The news that Volkswagen cheated with the exhaust certification in the US hit like a bomb, but is actually old news. The technology of cheating has long been known and VW cheating was discovered in the summer of 2014. More automakers may have manipulated the numbers in a similar way and the evidence of this we see already in most major cities where NOx levels have increased dramatically.
Those of you who read Auto Motor & amp; sports regularly and follow the news on the site remember the series “Fuel Hoax” that we launched in autumn 2013. Then we showed how the automotive industry for several years been using ever more creative methods to improve fuel consumption figures and CO2 emissions (carbon dioxide). Something our readers and ordinary consumers also experienced – the official consumption figures do not match at all with the actual fuel consumption. It differs 30-50 percent, sometimes more.
When engineers move their testing methods of the “creative field” end up dangerously close to what no longer is to push the boundaries but downright cheating. Then it becomes very tempting to perhaps take one more step, from the gray area to the forbidden zone. And that leap has thus Volkswagen developed, with devastating consequences for the trust and image.
The news of the VW cheating in the United States – which came to be known as Diesel Gate – hit like a bomb last week, when this article was being written, the first rumors started swirling that top management must take the consequences. The reason for this is that the senior managers within the Volkswagen Group, including the board, in all probability known to cheat. The problem with the very high levels of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, NOx, became known in the summer of 2014 when the West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines, and Emissions (abbreviated “Cafee”) was asked by the US authorities to make emission tests.
Early in the year, began the tests and unlike previously drove cars on the road, not in a laboratory environment. The university’s personal thought at first that you did something wrong for Volkswagen’s diesel engines showed NOx values that were 15 to 35 times above what is allowed. Everything was cross-checked and the reference vehicle was used, but the measurements were correct.
Pretty soon directed suspicions against the software in the engine control. In no way could the car models in certain positions move in a “test mode” where the NOx values were adjusted down to the correct level. But in normal highway driving where NOx values thus considerably higher.
In a very skilfully calculated the software on their own when the car was tested and when it was run as usual. “Test mode” was activated when no steering angle during a specific period of time (the car is therefore still on a rolling road), as well as temperature and air pressure were within certain ranges (= lab environment).
How high up in the Volkswagen management, knowledge of the exhaust cheating? It was probably not a single engineer, who in the picture, who of his own accord made “improvements” in the software. The decision came from higher up, but how high?
in May 2014 being launched a formal investigation in the United States that would investigate whether fraud was intentionally performed. Volkswagen had to share the results and respond to such information. In December 2014 Volkswagen announced that it conducted a recall of nearly half a million diesel cars in the US to improve the software.
The authority of the California Air Resources Board, “CARB”, however, continued to control measuring diesel models from Volkswagen in spring 2015 . NOx values were exceeded yet, despite the changed software. CARB demanded answers from Volkswagen, answers, however, did not materialize, and authorities warned then that if no changes were made, several of VW’s diesel models are not approved for the model year 2016. Something that would mean that about 25 percent of Volkswagen’s sales disappeared. The state chose Volkswagen to allow the software to the engine management had a “test mode”, that is a deliberate cheat mode where the NOx values were lowered.
One this big and serious error would have very serious consequences for Volkswagen’s sales can not have been unknown to the lead in the VW Group. It has probably known since more than a year back. That CEO Martin Winterkorn on Sunday went to the media with the message “top priority” sounds a bit false, then he could hardly have been unaware of the problem before. Martin Winterkorn is an engineer in the ground and known to be the closest obsessed with technical details. He would not know the faulty software will be hard to explain away, and it will probably result that he must take the consequences of Diesel Gate.
On Tuesday, Volkswagen announced that total worldwide concerns eleven million cars ” faulty software. ” Where these cars are and how they are distributed, as well as how any measures should look like, is something that Volkswagen not gone into. The Board’s executive committee met on Tuesday evening to discuss the situation. The board will meet again on Wednesday and regular board meeting – with all 20 members – takes place on Friday.
Newer car models from VW that meet the EU6 exhaust emission standards (in most cases from model year 2015 onwards ) do not have the defective software. The motors are adapted to the stringent requirements with lower NOx emissions (180-80 mg / km), which means that in most cases equipped with AdBlue injection. By injecting a small amount of urea topics and use a more advanced catalytic technology it is possible to reduce exhaust emissions significantly, however, an additional cost for the consumer.
To see antipollution generally on diesel cars from model year 2015 onwards, those who pass the new EU6 emissions standard (available Also on some models that are a few years older). Directly after the turbo, the first catalyst purifies hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. An injector injects AdBlue liquid and then purified NOx in the second catalyst. Finally trapped particles in a filter where they sit until they are burned off at certain intervals. The container of AdBlue liquid usually hold enough to last between two visits to the workshop.
• You can read more about Diesel Gate at our collection side of Volkswagen’s diesel cheating.
Fuel Hoax Part 1: Consumption figures are a scam!
Fuel Hoax, Part 2: How to optimize the fuel figures
Fuel Hoax, Part 3: The figures get worse every year
Fuel Hoax, Part 4: The cars have become dumsnåla
Fuel Hoax Part 5 Diesel in winter – an environmental bomb
Unique Numbers: How efficient is your car? Find out your model here
automotive industry’s Tricks: How to lower the consumption
Readers: Manufacturers cheat on consumption
New EU report: “The automotive industry loopholes lowers the numbers”
Volkswagen’s press release on Tuesday
“Volkswagen AG HAS issued the Following Information:
> Volkswagen is working at full speed to Clarify irregularities Concerning a Particular software used in diesel engines. New vehicles from the Volkswagen Group with the EU 6 diesel engines currently available in the European Union Comply with Legal Requirements and environmental standards. The software in question does not Affect action, consumption or emissions. This is given clarity to customers and dealers.
Further internal investigations Conducted to date have established That the relevant engine management software is overpriced installed in other Volkswagen Group vehicles with diesel engines. For the Majority of These engines the software does not have any effect.
The discrepancies Relate to vehicles with Type EA 189 engines, Involving some eleven million vehicles worldwide. A Noticeable deviation between bench test results and actual road use was established Solely for this type of engine. Volkswagen is working intensely to Eliminate These deviations through Technical Measures. The company is there fore in contact with the relevant Authorities and the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA – Kraftfahrtbundesamt).
To cover the Necessary services Measures and Other Efforts to win back the trust of our customers, Volkswagen plans to set aside a commission of some 6.5 billion EUR-recognized in the profit and loss statement in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. Due to the Ongoing Investigations The Amounts Estimated May be subject to revaluation.
Earnings targets for the Group for 2015 will ask Adjusted Accordingly.
Volkswagen does not tolerate any kind of violation of laws whatsoever. It is and remains the top priority of the Board of Management to win back lost trust and to avert damage to our customers. The Group will inform the public on the Further Progress of the investigations constantly and transparently. “
I think there is the “test mode” in the software of more automakers.
No comments:
Post a Comment