EPA Expands Emissions Testing Procedures Amid VW Scandal
Environmental officials say the new testing procedures will remain secret
— -- The Obama administration is stepping up its game to see if more car companies are evading emissions-testing standards.
In a statement to reporters Friday morning, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it is increasing emissions-testing activities in the wake of Volkswagen's alleged attempt to circumvent standards set by the Clean Air Act.
The head of EPA’s Transportation and Air Quality office, Chris Grundler, said “we are upping our game,” in response to their discovery of “defeat devices” in Volkswagen and Audi four-cylinder diesel models since 2009.
Last Friday, the E.P.A. sent a Notice of Violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. alleging that four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars from model years 2009-2015 contain sophisticated algorithms in the emissions software that circumvent U.S. standards. The software activates emissions controls during testing, but deactivates during everyday road use.
Today,
A letter was sent to all automakers stating that every car on America’s roads today is subject to expanded testing, with significantly more scrutiny than ever before.
The testing, officials say, begins today.
The agency insisted that they have the resources and technology to detect these defeat devices, but would not elaborate on how they plan on implementing these resources to improve testing.
"We aren't going to tell them what these tests are," said Grundler, "They don't need to know."
The EPA has warned that the new process will cause it to take longer for automakers to secure certification required to sell new vehicles in the U.S.