Volkswagen, the German carmaker, was ordered by the Obama administration to recall half a million vehicles because of faulty software it used to reduce smog and disguise pollution levels.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued the company a violation for installing software known as a “defeat device,” which is programmed to detect when the car is undergoing official emissions testing, and to only turn on full emissions control systems during that testing, in 4-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2009-15. During normal driving conditions, the controls are turned off, resulting in the vehicles having far higher pollution levels than reported by the manufacturer.
“Using a defeat device in cars to evade clean air standards is illegal and a threat to public health,” said Cynthia Giles, the E.P.A.'s assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance. “We expected better from Volkswagen.”
The software was designed to conceal the cars' emissions of nitrogen oxide, a pollutant that contributes to the creation of ozone and smog, and is linked to a range of health issues, including asthma attacks, respiratory diseases, and premature death.
Automotive technology experts explained that unlocking the pollution controls on a diesel-fueled car can yield better performance, including increased torque and acceleration. Affected diesel models include the 2009-15 Volkswagen Jetta, 2009-15 Beetle, 2009-15 Golf, 2014-15 Passat, and 2009-15 Audi A3.
“When the pollution controls are functioning on these vehicles, there’s a trade-off between performance and emissions,” said Drew Kodjak, executive director of the International Council on Clean Transportation, a research group. “This is cutting corners.”
Over the next year, owners of the recalled vehicles can expect to receive information about how to get their cars repaired at no cost.
Under the terms of the Clean Air Act, the Justice Department could impose fines of as much as $37,500 for each recalled vehicle, for a possible total of $18 billion.
“They want to make it clear that they're going to crack down on cheaters,” said Frank O'Donnell, president of the environmental advocacy group Clean Air Watch. “They're cheating not only car buyers, but the breathing public. They want to lay down the law, enforce the law, and show they're not going to tolerate cheaters. The laws and regulation are only as good as the enforcement.”
Source: NYT
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