The VW Scandal – What You Need to Know

VW may be one of the most iconic car manufacturers on the planet but that doesn’t stop it from falling victim to the same company crippling scandals that have rocked its fellow blue chippers. No doubt you’ve seen the headlines, but do you know exactly what the company has done to create such uproar? If you want to get clued up read on because we’ve got you covered.

What did Volkswagen do to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a flutter?

Just days ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accused VW of duping American air pollution tests. A big allegation considering the company’s global profile. The investigation kicked off in the wake of independent researcher that raised questions about VW emission levels.  This spurred government agencies to delve deeper into the manufacturer’s eco performance, with the results sending shockwaves across the globe.

It may seem a little crazy but the sneaky engineers at Volkswagen installed sophisticated software into the electronic control module of their diesel vehicles. Known as “defeat devices” the software was actively able to sense when emissions testing was occurring was based on steering wheel position, vehicle speed, engine operation duration and barometric pressure.

When the software detected these factors it switched to ‘test’ mode, generally when the front wheels were on a dynamometer. This covertly allowed emissions controls to remain fully functional during official testing, yet still emit up to 40 times the legal amount when genuinely on the road.

VW speaks up

After regulators demanded an explanation from the manufacturer it was quick to admit that its cars used “defeat devices” to cheat the tests. CEO Martin Winterkorn has publically apologised, claiming he is "deeply sorry" for breaking public trust has promised VW will cooperate with regulators in the future.

A Brooklyn launch event soon turned sour when VW's North America CEO Michael Horn stated that "our company was dishonest" and that it’s "totally screwed up."

While the company has admitted it’s seriously messed up, they’re still maintaining that the defeat devices are partly due to “irregularities” that were beyond their control.

As for repercussions. Rumours are flying around that Volkswagen could face U.S. fines of up to $37,500 per vehicle, according to the EPA. Given the fact that there have been around 482,000 diesel vehicles sold in the U.S. since 2008, the total cost could be in excess of $18 billion.

While some companies are intent on duping eco regulations, others are doing everything they can to minimise their footprints. ‘Venturi Orifice Steam Traps Reduce Energy Costs and CO2 Emissions’ looks at new technologies designed to reduce steam trap expenses in a bid  to help energy, facility and plant managers slash costs while up keeping environmentally responsible operations.