* DC - Volkswagen only the latest in list of car, that include GM, Ford, and Honda
-- Volkswagen is far from the first company to stand accused of trying to game required emissions tests. Almost since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, major manufacturers of cars, trucks and heavy equipment have been busted for using what regulators call “defeat devices” _ typically programing a vehicle’s on-board computer to boost horsepower or fuel mileage by belching out dirtier exhaust than allowed... Critics blame a federal regulatory system that largely relies on manufacturers to "self-certify" that their vehicles meet required fuel economy and emissions standards. The Environmental Protection Agency spot-checks only a low percentage of the vehicles made in the U.S. or imported to test the accuracy of the data reported by manufacturers... Donald Stedman, a University of Denver chemistry professor who specializes in testing the real-world emissions of cars and trucks, said the economics of the auto industry can make it profitable to cheat. Complying with clean air regulations can add thousands of dollars to a vehicle's sticker price while diminishing the driving performance that customers demand... Revelations this month that Volkswagen used sophisticated software on its "Clean Diesel" models to beat emissions tests has rattled the auto industry and angered hundreds of thousands of customers who thought they bought environmentally friendly vehicles. Both state and federal investigations are under way and congressional hearings are planned... Over the years, several major auto manufacturers — including GM, Ford, Honda and, yes, Volkswagen — have been forced to pay hefty fines and recall vehicles after getting caught using defeat devices... In stock car racing, there's an old adage: If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'. You could say the same sometimes for auto makers up against stricter environmental rules...
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer - In this Sept. 23, 2015 file photo, diesel Volkswagens are seen behind a security fence on a storage lot near a VW dealership in Salt Lake City) -- Washington, DC, USA - AP/The Province (CAN), by Michael Biesecker - Sept 30, 2015)
* DC - EPA to require road tests on GM diesel engine pickups
-- The EPA has implemented stricter emissions testing and put manufacturers on notice that all new vehicles could be subjected to a road tests in addition to standard lab testing... General Motors appears to be among the first automakers held to this standard, as Automotive News reports that the new diesel-engine Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon both must undergo a road test before getting EPA approval... In the September 25 letter, the agency says it "may test" vehicles on the road to seek out defeat devices, but odds are it will test for the foreseeable future to avoid getting duped again... Chevy Colorado spokesman Otie McKinley said, he doesn't anticipate the additional testing will delaying the release of the 2016 diesel engine trucks. The standard gasoline engine versions of the truck will use the same technology as the current model year and, therefore, don't need to be tested...
(Photo: The 2016 GMC Canyon) -- Washington, DC, USA - The New York Daily News, by Kyle Campbell - September 29, 2015Labels: truckmakers troubles
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