I’ve tried for the last few months to get some detailed information as to exactly the amounts of pollutants the VW diesels are putting out but the numbers are actually pretty vague. So how much are they polluting? Well I have yet to find actual numbers but we’re getting estimates from the EPA

The EPA estimated that the cheating VW diesels polluted at up to 40 times the emissions standards for nitrogen oxides – a pollutant connected with respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms and diseases. http://www.epa.gov/vw

However, that estimate was measured under maximum vehicle load and throttle. Under normal operating conditions, the emissions were more in the range of 10 to 20 times over the federal limit. So what is the federal limit? Well here is the chart – http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/standards/light-duty/tier2stds.htm  good luck figuring it out. As near as I can see the limit is approximately .05 gms/mile.  A typical car produced in 1963 (without pollution control devices) discharged 520 pounds of hydrocarbons, 1,700 pounds of carbon monoxide, and 90 pounds of nitrogen oxide for every 10,000 miles traveled. (See – http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Environment/E_Overview/E_Overview4.htm )  If you do the math in the previous data the NOx output in 1963 was averaging about 4.08 gms/mile. Now take the 2015 standard and multiply that by 20 ( .05 gms/mile)  you get 1.0 gms/mi that the Jetta is possible of producing. I know this seems to some like explaining Einstein’s theory of relativity but my point is compared to today’s cars yes it’s a lot but compared to 1963 not so much.

Something to consider, VW has made great strides in efficiency and power with their diesel technology and that in and of itself has been helpful to the environment just in terms of reduction of fossil fuel consumption. We lease a 2015 Jetta diesel for use as one of our shuttle vehicles and get great fuel mileage. Our highway usage averages 55mpg and in town around 31 mpg and it has incredible power. Honestly I don’t know why it’s not the biggest selling small sedan in the US.

Clearly we shouldn’t condone what VW did to cheat the system (and trust me others have but just haven’t been caught yet) but we shouldn’t fine them to the point to where it cripples their ability to invest in new technology. A fair penalty would be to require them to invest X amount of dollars in new technology that benefits all in the long run