Will VW Survive The Emissions Debacle?
Wednesday, 27. January 2016
We all knew that VW would be eased somewhat off the hook if another manufacturer was found to be fiddling with emissions but is it getting too late? The Americans are hell bent, it would seem, on bringing down VW whilst electing the most bizarre human being on the planet as its president.
Is it just me fixated on his amazing hair art every time he appears on the TV, trying to work out where it starts and where it finishes? Just me then! But with Renault coming to the rescue is it all too late? The chances are that VW will survive, not without a lot of pain but as the biggest manufacturer in the world it is highly unlikely that the company will collapse.
In fact if they continue heavily discounting cars whilst producing some of the best on the road (emissions aside) I can see them growing even bigger. So what has happened at Renault? Well so far they have recalled 15,000 cars because of ’emission inconsistencies’ in order to have them checked.
It is said that there is a difference between test rig readings and real life readings – what a surprise. But this isn’t down to a deliberate attempt to fool the testing equipment as was the case with VW. A question was raised with regard to Peugeot Citroen and why they didn’t seem to have the same problems? The answer was in the technology. Renault uses a somewhat dated and cheaper method of reducing NOx by using what they refer to as an NOx absorber or NOx trap.
It captures Nitrogen Dioxide and burns it as opposed to the Peugeot Citroen method called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). Whilst Renault is using the new method on its trucks it is yet to move across with its cars. The old method is cheaper and easier to fit but also makes the car less efficient and can lead to variations in emissions. I can’t see much happening to Renault as a result, especially as they are already in the throes of moving across to the better and more stable method anyway.
It also means that VW are still hanging out to dry! Incidentally the EU is working flat out (yer right) to come up with a new emissions testing regime which will closer reflect ‘normal’ driving conditions – whatever they are! By Graham Hill
