Originally Posted by why? (Post 2395451)

Why? The EPA and Carb are literally terrorists. VW understands we hate them all and wish they would mind their own business. It is no surprise VW is one of the very few manufacturers that sells diesels in the US, our idiotic emissions are created to make them almost impossible to make legal, and VW has a huge stake is selling diesel vehicles.

Originally Posted by Mr.ac (Post 2395501)

Read that news last night. Pretty smart stuff also kind of simple fix. There seems to be some lots of politics behind this, no surprise.

Originally Posted by why? (Post 2395597)

The EPA and carb pretend passenger automobile pollution actually matters

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze (Post 2395373)

I wouldn't have thought an organisation the size of VW would consider such a thing.

Originally Posted by why? (Post 2395597)

The EPA and carb pretend passenger automobile pollution actually matters and hope you completely ignore the changes in technology for factories especially, but also everything else that pollutes. Not to mention they ignore large trucks, busses, etc, things that actually pollute much more than passenger cars.
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Originally Posted by strat61caster (Post 2395612)

:bellyroll:

I mean you're not totally wrong but I have to ask if you've ever experienced a smog choked city? I've been lucky to have not been born when LA air was literally unbreathable, I've heard stories where it literally hurt to be outside a few decades ago. And it's still really bad imo, there are strong statistics for asthma cases in LA that are likely smog related.

They are definitely needed and there are still improvements to be made.

Originally Posted by Tcoat (Post 2395796)

Not true and really not true.
The reductions for factories get heavier every year and the list of outright banned materials are making it harder and harder to make good yet cost effective parts. Our paint is a good example of this since the government is reducing the permitted VOCs faster that the tech is being developed to replace them. Industry is truly struggling to meet the new requirements and this is why many things are being made off shore where the laws are less stringent.


As far as heavy vehicles go, the EPA started rolling out graduated requirements starting back in 2006. The final stage of this plan was in 2011 and the required emissions were at, or below, those required for passenger cars in most jurisdictions. This drove the price of trucks up by 10 to 15% for the 2011 model year but created a huge run (we couldn't keep up with parts demand) for the 2010s. I know it doesn't appear as such when you see that black smoke rolling out of a truck exhaust but believe it or not (I am sure many won't believe it) the actual emissions in that smoke are reduced as much as 60% of the pre 2006 ones.


Ps - The above is not theory or something I read about on the internet but direct knowledge from 27 years in EH&S for the auto parts manufacturing game with 9 of those spent in the heavy vehicle parts manufacturing realm.

Originally Posted by why? (Post 2395829)

Smog is not automobile related. cities also have tons of industry, power plants, etc throwing up tons and tons of pollution. A few factories will spew more pollution into the air then tens of thousands of automobiles. You should see the difference between what factories can do now from what they use to be able to do. And if smog was totally vehicle related why do semi trucks and buses have zero standards? Both pollute a ton more than vehicles and they are totally unregulated.



Yes, the reductions for factories get heavier and heavier. That is what really reduces smog and pollution. That is what I am saying. They are too extreme frankly, but I believe that is part of the plan. The people in charge don't want any of this type of stuff in this country, they somehow think we can survive with zero industry. Some regulation is this area is necessary because they are 100% responsible for pollution and terrible air quality in large cities.

What type of heavy vehicles are you talking about? Semi's and buses? Or something else? I'll be honest and say it is moronic to put any smog restrictions on semi's since they are literally the backbone of the US economy, and making the cost of running them more expensive will make everything in the US more expensive, as we are all seeing in everything we buy since gas has been made more expensive.

I believe the only reason to put such stringent standards on passenger automobiles is to drive the costs up. Same thing for the idiot requirements for all the electronic nannies and other governmental regulations. Some regulations should exist for the safety of the consumer, but a majority of regulations in the USA are 100% unnecessary and serve to wreck our economy. For some reason people totally ignore the manufacturers costs to meet regulations when they talk about how expensive automobiles have become.

Originally Posted by Tcoat (Post 2395843)

Semis, buses, stake trucks, etc are all heavy vehicles. And yes the cost of purchasing, maintaining and running them went way up. Put many smaller companies right out of business.
No the regulations are not there to drive costs up. They are truly intended to help the environment which they actually do. It may not seem like it since the change is subtle and gradual but things are indeed better then even 30-40 years ago. I have no clue how old you are but if you experienced the stinking, choking horror of being stuck in traffic back in the early 70s you would understand what those regulations have done. Passenger cars may not be the main cause of issues but they are certainly in the top 5.

Originally Posted by why? (Post 2395853)

Maybe all these countries should get together and come up with one set of standards to keep costs as low as possible.