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Disclaimer: I work for GM. I do not work on anything related to diesel engines. I will not be commenting further on this story; what follows is just for contex
by csours 9y ago
Disclaimer: I work for GM. I do not work on anything related to diesel engines. I will not be commenting further on this story; what follows is just for context and is not intended to explain or justify anything about these accusations.
The EPA (and other regulators) allow engines to emit more NOx and Particulate under certain circumstances to protect the engine.
Each set of parameters where an engine will do this is called an auxiliary emissions control device [AECD], even where it is just programming, not a separate physical device.
For instance, FCA recently got in trouble for not disclosing all of their AECDs [0] - the AECDs may not have been illegal, but FCA neglected to inform the EPA of all of them.
As noted elsewhere in comments, very very few (if any) vehicle achieve the same emissions or efficiency in the real world as in a test lab.
The disparity between test and real world is not necessarily illegal.
AECDs are not necessarily defeat devices.
0. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/chrysler/2017/01/12/fiat-chrysler-diesel-emissions/96485778/ http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/chrysler/201...
- atourgates 9y agoIn April, Mercedes Benz told[1] its investors it might get in EPA trouble for an "undisclosed auxiliary emissions-control device" as well. 2017 Shipments of Mercedes Benz Sprinters were actually prevented from being delivered to dealers for a while. The last I'd heard, 6-cylinder models were released, but 4-cylinder models were still being held by the EPA. While I'm sure at some level the EPA enjoys punishing German auto makers, hopefully the same accusations being leveled towards US car makers will encourage them to adopt a more fair and reasonable stance, assuming these are not actually "defeat devices". [1] http://autoweek.com/article/diesel/mercedes-parent-company-daimler-braces-its-own-potential-diesel-crisis-us http://autoweek.com/article/diesel/mercedes-parent-company-d...