When the entire Volkswagen Group was caught cheating on diesel emissions, it at first seemed like the incident was an isolated on. Being that VW was caught by the U.S. EPA, it seemed as if the issue was just with certain VW diesel engines sold in the U.S. However, I don’t think anyone really knew the true size of the can of worms that was actually opened. Even after several high-ranking Volkswagen execs were either fired or “retired”, the brand has paid $billions in fines and put out software fixes, new issues keep arising. Now, though, it seems that the Volkswagen Group isn’t the only German automaker involved in this scandal.
According to Autocar, a recent investigation has recently been opened that claims more automakers than just Volkswagen have been cheating emissions. Not only that, the investigation claims five German automakers colluded together to help cheat EU emissions regulations.
Many sources from Volkswagen and Audi have been coming forward, ever since the original scandal broke. According to these sources, EU investigators are claiming that BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche all had employees meeting in secret to help come up with a way to cheat. Apparently, they were working on software to help cheat emissions testing as well as work around some of the AdBlue urea exhaust treatment.
Due to weight and packaging purposes, automakers want their AdBlue tanks to be as small as possible. Though, that makes refilling it more necessary and customers more unhappy. So it seems as though these Germans car makers figured out a way to shut off the urea injection during certain temperature drops or spikes, so as to use as little of it as possible. Thus reducing the need for a larger tank. Though, during these times when the urea injection shut of, the diesels were emitting more than the allowed CO2 emissions. The tactic is called “thermo-switching”.
There’s no official word that this is true and it’s just the EU investigating claims from its sources. However, if it does prove true, BMW, as well as all of the other German companies, could face heavy penalties and fines.
[Source: Autocar]The article BMW, Audi, VW, Mercedes and Porsche may have all colluded on diesel emissions appeared first on BMW BLOG