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Behaviour","noxious-behaviour","article/noxious-behaviour",{"_uid":557,"date":558,"tags":559,"editor":560,"content":570,"excerpt":884,"featured":50,"reporter":885,"_editable":889,"component":890,"seo_title":553,"categories":891,"visibility":898,"author_company":49,"featured_image":899,"seo_description":884,"author_full_name":49,"author_job_title":49,"formattedDate":904,"formattedArticleDate":905},"9f391790-41bc-48d3-9dce-8db5a5766917","2016-07-20 00:00",[],[561],{"slug":562,"name":563,"content":564},"matthew-bird","Matthew Bird",{"job_title":565,"image":566,"bio":568,"linkedin":569},"Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation",{"filename":567},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/14738033ec/matthew-bird.jpeg","Matthew writes, edits and produces content for Benchmark Intelligence and Benchmark Source across the whole mine to grid supply chain. He also acts as a liaison to the press. He has a PhD in electrochemistry from the University of Nottingham.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/birdmatthew/",{"type":571,"content":572},"doc",[573,580,585,590,595,600,605,610,615,620,625,630,635,640,645,650,655,660,665,670,675,680,685,690,695,702,707,712,715,720,725,730,735,740,745,748,753,758,763,768,771,776,781,786,791,796,801,806,811,816,821,826,831,836,839,844,849,854,859,864,869,874,879],{"type":574,"attrs":575,"content":576},"paragraph",{"textAlign":49},[577],{"text":578,"type":579}," Volkswagen finds itself on the firing line for NOx emissions testing shame, but could it find its redemption in electric vehicles?","text",{"type":574,"attrs":581,"content":582},{"textAlign":49},[583],{"text":584,"type":579},"By Simon Rees",{"type":574,"attrs":586,"content":587},{"textAlign":49},[588],{"text":589,"type":579},"In September news broke of a scandal at the Volkswagen Group (VW) that has since sent reverberations around the world that could have wider impact on the auto industry’s incumbents and electric vehicles (EVs). The company admitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that “defeat devices” had been installed on certain diesel models from 2009 to 2015.",{"type":574,"attrs":591,"content":592},{"textAlign":49},[593],{"text":594,"type":579},"Diesels made by VW-owned Audi, Seat and Skoda utilising type EA 189, dubbed “clean diesel” engines, were similarly affected and a total of around 11m vehicles would have to be recalled and fixed globally.",{"type":574,"attrs":596,"content":597},{"textAlign":49},[598],{"text":599,"type":579},"The development was so damaging that VW immediately set aside €6.5bn ($7.38bn) “to cover the necessary service measures and other efforts to win back the trust of our customers.” Dismay was expressed at the wrongdoing.",{"type":574,"attrs":601,"content":602},{"textAlign":49},[603],{"text":604,"type":579},"“I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public,” then-CEO of VW Martin Winterkorn announced on September 22.",{"type":574,"attrs":606,"content":607},{"textAlign":49},[608],{"text":609,"type":579},"The defeat devices comprised software designed to detect whether the car was being tested. It could activate a vehicle’s emissionsreducing technology to subdue levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and, through this, achieve a pass.",{"type":574,"attrs":611,"content":612},{"textAlign":49},[613],{"text":614,"type":579},"The same software could also recognise real-world driving conditions had been reapplied when the vehicle was returned to the road.",{"type":574,"attrs":616,"content":617},{"textAlign":49},[618],{"text":619,"type":579},"The NOx-reduction technology then switched off. The NOx levels emitted during real-world driving violated the US Clean Air Act, according to the EPA in its notification to VW on September 18.",{"type":574,"attrs":621,"content":622},{"textAlign":49},[623],{"text":624,"type":579},"In addition, the EPA informed VW that its failure to declare the defeat devices meant the affected vehicles were not as described in their applications for certification. This counted as another violation.",{"type":574,"attrs":626,"content":627},{"textAlign":49},[628],{"text":629,"type":579},"On October 8, president and CEO of Volkswagen America Michael Horn testified before the US House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee and noted three vehicle groups were affected.",{"type":574,"attrs":631,"content":632},{"textAlign":49},[633],{"text":634,"type":579},"Older