions laws, and
as such, it’s neither a state nor a safety issue. However, if Volkswagen does issue a
recall, some states (particularly California and some that follow Partial Zero Emissions
Vehicle standards) may prevent owners from renewing their registration if they don’t
complete the fix.
Source: Clifford Atiyeh, Everything You Need to Know About the VW Diesel Emissions
Scandal, (Car and Driver, 2016). Accessed March 16, 2016
http://blog.caranddriver.com/everything-you-needto-know-about-the-vw-dieselemissions-scandal [accessed on 17/01/2023].