Volkswagen's diesel scandal, explained
Summary
TLDRThe EPA recently exposed Volkswagen and Audi for using a 'defeat device' in some diesel cars made between 2009 and 2015 to circumvent emissions laws. These devices tricked regulatory tests, showing compliance while emitting up to 40 times more pollutants under normal driving conditions. The sophisticated software detected test conditions by monitoring steering wheel position, speed, engine runtime, and atmospheric pressure. Volkswagen's CEO has resigned, and the company faces serious legal and financial repercussions, including potential recalls and class action lawsuits.
Takeaways
- π Last Friday, the EPA announced that some Volkswagen and Audi cars made between 2009 and the current year were using a 'defeat device' to circumvent emissions laws.
- π» Modern cars, including the implicated Volkswagen and Audi models, are equipped with numerous computers that control engine functions, including emissions management.
- π οΈ Diesel engines, like those in the affected Volkswagen and Audi cars, have a 'NOx trap' that reduces harmful nitrogen oxide emissions, which works best with a specific amount of unburned fuel.
- π The defeat device is a software program that tricks emissions tests by altering the car's performance to meet standards when in fact it does not.
- π The affected Volkswagen models were known for their good fuel economy, but the NOx trap's effectiveness was compromised when the car was not in test mode, leading to increased emissions.
- π The defeat device could detect an official emissions test by monitoring various parameters like steering wheel position, speed, engine runtime, and atmospheric pressure.
- π« The sophisticated system used by Volkswagen to deceive emissions tests is not accidental and indicates deliberate corporate deception.
- π¨βπΌ The scandal led to the resignation of Volkswagen's CEO, Martin Winterkorn, highlighting the severity of the issue for the company.
- π¦ For the half a million owners of the affected diesel vehicles, they are still safe to drive until a recall is issued by Volkswagen, which will likely involve a software update.
- πΌ Class action lawsuits are being prepared, and car owners may eventually receive compensation for the deceit, although this process will take time.
Q & A
What is a 'defeat device' as mentioned in the context of Volkswagen and Audi cars?
-A 'defeat device' is a special program inside a car's computer system designed to make it appear as if the vehicle meets emission standards during testing, even when it does not.
Why do modern cars have computers inside them?
-Modern cars have computers to coordinate engine functions for optimal performance while ensuring that emissions are within legal limits, by controlling parameters like fuel-to-air ratio and sensor data.
How do diesel engines in Volkswagen and Audi models cheat on emissions tests?
-The cheating models use a defeat device that detects when an emissions test is being conducted and adjusts the fuel usage to make the NOx trap work effectively, reducing emissions temporarily.
What is a NOx trap and why is it significant for diesel engines?
-A NOx trap is a device that absorbs and traps nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants. It is significant for diesel engines because it helps reduce harmful emissions, and its effectiveness is enhanced with the presence of unburned fuel.
How does the defeat device in Volkswagen and Audi cars detect an emissions test?
-The defeat device uses a sophisticated system that checks various parameters such as steering wheel position, speed, engine run time, and atmospheric pressure to determine if the car is undergoing an official emissions test.
What are the consequences of using a defeat device for Volkswagen and Audi?
-The consequences include legal troubles, damage to the company's reputation, potential fines, and the resignation of the CEO, as well as the need to recall and update the software in affected vehicles.
What should owners of affected Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars do?
-Owners can continue to drive their cars until a recall is issued. They may also be eligible for compensation through potential class action lawsuits in the future.
How might the software update affect the performance of affected Volkswagen and Audi cars?
-The software update to remove the defeat device might result in reduced fuel efficiency, as the car will no longer be able to cheat on emissions tests and will have to operate within the actual emission standards.
What are the potential legal actions against Volkswagen due to the defeat device scandal?
-Potential legal actions include class action lawsuits from car owners, fines from regulatory agencies, and possible criminal charges for the company and individuals involved in the deception.
What is the impact of the defeat device on the environment?
-The defeat device allows the car to emit up to 40 times more pollutants into the atmosphere when not undergoing an emissions test, significantly contributing to air pollution and environmental harm.
How did the EPA discover the use of defeat devices in Volkswagen and Audi cars?
-The EPA discovered the use of defeat devices through its own testing and investigation, which revealed discrepancies between the cars' emissions during testing and real-world driving conditions.