models will need a software “patch” and a physical fix, while later vehicles will require just the patch.",{"type":574,"attrs":636,"content":637},{"textAlign":49},[638],{"text":639,"type":579},"Around 482,000 vehicles in the US will have to be recalled in total.",{"type":574,"attrs":641,"content":642},{"textAlign":49},[643],{"text":644,"type":579},"Several commentators have noted that fines stemming from this scandal could potentially reach billions of dollars. By comparison, the last two major fines of note for automakers in the US stood at $1.2bn for Toyota in 2014 and $900m for GM in September.",{"type":574,"attrs":646,"content":647},{"textAlign":49},[648],{"text":649,"type":579},"If criminal conduct is uncovered at VW then individuals could also face prosecution and, through this, possible jail time.",{"type":574,"attrs":651,"content":652},{"textAlign":49},[653],{"text":654,"type":579},"Also on October 8, and as part of their investigations, German prosecutors and supporting police officers arrived at VW’s Wolfsburg headquarters.",{"type":574,"attrs":656,"content":657},{"textAlign":49},[658],{"text":659,"type":579},"Their objective was to secure data and documents that will hopefully shed more light on the scandal and where responsibility might lie. In addition, private apartments are also reported to have been searched.",{"type":574,"attrs":661,"content":662},{"textAlign":49},[663],{"text":664,"type":579},"With guidance from VW’s supervisory board, an external investigation is also being conducted under the auspices of law firm Jones Day. It is important to note that inquiries are still in their early stages, something Horn underlined during his testimony.",{"type":574,"attrs":666,"content":667},{"textAlign":49},[668],{"text":669,"type":579},"“Thorough investigations have already begun, but any information development at this stage is preliminary,” he said.",{"type":574,"attrs":671,"content":672},{"textAlign":49},[673],{"text":674,"type":579},"In working with the relevant US government bodies, VW will hope to attain credit for co-operation.",{"type":574,"attrs":676,"content":677},{"textAlign":49},[678],{"text":679,"type":579},"However, the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) has increasingly robust requirements to achieve this.",{"type":574,"attrs":681,"content":682},{"textAlign":49},[683],{"text":684,"type":579},"The DOJ insists that corporations must now be more forthcoming with information, including evidence on those individuals they suspect of wrongdoing.",{"type":574,"attrs":686,"content":687},{"textAlign":49},[688],{"text":689,"type":579},"“If a company wants any consideration for its co-operation, it must give up the individuals, no matter where they sit within the company,” DOJ deputy attorney general Sally Quillian Yates said during a speech on September 10 to discuss individual liability in matters of corporate wrongdoing.",{"type":574,"attrs":691,"content":692},{"textAlign":49},[693],{"text":694,"type":579},"“We’re not going to let corporations plead ignorance. If they don’t know who is responsible, they will need to find out.”",{"type":696,"attrs":697,"content":699},"heading",{"level":698,"textAlign":49},3,[700],{"text":701,"type":579}," Under the radar",{"type":574,"attrs":703,"content":704},{"textAlign":49},[705],{"text":706,"type":579},"The environmental advantage of diesel engines comes from their reduced levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared with conventional petrol/gasoline engines.",{"type":574,"attrs":708,"content":709},{"textAlign":49},[710],{"text":711,"type":579},"This makes diesel attractive for jurisdictions keen to reduce CO2 levels.",{"type":574,"attrs":713,"content":714},{"textAlign":49},[],{"type":574,"attrs":716,"content":717},{"textAlign":49},[718],{"text":719,"type":579},"Tax advantages were embedded by some governments as an added incentive for automakers to manufacture and sell diesel vehicles, and for consumers to then buy and drive them. The strategy worked particularly well in the European Union.",{"type":574,"attrs":721,"content":722},{"textAlign":49},[723],{"text":724,"type":579},"Citing figures from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the Economist noted the percentage of diesel vehicles sold in 2013 or later included 66% of all French cars, 50% for the UK, and 48% for Germany.",{"type":574,"attrs":726,"content":727},{"textAlign":49},[728],{"text":729,"type":579},"The