#Dieselgate - weeks of setting the course

The emissions scandal that has dragged on over the past few months is influencing manufacturers' decisions in connection with the published cartel allegations and the diesel driving ban. There are important dates coming up in the coming weeks. We inform about decision-makers and decisions in this info blog.

# 02.10.2018: Rewards - The manufacturers announce their programs

Not much news from the Federal Chancellery. The program for bonuses that has already been decided is being reformed and reissued. The automakers have already announced resistance to retrofitting. According to Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU), there is still a need for clarification: "We still have to hold discussions about hardware retrofitting, not only on the financial side, but also on the technical side."

At the moment, like the last agreement, it looks like a sales promotion for new car sales.

The first decisions have been made, the manufacturers are betting on premiums when selling older diesel vehicles:

#BMW

When designing the environmental bonus +, the BMW Group is following the statement published today by the federal government. Owners of BMW or MINI diesel vehicles with emission standard Euro 4 or Euro 5 who trade in their vehicle registered for them for at least 12 months at a BMW or MINI dealer can upon presentation of authorization to participate in the initiated programs in the affected city regions receive an environmental bonus +. In exchange for your old vehicle, you will receive EUR 6.000 to buy or lease a new BMW or MINI if it is a BMW i3, a plug-in hybrid or a Euro 6 new vehicle (initial registration). An environmental bonus + of 4.500 euros applies to young used automobiles under the same conditions. The premium is not offset against other existing government purchase incentives such as the environmental bonus currently offered in Germany for the purchase of electrified vehicles, but applies in addition.

(Source: BMW)

#Toyota

Hybrid for Diesel ”instead of“ Diesel for Diesel ”is Toyota's answer to the current discussion. When buying a new hybrid vehicle, the Japanese automobile manufacturer offers a model-dependent trade-in bonus of up to EUR 5.000 * plus the actual calculated value of the diesel model given in payment (EUR 1 to 6).

The premium applies to the models Yaris Hybrid (2.800 euros premium; combined fuel consumption: 3,7l / 100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 84 g / km), Auris Hybrid (5.000 euros premium; combined fuel consumption: 4,1 l / 100 km) km, CO2 emissions combined: 94 g / km and Auris Touring Sports Hybrid (5.000 euros premium; fuel consumption combined: 4,3 l / 100 km, CO2 emissions combined: 99 g / km), the RAV4 Hybrid (5.000 euros premium ; Combined fuel consumption: 5,1 l / 100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 118 g / km) and the C-HR Hybrid (€ 3.800 premium; combined fuel consumption: 3,8 l / 100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 86 g / km).

(Source: Toyota)

#Renault

# 01.10.2018: Decision at the auto summit

After the discussion with the decision-makers in the auto industry on October 23.10.2018, XNUMX, the final decisions will be made today in the Federal Chancellery on purchase premiums and retrofitting for diesel cars.

# 08.06.2018: product recalls and new Euro norm

The legally compliant emission control of diesel vehicles has come to a standstill. In the past few months alone, the Federal Motor Transport Authority has carried out three product recalls due to increased NOx emissions:

• Audi A6 and A7 3.0 liter diesel Euro 6
• Mercedes Vito 1.6 liter diesel Euro 6
• Porsche Cayenne Euro 6 4,2 liter V8 TDI and Porsche Macan Euro 6 3,0 liter V6 TDI

What all three recall campaigns have in common is the fact that the built-in shutdown devices during operation of the vehicles can lead to increased NOx emissions.

If you are currently ordering a new car, you may have to wait a longer period for delivery. Because the auto industry has to switch to the new WLTP consumption test method and the introduction of the particulate filter for gasoline engines in production, the production process for various models is currently on hold. The reasons lie in the new regulations for the Euro standard.

On the one hand, not all test procedures according to the new Euro norm for new vehicles have been completed, on the other hand, new limit values ​​for the soot emissions of gasoline vehicles will apply from September, which can usually only be achieved with systems with direct injection using particle filters. The problem will become even more acute in the near future due to the upcoming introduction of the RDE emissions tests in real road traffic for all new vehicles in the coming year, which will present new challenges in the development departments of the automobile manufacturers.

May 30.05.2018, XNUMX: Robert Habeck calls for a diesel driving ban for Kiel

Environment Minister Habeck called for the driving ban in Kiel. However, there is neither an expert opinion on suitable measures, nor has the situation for the much longer bypass route been clarified.
According to NDR information, the diesel driving ban would affect around 12.000 vehicles per day. These would have to perceive a much longer and not optimally developed alternative route through the middle of the city. Here, too, as in Hamburg, there is only one shift of the problem to diesel owners and residents in the city.

10.04.2018/XNUMX/XNUMX: Brand boss Herbert Diess new CEO at VW

According to various media reports, Herbert Diess is planned as the new Chairman of the Board of Management at Volkswagen. According to a VW press release:

“Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is considering a further development of the management structure for the Group, which would also involve personnel changes on the Board of Management and changes in the areas of responsibility on the Board of Management. This could also include a change in the position of CEO. "(Volkswagen)

# 23.03.2018: New approach on the subject of model declaratory action

Start from the diesel vehicle. Source: © Ingo Bartussek @ Fotolia.com

According to reports from various press agencies, a draft law for a model declaratory action is said to have been launched last week. This was said by Katarina Barley, Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection in the Bundestag today.

