FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on VW Car Emissions
September 25, 2015
WASHINGTON
Let’s talk VW car emissions. For last Friday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Notice of Violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen AG. In addition to Audi AG and the Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. The violation focused on four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles from model years 2009 through 2015.
View the letter here: http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/cert/violations.htm
Last Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Notice of Violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. The agency alleged that a wide range of four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles, covering model years 2009 through 2015, were equipped with illegal defeat device software.
This software was designed to detect when a vehicle was undergoing emissions testing. During those tests, the cars would appear to comply with EPA nitrogen oxide (NOx) standards. However, once the vehicles returned to normal road use, the system would switch off or reduce emissions controls, allowing the cars to emit pollutants at levels up to 40 times higher than the legal limit.
According to the EPA, this practice not only violated federal clean air standards but also misled regulators and consumers. It compromised air quality, public health, and consumer trust. By using defeat devices, Volkswagen and Audi circumvented critical environmental protections that are in place to reduce smog-forming pollution linked to respiratory illnesses and climate impacts.
The EPA’s notice represents the first step in what could become a broad enforcement action, including potential fines, recalls, and corrective measures. At the same time, it sent a clear message to the auto industry: compliance with emissions laws is not optional, and deception will carry significant consequences.
Defeat Device
At the center of the allegations is a defeat device—specialized software hidden inside the engine control system. This program detects when the car is undergoing an official emissions test. When tested, the system switches on full emissions controls so the vehicle appears to meet legal standards. However, when driving under normal conditions, the software turns those emissions controls off, allowing the cars to release pollutants far above the legal limit.
The result was a large-scale deception involving VW car emissions, where millions of drivers believed they were purchasing cleaner, environmentally friendly vehicles. In reality, nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from these cars could reach up to 40 times higher than the federal standard.
The EPA emphasized that this use of a defeat device not only violated environmental law but also endangered public health. Excess NOx emissions contribute to smog, respiratory problems, and long-term climate impacts. The notice marked the first step toward possible recalls, fines, and strict oversight to ensure that VW car emissions finally meet the standards required under the Clean Air Act.
40x NOx Emissions
Known as a “defeat device,” this design feature results in the cars emitting up to 40 times the amount of NOx emissions. I mean that the standards allow. NOx standards are in place to ensure public health is protected.
EPA’s notice of violation, along with an In-Use Compliance Letter. All that the California Air Resources Board issued. Thereby to provide information and details relating to the VW AG violations.
View a pdf of the Notice of Violation here:
http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/cert/documents/vw-nov-caa-09-18-15.pdf
View the California Air Resources Board’s In-Use Compliance Letter here:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/in_use_compliance_letter.htm
For more information on EPA’s recent action toward VW AG; as well as information for owners of the affected vehicles. Please visit http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/cert/violations.htm