US stood at just 1.2% by comparison, although commentators observed uptake was growing off a small base in a large market where diesel was still considered unusual.",{"type":574,"attrs":731,"content":732},{"textAlign":49},[733],{"text":734,"type":579},"Unfortunately, diesel engines also have a notable problem: their emissions of NOx are higher than conventional engines, particularly during more demanding driving conditions such as going uphill.",{"type":574,"attrs":736,"content":737},{"textAlign":49},[738],{"text":739,"type":579},"NOx emissions play a role in producing smog, which has damaging effects on lungs, although technology such as exhaust gas recirculation and catalytic reduction can be installed to lower NOx levels.",{"type":574,"attrs":741,"content":742},{"textAlign":49},[743],{"text":744,"type":579},"However, this adds to unit costs and, according to some reports, can negatively affect driving performance. US levels of permissible rates of NOx emissions on a per vehicle basis are more stringent than those in the EU.",{"type":574,"attrs":746,"content":747},{"textAlign":49},[],{"type":574,"attrs":749,"content":750},{"textAlign":49},[751],{"text":752,"type":579},"So did someone at the executive level respond to this by deciding it would be easier and cheaper to simply install defeat devices? Or was it a case of software developers turning rogue and installing illegal defeat coding without any executive knowledge?",{"type":574,"attrs":754,"content":755},{"textAlign":49},[756],{"text":757,"type":579},"The answers to these questions and others like them will only be forthcoming once investigators make their findings public.",{"type":574,"attrs":759,"content":760},{"textAlign":49},[761],{"text":762,"type":579},"In the US, doubts concerning NOx emissions started coming to the fore around two years ago. The ICCT and West Virginia University began a test programme that lasted from 2013 into 2014 and evaluated diesel versions of the VW Jetta, VW Passat and BMW X5.",{"type":574,"attrs":764,"content":765},{"textAlign":49},[766],{"text":767,"type":579},"The tests reflected real-world conditions of highway, urban/ suburban, rural uphill and downhill driving. NOx emissions from the Jetta were discovered to exceed EPA standards by 15 to 35 times, while the Passat’s levels were five to 20 times over.",{"type":574,"attrs":769,"content":770},{"textAlign":49},[],{"type":574,"attrs":772,"content":773},{"textAlign":49},[774],{"text":775,"type":579},"By comparison, the X5 was found to have been within the standards.",{"type":574,"attrs":777,"content":778},{"textAlign":49},[779],{"text":780,"type":579},"The EPA and CARB examined the ICCT and West Virginia University’s findings and started their own testing. This eventually led to discussions with VW, which decided to organise a software recalibration for its diesel fleet, with the company initiating a recall of around 500,000 vehicles at the end of 2014.",{"type":574,"attrs":782,"content":783},{"textAlign":49},[784],{"text":785,"type":579},"CARB’s testing of VW diesel vehicles resumed in May and it was discovered that NOx levels were still significantly higher than expected.",{"type":574,"attrs":787,"content":788},{"textAlign":49},[789],{"text":790,"type":579},"VW, CARB and the EPA held further meetings when, on September 3, the automaker admitted the presence of defeat devices.",{"type":574,"attrs":792,"content":793},{"textAlign":49},[794],{"text":795,"type":579},"Potentially complicating matters still further, VW confirmed to the Associated Press (AP) on October 13 that 2016 diesel models contained auxiliary emissions control devices (AECD). These models have already been withdrawn for certification by VW, which means their sale into the US is on hold.",{"type":574,"attrs":797,"content":798},{"textAlign":49},[799],{"text":800,"type":579},"A VW spokesperson told AP that the automaker informed the EPA about these devices the week before.",{"type":574,"attrs":802,"content":803},{"textAlign":49},[804],{"text":805,"type":579},"The AECD comprises software that instructs the vehicle’s pollutioncontrol catalyst to heat up faster to improve the separation of NOx into harmless nitrogen and oxygen.",{"type":574,"attrs":807,"content":808},{"textAlign":49},[809],{"text":810,"type":579},"AECDs are not uncommon but they must be declared.",{"type":574,"attrs":812,"content":813},{"textAlign":49},[814],{"text":815,"type":579},"Further censure