VW Diesels

JCL · #29 09-29-2015, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

I'm also pissed at the EPA for their anti-Diesel regulations that make it basically nearly impossible to meet emissions on a low cost Diesel. I mean is a 50 MPG car spreading 10% (on average) more NOX than allowed REALLY worse for the environment than a 20 MPG car meeting NOX? I'm thinking no when you factor in the cost of fueling (and obtaining the fuel) for that 30 MPG difference.

You should start with the correct incremental emissions. The EPA said up to 40 times for NOx, not 10% more. I am sure it varies in the real world, so let's use 20 times just for a quick calculation.

Is a car getting 2.5 mpg really worse for the environment than a 50 mpg car? Most would agree it is, IMO. The thing is, people don't think about emissions, but are focussed on fuel efficiency. That is what led to VW implementing the cheat. If you think about 20 times factors though, and apply that to something that we all care about, fuel efficiency, it puts another light on it.