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Volkswagen Accused Of Hacking 482,000 Diesels To Fake U.S. Emissions Tests
Yahoo Autos ^ | September 18, 2015 | Justin Hyde

Posted on 09/18/2015 11:14:17 AM PDT by Reaganez

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California officials say some 482,000 Volkswagen and Audi diesels were engineered to falsify their emissions for federal tests—a violation that opens the German automaker to a theoretical fine totaling $18 billion.

The EPA and California Air Resources Board say the affected models had software in its computer engine controls that could sense exactly when it was being tested for emissions quality. At all other times, it would run the diesels in a different mode with illegal levels of pollution; for example, spewing up to 40 times more nitrogen oxide, a key component of smog, than allowed.

While other automakers have been accused of violating the Clean Air Act, this is the first time one has been found to have designed software specifically to circumvent the rules. The notice issued by the EPA and CARB today was the first step in a process that will likely lead to a recall of the affected models with 2-liter turbodiesel engines by VW; the agencies told owners that the vehicles are still safe to drive.

The affected cars include VW Jettas, Beetles, Golfs and Audi A3s with diesel engines from the 2009 to 2015 model years, along with diesel VW Passats from 2014-2015.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Germany; News/Current Events; US: California; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: a3s; audi; automobiles; beetle; california; carb; cleanairact; detroit; diesel; epa; fiatchrysler; ford; generalmotors; germany; golf; jetta; martinwinterkorn; michigan; passat; turbodiesel; volkswagen
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To: Reaganez

I LOVE IT. Gotta go buy anything Volkswagen, even a shirt.


21 posted on 09/18/2015 11:58:33 AM PDT by Cyman (We have to pass it to see what's in it= definition of stool sample)
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To: alloysteel
...urea-injection exhaust systems do a very good job of cleaning up NOx emission...

Without researching further, I'd guess these are the non-urea engines that have been the subject of speculation because most other diesels these days require urea injection.

22 posted on 09/18/2015 11:59:48 AM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: Reaganez

I don’t think he’s that far off.

From my read of this, the software had the effect of producing better MPG at the cost of higher emissions.

Heck of a tradeoff there. Burn more gas/pollute less, or burn less gas/pollute more.


23 posted on 09/18/2015 12:04:26 PM PDT by tanknetter
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To: Reaganez

This story is but one more example of how much smarter private individuals/companies are than government bureaucrats.

Donald Trump is another, more extreme, example. Look how much smarter he is than the other candidates.

And before the expected protesters jump in, Trump was against TPA, and opposed the Iran deal, and thus would not have voted for Corker, which made that deal possible.


24 posted on 09/18/2015 12:13:13 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (The Great Wall of Trump ---- 100% sealing of the border. Coming soon.)
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To: SaxxonWoods
By the way, when will we see the first all-electric semi-truck?

The trailer will be full of batteries. :D

25 posted on 09/18/2015 12:13:24 PM PDT by Oberon (John 12:5-6)
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To: Reaganez; sully777; vigl; Cagey; Abathar; A. Patriot; B Knotts; getsoutalive; muleskinner; ...

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST jut FReepmail me..... This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....

26 posted on 09/18/2015 12:15:34 PM PDT by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
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To: tanknetter
Heck of a tradeoff there. Burn more gas/pollute less, or burn less gas/pollute more.

Ironically, the one with worse emissions may actually do the environment less harm; the acid test would be the quantity of pollutants emitted per mile driven.

If your vehicle produces ten percent less emissions but gets twelve percent less fuel economy, you're actually emitting more pollutants per mile.

27 posted on 09/18/2015 12:16:11 PM PDT by Oberon (John 12:5-6)
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To: Reaganez
Screw the EPA.
Screw all of their obsequious toadies, too.
28 posted on 09/18/2015 12:28:36 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (There is no "allah" but satan, and mohammed was his demon-possessed tool.)
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To: antidisestablishment

My dad and uncle should have been dead from fried lungs if diesel was so dangerous from decades of running tractors and just about any piece of construction equipment out there.


29 posted on 09/18/2015 12:33:07 PM PDT by wally_bert (There are no winners in a game of losers. I'm Tommy Joyce, welcome to the Oriental Lounge.)
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To: Reaganez

My Grandfather (RIP) contention was that the smog equipment cut out 1/2 the pollutants per gallon of gas, but reduced the MPG by half. As the distance to work was the same the pollution was unchanged.


30 posted on 09/18/2015 12:37:51 PM PDT by Quick Shot
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To: Reaganez

.
F___ U.S. Emissions Tests!
.


31 posted on 09/18/2015 12:39:13 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: wally_bert

.
The only thing that is dangerous is the anhydrous acids that are created by catalytic converters.

Prior to catalytic converters, nothing emitted by auto engines was legitimately classifiable as a polutant.
.


32 posted on 09/18/2015 12:42:22 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Reaganez

this actually sounds useful

where can we get a copy of the program?


33 posted on 09/18/2015 12:42:52 PM PDT by faithhopecharity (up)
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To: SaxxonWoods

.
They should be sentenced to blowing up every electric car ever produced, and using the dust to erect a monument to enviro-NAZIism.
.


34 posted on 09/18/2015 12:46:04 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: meatloaf

I have a TDI and now I guess I better hold on to it. The EPA has been out to get diesel cars for years. They can’t stand that fact that a fossil fuel can also produce excellent mileage.


35 posted on 09/18/2015 12:52:26 PM PDT by AdaGray
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To: Quick Shot

My Grandfather (RIP) contention was that the smog equipment cut out 1/2 the pollutants per gallon of gas, but reduced the MPG by half. As the distance to work was the same the pollution was unchanged


it was obvious even then that we should measure pollution per mile but that meant thinking skills..............


36 posted on 09/18/2015 12:54:31 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Nervous Tick

Fahrvergnügen must mean “gee, these government guys are dumb!”


37 posted on 09/18/2015 1:01:33 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: AdaGray

I remember when diesel fuel was less than half the price of gasoline


38 posted on 09/18/2015 1:05:12 PM PDT by g.orwell
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To: Reaganez

VAG North America obviously hasn’t been donating enough to Rat Party Headquarters.


39 posted on 09/18/2015 1:18:45 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Obamanomics:Trickle Up Poverty)
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To: Reaganez

As soon as I read “the EPA and” CARB were making this claim. I stopped right there.

These criminal organizations need to be abolished pure and simple.


40 posted on 09/18/2015 1:26:41 PM PDT by CapnJack
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