German transport agency is testing emissions on 23 brands

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority says it's testing the emissions of vehicles made by 23 foreign and domestic brands following revelations that Volkswagen installed software on some 11 million vehicles allowing them to fake emissions results.

The agency said Wednesday since late September it's been examining about 50 diesel-powered vehicles, based on German test statistics and tips about heightened emissions.

The brands being tested include Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Ford, Chevrolet, Fiat, Jeep, Honda, Toyota, Land Rover, Renault and Volvo. The agency says about two-thirds of the tests have been carried out and the raw data shows "in some cases" elevated emissions of the pollutant nitrogen oxide.

Spokesman Stephan Immen wouldn't identify those vehicles, saying the tests were ongoing and the agency was in contact with the manufacturers.


FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2015, file photo, the Volkswagen logo of a car is photographed during a car show in Frankfurt, Germany. A dealer familiar with Volkswagen's plans says the automaker intends to offer $1,000 in gift cards and vouchers to owners of smaller diesel cars as a gesture of goodwill to owners with 2-liter four-cylinder diesel engines that have been implicated in an emissions cheating scandal. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b2ca100527b84d5ea5b02065580c7804/german-transport-agency-testing-emissions-23-brands

[1monster]

1. So, "But, Mommm!! All the kids are doing it!

[dembotoz]

2. does ask a good question...WHAT IF all diesels are that dirty and vw only got caught

do we change standards for diesel or say good bye to that type of engine in automoblies

[jmowreader]

3. Any diesel engine without SCR and DPF tech is that dirty

Selective catalytic reduction uses a urea-containing solution in a reactor that's in your exhaust system to convert oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust stream to nitrogen and water. This started being required on heavy trucks in the 2010 model year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_catalytic_reduction

A diesel particulate filter is a device that strains all the soot out of your exhaust. It became required on heavy trucks in the 2007 model year. In 2006-and-earlier trucks you got a big plume of black smoke from your truck when you nailed the gas. 2007-and-beyond trucks won't do that.

Combined with common rail electronic fuel injection, a diesel engine can be LESS polluting than a gas engine.

The main drawbacks are expense and space. My rough estimate is a $5000 increase in price for the two exhaust add-ons, the tank for the exhaust fluid and the fancy fuel injection system, and then you'd have to figure out where to put all that shit under the car.