Outlines
π Volkswagen Emission Scandal Explained
The EPA revealed that certain Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles manufactured between 2009 and the present have utilized a 'defeat device' to circumvent emissions regulations. This device is a software program within the car's computer system that detects when the vehicle is undergoing an emissions test. During the test, the car operates the NOx trap efficiently by using more fuel, which results in compliant emissions. However, once on the road, the defeat device deactivates, leading to as much as 40 times the allowable pollutants being emitted. The detection system is sophisticated, analyzing factors like steering wheel position and atmospheric pressure to discern official tests from regular driving conditions. This intentional deception has led to serious repercussions for Volkswagen, including the resignation of their CEO, Martin Winterkorn. Affected owners can continue driving their vehicles until a recall is issued, but they may experience reduced fuel efficiency after necessary software updates. Class action lawsuits are anticipated, potentially leading to compensation for owners in the future.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Defeat device
π‘Emissions laws
π‘Computers in cars
π‘Diesel engines
π‘NOx trap
π‘Emissions test
π‘Fuel economy
π‘Recall
π‘Class action lawsuits
π‘Martin Winterkorn
Highlights
EPA announced that Volkswagen and Audi cars made between 2009 and 2015 used a 'defeat device' to bypass emissions laws.
Modern cars use computers to coordinate engine functions for optimal performance and to ensure low emissions.
Diesel engines in Volkswagen and Audi models have a computer-controlled parameter for unburned fuel in the exhaust.
Unburned fuel enhances the effectiveness of a NOx trap, which captures nitrogen oxides, a pollutant.
A 'defeat device' is a program that makes it appear as if the car meets emission standards when it does not.
Volkswagen's diesel engines were known for good fuel economy, but the NOx trap works best with more fuel usage.
The defeat device detects emissions tests and adjusts the car's performance to meet standards temporarily.
Once on the road and away from the test, the device turns off, leading to increased fuel efficiency but up to 40 times more pollutants.
The EPA identified a sophisticated system in the software that detects official emissions tests, indicating intentional deception.
Volkswagen's CEO, Martin Winterkorn, stepped down in the wake of the scandal.
Owners of affected Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles can still drive their cars safely until a recall is issued.
Volkswagen will likely need to update the software in affected cars, potentially reducing fuel efficiency.
Lawyers are preparing for class action lawsuits, which may result in compensation for car owners in the future.
The affected models include Volkswagen Jettas, Beetles, Golfs, Passats, and Audi A3s.
The scandal has serious implications for Volkswagen's reputation and financial stability.
The sophisticated nature of the defeat device software suggests a deliberate effort to deceive emissions tests.
The impact of the scandal extends beyond Volkswagen, raising questions about the integrity of emissions testing in the automotive industry.
Transcripts
last Friday the EPA announced that some
Volkswagen naudi cars made between 2009
and this year we're using a so-called
defeat device to get around emissions
laws designed to keep the air clean but
what does that mean
exactly well modern cars have dozens of
computers inside them and some of those
computers help coordinate the functions
of the engine for Optimum performance
while making sure that there isn't too
much garbage coming out of the exhaust
pipe they've actually been working this
way for several decades now basically
every part of a modern cars engine has a
sensor or controller on it and these
computers are reading in data thousands
of times per second making adjustments
like the ratio of fuel to air that's
going into the cylinders these cheating
Volkswagen and Audi models are diesels
and diesels have one more really
important computer controlled parameter
which is the amount of unburned fuel
going into the exhaust now that sounds
bad it doesn't sound like you would want
unburned fuel going into the exhaust but
in the case of a diesel you have
something called a nox trap which is a
device that absorbs and traps nitrogen
ox Ides that are pollutants that would
otherwise go into the atmosphere and the
effect of that nox trap is enhanced with
unburned fuel so a defeat device is a
special program inside these computers
that can make it look like the car meets
emission standards even when it doesn't
Volkswagen had a problem on its hands
its diesel engines were known for
getting great fuel economy but the nox
trap only works well when more fuel is
being used so the car would detect using
this defeat device when it was getting
an emissions test it would use more fuel
make the nox trap work well emissions
would be fine but then you get on the
road the device turns off you're burning
less fuel but you're putting as much as
40 times more pollutants into the
atmosphere but how the heck did the car
know that it was being tested for
Missions compliance the EPA says it was
a sophisticated system that checked
things like steering wheel position
speed how long the engine was on and
even the atmospheric pressure in other
words there was no way this was
accidental because the software was
designed very carefully to detect an
official emissions test that's some
pretty serious deception and that's why
Volkswagen is in such serious trouble
and in fact their CEO Martin vorn just
stepped down so what happens next well
if you own one of the half million
diesel Jettas beetles golfs pizot or
Audi a3s affected the good news is that
your car is still safe to drive you
don't have to put it away until
Volkswagen issues a recall but at some
point they're probably going to have to
update the software inside your car and
when that happens you might get fewer
miles per tank lawyers are already
gearing up for class action lawsuits so
owners might get compensated at some
point in the future but that's not going
to happen anytime soon
a
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