Automotive industry
More companies are due to emission in the twilight
After VW also advised Opel, Renault, Mercedes and Fiat are increasingly in the focus of the Abgasaffäre. The limits for the toxic nitrogen oxide are often exceeded. What conclusions do manufacturers and the policy?
In the Abgasaffäre device with Fiat, Chrysler is now the next automaker into the twilight. The Abgasprüfstelle the Bern University of applied Sciences in Switzerland, when a Fiat SUV-500 Diesel in laboratory tests, that the legal limits of nitrogen oxides (NOx) warmgelaufenen engine to the 11-to-22 times to be exceeded.
Only in the test method according to the European driving cycle (NEDC), the date for vehicle acceptance is relevant, were the emissions in the vicinity of the limit set of a maximum of 80 milligrams (NOx) per Kilometer. The Fiat 500 exceeded in this Test, the limit by 31 to 66 percent and thus comparatively low. In the standard NEDC cycle the vehicle before the Test with several hours still, and then for 20 minutes after a well-defined cycle with a relatively cold engine tested.
Eye-catching and catastrophic emissions in the modified test conditions
Principal of the Fiat Test is the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH). The environmental organization had in the last few months is already an Opel Zafira, Renault Espace and the Mercedes C 200 CDI from the Swiss experts in the lab. Even when these vehicles are presented to the examiners a multiple Exceeding of the emission limits during the Tests with a warm engine. The Renault Espace 1.6 dCi were the emissions of nitrogen oxides up to 25-fold higher than allowed, the Opel Zafira a 1.6 CDTi with up to 17-fold higher, and the Mercedes C 200 CDI 4-fold.
Were these vehicles, however, in the standardized NEDC cycle prepared accordingly and with colder engine checked, then saw the values for the NOx-emission is also quite different: All three vehicles then held in the legally defined limit values.
Tricksten the car manufacturers? How are the extreme emission values for changing the test conditions to be explained?
Manufacturers deny the use of prohibited Software like VW
VW had in October, admitted that for the high emissions in Real operating conditions a legally prohibited Software is responsible. This recognizes the Prüfzykus and steurt then the cleaning of exhaust gases so that in the Test, the NOx emissions below the limit. In Real the Software, however, for a shutdown of emission control and thus to a correspondingly high pollutant emissions.
Renault, Fiat, Chrysler, Opel and Mercedes deny the Swiss test results not to stress but at the same time, that you have no prohibited Software like VW have used. According to experts, are the extreme deviations of the emission values, however, is very striking, and technically not plausible. Satisfactory explanations to the open questions gave the manufacturer the Abgasprüfern not.
Annoying: The emissions from new Diesel passenger cars have, despite strict limits, since 2006, has even deteriorated.
EU wants to limit the death rate lower
Most of the Diesel cars in Europe to keep the EU limit values for nitrogen oxide emissions in Real operating conditions. The result of this now many other studies, including that of the Bundesumweltamt (UBA), the Dutch Ministry of the environment, the French government, several TV channels and the independent research organization the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the VW scandal by their research into the roles brought up. According to ICCT are the NOx emissions of new Diesel cars
on average, about seven Times higher than the limit value in the EU allows.
Nitrogen oxides can the Airways and lungs significantly damage and wear in addition to particulate matter significantly to air pollution. According to estimates by the world health organization WHO and the EU Commission kills more than 400,000 people per year in Europe prematurely from the effects of air pollution. The road transport contributes to around 40 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions. To the citizens from the Health to protect, put the EU’s more stringent limit values for gases and maximum levels for air pollutants in the cities.
Especially children and older people suffer from the exhaust gases. The air through the Abgasskandal improve?
Cause VW scandal and further testing is a watershed?
For enlightenment and for the compliance with the EU limit values fights in Germany, the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH). “The responsible Directors of the company, in full Knowledge of such a dirty Diesel car to sell, make the thousand of intentional injury causing death buried school”, emphasizes DUH-boss Jürgen Resch. With regular testing and the publication wants DUH pressure on the automaker to exercise.
For the auto industry were the Tests unpleasant, the Umweltverband get made to feel this, says Resch: “Before any further publishing of test results will provide us with several millions of euros for compensation to be threatened.” says Resch. So to a degree of threats have the Umweltverband not yet experienced.
What the Tests associated with the VW scandal has cause, is now at many points clearly: in mid-January were there raids at the carmaker Renault and the French Minister of environment Ségolène Royal decree a recall of 15.800 Renaults.
At the beginning of February began in Belgium with an investigation against Opel and Opel boss Thomas Neumann announced for of 43,000 vehicles a so-called ‘Software calibration’. “For me, it is clear that the current Diesel discussion, a turning point means that we can’t ignore,” said Neumann.
Protest against the Abgasbetrug in the EU Parliament. More and more politicians show up on the Tricks outraged.
Has responded to the EU Parliament. It was decided in December that the establishment of a Untersuchungssauschuss. He should now consider what role the EU Commission and the national Supervisory authorities in the Abgasskandal play and so many open questions.
In addition, the EU Parliament in early February realistic Abgasprüfungen on the road starting in September 2017, approved but at the same time, the raising of the limit values for nitrogen oxide emissions by about 100 percent. The Association of European car manufacturers welcomed the new limits. Especially Green and environmental groups reject higher limits and evaluate the decision of the EU Parliament as evidence for the continuing influence of the auto industry on the policy.