Allegedly Volkswagen cheated to both governments and lusers

[jdb10987@yahoo.com (jim bell)]

  From: Georgi Guninski <guninski@guninski.com>
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/25/vw_pollution_just_the_tip_of_the_iceberg_whos_to_blame_you_guessed_it_hippies/

><quote>
>Volkswagen is being rightly condemned from all directions, as its
>methods were particularly cynical: its engine software would sense when
>the car was in a test environment and cut back NO_x output temporarily.

>As soon as the car was no longer under test, the car would change mode
>and emit huge amounts of NO_x. This wasn't done for no reason â?? if a
>machine is allowed to generate NO_x freely, it can be very
>fuel-efficient â?? and thus, of course, its carbon emissions can be very
>low too.

I noticed that (at least!) one media report portrayed this as making VW's less "green". Â But from another report, I saw that they had 10% greater gas mileage if they were allowed to cheat. Â (In other words, less CO2 emissions per mile.) Â Now, the above quote refers to "huge amounts" of NOx. Â (nitrogen oxides, probably NO and NO2). Â The question is, for those people who complain about CO2 being a greenhouse gas, what is the relative undesireability of extra CO2 versus extra NOx. Â Relative harm, and all that. Â Which is a concept that people who call themselves "environmentalists" seem to have a great deal of difficulty with.
This also raises an idea:  I've never heard of this, but what would be wrong with allowing differences in emissions based on location?  Putting a GPS in a car is trivial today.  Producing less NOx inside a city would make sense; producing less NOx while on a cross-country road-trip less so.                    Jim Bell


  
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