August 22, 2020 due to Johnna Crider
Here we go again. Porsche just announced that it is launching an internal investigation into suspected engine tampering, according to Picture on Sunday (BamS). It has informed KBA, Germany’s automotive watchdog, the Stuttgart prosecutor’s office, and authorities here in the US about the case.
The suspected illegal alterations to hardware and software could have affected output systems and engine components. In other words, we may have an almost-Dieselgate on our hands. I say “almost” because Porsche is actively investigating it and seems to be trying to stop it from further affecting its customers and our environment.
A spokesman for Porsche said: “Porsche is regularly and continuously monitoring technical and regulatory aspects of its vehicles. As part of such internal investigations, Porsche has identified issues and has, as in the past, proactively informed authorities. ”
They also noted that these issues are related to the wheels developed several years ago and added that there are no indications that Porsche’s current production was affected. BamS, which one Reuters noted did not quote where it got its information, saying the engines developed between 2008 and 2013 are the subject of research. This includes Porsche’s Panamera and 911 models. BamS also indicated that hundreds of thousands of emails are being investigated in search of evidence and that KBA has launched an official investigation.
Porsche, which is part of the Volkswagen Group family, has been conducting this research since June. The illegal changes were said to have been made in series production after approval by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA.) Employees are also asked for minutes of meetings and conversations along with those hundreds of thousands of emails just mentioned. A senior Porsche manager told BamS that, “We turn every stone and follow every direction. Once suspicions are confirmed, we act consistently in all matters. One thing that BamS emphasizes is that it is more than just ecosystems that are affected. Engine components are as well.
Starting 12 years ago and ending in 2013, these cars were sold and are on their way today. So far, Porsche has not re-initiated. For its own part in the emissions cheat scandal – popularly called “Dieselgate” – Porsche was fined $ 599 million by German prosecutors for failing to comply with oversight obligations linked to cheating for diesel emissions. That oversight led to the sale of diesel cars in Europe that did not comply with emissions regulations.
Another case for electric cars
It always seems like there’s a whole new diesel scandal as “event” when it comes to these motorists. This is just another example of how important and necessary it is to switch to clean cars. The Volkswagen scandal is a great example of just how bad these things can go if they go wrong. In 2015, The guard conducted an analysis that found that the 482,000 recalled Volkswagen and Audi cars here in the US would have released a range of 10,392 and 41,571 tons of toxic gases into the air a year if they had covered the average annual U.S. mileage. Volkswagen, The guard is responsible for at least 1 million tonnes of air pollution each year, which is the same as the UK’s combined emissions for all its power stations, cars, industry and agriculture.
How much is 1 million tons? Keep in mind that we are not talking about “tons”, but its metric measure, which is equal to 1,000 kg. So if we do the math, 1 million tons is equal to 1 billion kilograms. Next we calculate to see exactly how much extra pollution Volkswagen causes. Just to show you how big that number is, it equates to emissions of:
- 216,044 passengers drove cars for one year.
- 2,481,389,578 miles driven by an average passenger car.
If you look at C02, 1 million tons of that equates to 169,306 average U.S. homes that use electricity one year, or about a quarter (0.257) of a coal-fired power plant that burns coal one year. (That should tell you just how bad coal energy plants are. Yikes!)
Now back to the topic of Porsche. We do not know how many emissions were released due to the illegal manipulation of both the exhaust and engine elements. Perhaps it apparently could not have affected and the cars released the legal amount – that would be the best news in this case – unless they were manipulated and emitted even fewer emissions than legal.
Maybe it’s time for anyone who wants to buy a Porsche car to buy the Taycan Turbo S, and maybe it’s time for Porsche to roll out a fully electric Cayenne competitor.
Appreciate the originality of CleanTechnica? Think of becoming a CleanTechnica member, follower, as an ambassador – as a patron on Patreon.
Sign up for our free daily newsletter or weekly newsletter to never miss a story.
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Send us an email: [email protected]
Last Episode of Cleantech Talk
About the Author
Johnna Crider is a Baton Rouge artist, gem, and mineral collector, a member of the International Gem Society, and a Tesla shareholder who believes in Elon Musk and Tesla. Elon Musk advised her in 2018 on “Believe in Good.” Tesla is one of many good things to believe in. You can find Johnna on Twitter
