Quote:
Originally Posted by Cash68
K, I want to know if this is actually a big deal in terms of emissions, or the media blowing things out of proportions (like they always do).
I get that it's illegal...
but to the TDIs in question emit more or less pollution than a Ford F150?
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US emission laws were written at a time when pollutants such as NOx and particulates were causing smog in dense cities and posing health concerns. Since then, cars have become cleaner due to fuel injection, catalytic converters, unleaded gasoline, exhaust gas recirculation, oxygen sensors, etc.
Smog is no longer the problem it once was, and the current war on pollution is aimed at CO2, since it is a major contributor to the human component of global warming.
Our current emission laws are out of date with the current environmental fad and needs to be revised. Diesels generally produce less CO2 per amount of energy produced, but at the cost of higher NOx emissions.
The environment is probably slightly "healthier" due to VW circumventing US emission laws since it encouraged many people to purchase a diesel passenger vehicle when no other options existed. Larger quantities of gasoline would have been consumed and more CO2 produced if the TDI was not an option.
That said, VW had an unfair competitive advantage that gave them huge profits in that market segment since they claimed a monopoly, and they should pay.