and more questions could arise about the company’s pattern of behaviour if this device is deemed to be another violation.",{"type":696,"attrs":817,"content":818},{"level":698,"textAlign":49},[819],{"text":820,"type":579}," Reverberation",{"type":574,"attrs":822,"content":823},{"textAlign":49},[824],{"text":825,"type":579},"The shock of the scandal has reverberated globally, with many in the US left bemused at best, angered at worse.",{"type":574,"attrs":827,"content":828},{"textAlign":49},[829],{"text":830,"type":579},"Congressman Peter Welch from Vermont reflected on this at the subcommittee hearing. He read out questions and statements sent to him by Vermonters, which included: “Why should the US allow you to sell vehicles in this country?” and “VW is the Lance Armstrong of the industry”.",{"type":574,"attrs":832,"content":833},{"textAlign":49},[834],{"text":835,"type":579},"Welch noted it was just the tip of the iceberg. “[This reflects] the whiteheat anger that folks have about the deception,” he said.",{"type":574,"attrs":837,"content":838},{"textAlign":49},[],{"type":574,"attrs":840,"content":841},{"textAlign":49},[842],{"text":843,"type":579},"Dealerships are worried about unsold inventory and their futures, while owners are left to wonder if the performance of their vehicles will be affected by the fix once the recall begins. They are also worried about the resale value of their vehicles.",{"type":574,"attrs":845,"content":846},{"textAlign":49},[847],{"text":848,"type":579},"Dovetailed with this, potential class-action lawsuits are now being arrayed against VW by disgruntled owners. It is still too early to assess the effect lost trust might have on sales. Certainly the issue of reputation is deemed critical by VW.",{"type":574,"attrs":850,"content":851},{"textAlign":49},[852],{"text":853,"type":579},"“I assure you that Volkswagen will do everything humanly possible to win back the trust of our customers, the dealerships and the public,” CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Herbert Diess said on September 22.",{"type":574,"attrs":855,"content":856},{"textAlign":49},[857],{"text":858,"type":579},"Horn also reiterated this message.",{"type":574,"attrs":860,"content":861},{"textAlign":49},[862],{"text":863,"type":579},"“We will rebuild the reputation of a company that more than 2 million people worldwide, including dealers and suppliers, rely upon for their livelihoods,” he said.",{"type":574,"attrs":865,"content":866},{"textAlign":49},[867],{"text":868,"type":579},"As for the future, some commentators wonder if the stillnascent diesel market in the US has been dealt a critical blow from which it might not recover. Others have asked whether environmentallyconscious buyers will look for alternatives away from diesel.",{"type":574,"attrs":870,"content":871},{"textAlign":49},[872],{"text":873,"type":579},"With the likes of Tesla and Chevrolet pursuing sub-$35,000 EVs, it is certainly tempting to think the scandal could push North American EV uptake higher.",{"type":574,"attrs":875,"content":876},{"textAlign":49},[877],{"text":878,"type":579},"Back at VW, the soul searching will continue for some time yet, although there is at least one silver lining: the chance to restructure, overhaul and ensure transparency.",{"type":574,"attrs":880,"content":881},{"textAlign":49},[882],{"text":883,"type":579},"“This company has to bloody learn and use this opportunity in order to get its act together; 600,000 people worldwide have to be managed in a different way – this is very clear,” Horn said.","Volkswagen finds itself on the firing line for NOx emissions testing shame, but could it find its redemption in electric vehicles?",[886],{"slug":562,"name":563,"content":887},{"job_title":565,"image":888,"bio":568,"linkedin":569},{"filename":567},"\u003C!--#storyblok#{\"name\": \"article\", \"space\": \"\", \"uid\": \"9f391790-41bc-48d3-9dce-8db5a5766917\", \"id\": \"\"}-->","article",[892,895],{"slug":893,"name":894},"batteries","Batteries",{"slug":896,"name":897},"critical-minerals","Critical Minerals","private",{"id":49,"alt":900,"name":900,"focus":900,"title":900,"source":900,"filename":901,"copyright":900,"fieldtype":902,"meta_data":903,"is_external_url":51},"","https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/3ba269b9de/bm-screen-shot-2016-07-20-at-174707.png","asset",{"alt":900,"title":900,"source":900,"copyright":900},"Jul 20, 2016","20th July 2016",[],[],1792688601231]