Decade-long diesel scam expose: deception unveiled
In the world of automobiles, the focus on reducing emissions has been a pressing concern for many years. This article delves into the unravelling of a significant scandal that rocked the automotive industry, particularly involving diesel engines, and the measures taken to ensure more accurate emission testing.
The year 2015 marked a turning point in the industry when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused the Volkswagen Group of violating the Clean Air Act with illegal defeat devices. The specific date of EPA's initial accusation is not explicitly provided, but the public disclosure and regulatory action occurred in September 2015.
The scandal, which threatened a fine of 18 billion dollars, led to a loss of credibility for the automotive industry and even threatened driving bans in European cities due to high levels of nitrogen oxides. The emissions, particularly from diesel engines, were found to be significantly higher in real-world conditions compared to lab tests.
To address this issue, Real Driving Emissions (RDE) was made mandatory, collecting emissions not only in the lab but also on the road. This shift aimed to provide a more accurate reflection of a vehicle's emissions performance.
In the Netherlands, for instance, the speed limit on motorways was reduced to 100 km/h during the day to further reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. Meanwhile, all diesel passenger cars now have an elaborate SCR catalyst to reduce real emissions.
The market share of diesel engines in Europe has declined since then, dropping to 12.4 percent in the first half of 2025. Germany, where around 28 percent of the over 49 million cars today have a diesel engine, has seen complex driving bans on individual streets, particularly with older cars having higher pollutant values.
The interest of the public was modest when the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) published its results in Die Zeit in October 2014, eleven months before the Volkswagen scandal became public. Using Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS), the ICCT study found an average excess of nitrogen oxide limit values by a factor of seven in 15 vehicles tested. The study was anonymized, preventing identification of specific vehicles with excessive emissions.
Indications of emissions manipulation by car manufacturers were present as early as 2011, such as during a chimney evening in Wolfsburg. A former department head even found an anonymous reader letter from 2007 accusing Audi AG of cheating with the Euro 4 exhaust standard and six-cylinder engines using cycle beating.
The Volkswagen Group admitted that about eleven million passenger cars in Europe had the defeat device, leading to the resignation of the CEO, Martin Winterkorn. After 2015, the testing procedures for the type approval of a passenger car have been significantly tightened to prevent such incidents in the future.
In conclusion, the emissions scandal served as a wake-up call for the automotive industry, leading to stricter regulations and a shift in consumer preferences away from diesel engines. The incident underscores the importance of transparency and honesty in the industry and the need for continuous efforts to reduce emissions and protect the environment.
Read also:
- Benadryl: Impact on Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Beyond
- Company manufacturing Plumpy'Nut is thrilled beyond belief!
- Enhancements to Networking in Senior Care, Fedding Positive Experiences for Service Providers and Elderly Residents
- Ileostomy stool caracteristics: What's normal after undergoing an ileostomy?
