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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVolkswagen Allegedly Cheated On US Emission Tests According To EPA Probe
WASHINGTON The Obama administration on Friday directed Volkswagen to recall nearly a half-million cars, saying the automaker illegally installed software in its diesel-power cars to evade standards for reducing smog.
The Environmental Protection Agency accused the German automaker of using software to detect when the car is undergoing its periodic state emissions testing. Only during such tests are the cars full emissions control systems turned on. During normal driving situations, the controls are turned off, allowing the cars to spew as much as 40 times as much pollution as allowed under the Clean Air Act, the E.P.A. said.
We expected better from Volkswagen, said Cynthia Giles, the E.P.A.s assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance. She called the automakers actions a threat to public health.
Agency officials issued the car company a notice of violation and said it had admitted to the use of a so-called defeat device. The recall involves 4-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2009-15.
A spokeswoman for Volkswagen confirmed that the company had received the notice and said the automaker was cooperating with the investigation. She declined to comment further on the case.
The software was designed to conceal the cars emission of the pollutant nitrogen oxide, which contributes to the creation of ozone and smog. The pollutants are linked to a range of health problems, including asthma attacks, other respiratory diseases and premature death.
Experts in automotive technology said that disengaging the pollution controls on a diesel-fueled car can yield better performance, including increased torque and acceleration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-nearly-500000-vehicles-over-emissions-software.html
The Environmental Protection Agency accused the German automaker of using software to detect when the car is undergoing its periodic state emissions testing. Only during such tests are the cars full emissions control systems turned on. During normal driving situations, the controls are turned off, allowing the cars to spew as much as 40 times as much pollution as allowed under the Clean Air Act, the E.P.A. said.
We expected better from Volkswagen, said Cynthia Giles, the E.P.A.s assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance. She called the automakers actions a threat to public health.
Agency officials issued the car company a notice of violation and said it had admitted to the use of a so-called defeat device. The recall involves 4-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2009-15.
A spokeswoman for Volkswagen confirmed that the company had received the notice and said the automaker was cooperating with the investigation. She declined to comment further on the case.
The software was designed to conceal the cars emission of the pollutant nitrogen oxide, which contributes to the creation of ozone and smog. The pollutants are linked to a range of health problems, including asthma attacks, other respiratory diseases and premature death.
Experts in automotive technology said that disengaging the pollution controls on a diesel-fueled car can yield better performance, including increased torque and acceleration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-nearly-500000-vehicles-over-emissions-software.html
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Volkswagen Allegedly Cheated On US Emission Tests According To EPA Probe (Original Post)
Initech
Sep 2015
OP
That sounds intentional. Does this mean they'll have to give back their Car Of The Year awards?
Electric Monk
Sep 2015
#1
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)1. That sounds intentional. Does this mean they'll have to give back their Car Of The Year awards?
Initech
(100,075 posts)2. Well hey if Tom Brady got suspended... guess VW has to too!
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)3. I just noticed there's a large thread in LBN about this already
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)4. So a computer SCIENTIST deliberately designed software knowing that once installed
it would allow a car to pollute the air.
Huh. But a GMO scientist would never knowingly produce a GMO that might do harm.
At least, that's what the big Farm people are always telling us.