Volkswagens recalled in Australia as part of the German car giant’s global diesel emissions scandal are emitting levels of poisonous noxious gases that are four times the legal limit.
In 2015, 11 million cars worldwide were recalled after Volkswagen was busted illegally installing software in its diesel cars to cheat laboratory emissions tests and dupe authorities into believing its vehicles were environmentally-friendly.
The scandal affected 100,000 cars on Australian roads, including some diesel Audi and Porsche models with the turbo direct-injection diesel engines.
Volkswagens recalled in Australia as part of the German car giant’s global diesel emissions scandal are emitting levels of poisonous noxious gases that are four times the legal limit
The Australian Automobile Association and the Paris-based Federation Internationale de l’Automotive carried out on-road tests on Volkswagens that had been recalled and repaired
The Australian Automobile Association and the Paris-based Federation Internationale de l’Automotive carried out on-road tests on Volkswagens that had been recalled and repaired.
They found Volkswagens recalled in Australia, to remove the software program from its top-selling cars, were emitting levels of poisonous nitrogen oxides that were 4.11 times higher than the legal limit.
The tests, done outside a laboratory, also found affected VW diesel cars were using up to 14 per cent more fuel after the recall and still emitting noxious emissions that were 400 per cent higher than results documented in a laboratory, the Australian Automobile Association said.
Volkswagen’s duplicity was revealed in September 2015 when the Environmental Protection Authority in the United States found its cars emitted higher emissions on the road than in the laboratory.
The test found a 2010-model Volkswagen Golf used an average of 7 per cent more fuel – or 0.5 litres/100km – after it had the recall completed, but up to 14 per cent more on highways
Volkswagen’s duplicity was revealed in September 2015 when the Environmental Protection Authority in the U.S. found its cars emitted higher emissions on the road than in the laboratory
A software program installed in certain Volkswagens was programmed so the cars would emit a cleaner emission when two wheels were stationary, as is the case during laboratory testing.
In late 2016, the Australian Automobile Association commissioned research firm ABMARC to run two tests on an affected VW vehicle – one before recall and one immediately after.
The test found a 2010-model Volkswagen Golf used an average of 7 per cent more fuel – or 0.5 litres/100km – after it had the recall completed.
This ranged from using 2 per cent more fuel while driving in urban areas, 7 per cent more fuel on rural roads and 14 per cent while driving on highways.
The results show that VW may have found a fix for reducing the level of noxious emissions but as a result, the amount of fuel used has increased.
The Australian Automobile Association is affiliated with leading motoring groups, including the NRMA and the RACV, and is calling for on-road tests to replace laboratory tests for emissions in Australia.