“Only“ qualified institutions ”should be entitled to take legal action, for example consumer associations. You could then basically clarify controversial questions in sample processes, after which every consumer would have to assert his specific claims in an individual process.

In the coalition agreement, the Union and the SPD agreed that the new instrument should come into force on November 1st - in view of the impending statute of limitations, those affected by the scandal surrounding exhaust gas manipulation in VW diesel vehicles should still be able to make use of the regulation. "(Source heise )

# 21.03.2018: Greens insist on expanding e-mobility

Andreas Tietze, parliamentary group Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen in the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament - Copyright parliamentary group Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen in the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament

Andreas Tietze, transport policy spokesman for the Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen parliamentary group in Schleswig-Holstein, explains the position of the Greens in Schleswig-Holstein on the subject of diesel driving bans:

“For us Greens, the highest political mandate is to protect people's health. Driving bans only shift the problems elsewhere. This helps on site, but harms others. In the end, all of the measures discussed just tinker with the symptoms. What we really need now is a consistent implementation of the traffic turnaround with an expansion of e-mobility and a strengthening of the environmental network of trains, buses and bicycles in order to create a real alternative to the car. "

# 09.03.2018: The Volkswagen cycle

After the announcement that Volkswagen would pay for an air report for suggestions to improve the air quality in Kiel, the critical tones could not be overheard. Now the media have researched and found out that the report is carried out by a subsidiary of Porsche Automobil Holding SE. Since Porsche holds 52,2% of the ordinary shares in Volkswagen, the apparently so generously sponsored money also remains within the group of companies.

"Whirling around an air report: Yesterday it became known that the expert and software company PTV Group commissioned by VW had been taken over by Porsche Automobil Holding SE in 2017." (Source Lübecker Nachrichten)

# 08.03.2018: deaths and nitrogen dioxide?

Is it possible to establish the relationships for deaths from nitrogen oxide pollution with a model calculation? Probably in the model calculation, by combining measurement and model data on nitrogen dioxide concentration with information on population density. A statement can then be made with this, but you should then look again very carefully into the details. This is explained a little later in the press release of the Federal Environment Agency:

“Epidemiological studies make it possible no statements about causal relationships. However, they provide numerous consistent results on the statistical relationships between negative health effects and NO2 pollution. "(Source Federal Environment Agency)

Press release Federal Environment Agency

# 06.03.2018: Take two blue badges

Emblem of the fine dust sticker - Copyright thomas222 @ fotolia.com

The President of the Federal Environment Agency, Maria Krautzberger, proposes a differentiated solution for diesel vehicles in environmental zones:

Now 2 blue stickers are to be introduced for the diesel vehicles. A light blue sticker is provided for diesels according to Euronorm 5 and 6. The dark blue sticker is for vehicles with the new emission levels Euro 6d-TEMP or Euro 6d or for future registrations.

# 05.03.2018: The silence of the manufacturers

New press releases are published every day on all topics about new developments, low-emission cars in the future and new mobility. There are still no solutions on the subject of responsibility and hardware retrofitting of the old diesel models.

# 02.03.2018: Diesel registrations -19,5% in February compared to February 2017

The changes in buyer behavior move away from the diesel car every month:

“The petrol engine increased by +25,9 percent and accounted for almost two thirds (62,9%) of new registrations. The share of diesel-powered cars fell by -2017 percent compared to February 19,5 and thus came to just under a third (32,5%). There were 2.546 new registrations of electric cars (1,0% / + 64,7%) and 8.289 hybrids (3,2% / + 63,1%), including 2.559 with plug-ins (1,0% / + 77,3 , 0,3%). For natural gas vehicles, which the registration statistics showed with a share of 414,3 percent, there was a significant increase of +0,1 percent. The share of liquefied gas powered cars was 9,0 percent (+XNUMX%). "

Source: Federal Motor Transport Authority

# 02.03.2018 Hardware retrofitting of older diesel models 

Requirements for the manufacturer:

At the moment there are increasing demands on the automotive industry to technically retrofit at least the Euro5 and Euro6 diesel models:

Klaus Müller, board member of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations, the editorial network Germany (RND, Thursday editions).

“For the not-so-old Euro 5 diesels, manufacturers must be obliged to offer retrofits so that they can continue to drive into city centers. Politicians have to put pressure on the manufacturers here. "

(Source RND)

“With the support of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport, the ADAC Württemberg eV has proven that hardware retrofits on Euro 5 diesel vehicles are not only possible, but also highly effective. According to the latest measurements, up to 70 percent (urban) or 90 percent (extra-urban) less pollutant emissions can be achieved by retrofitting such vehicles. For particularly polluted areas such as the Neckartor in Stuttgart, this could result in an improvement in air quality of up to 25 percent. "

(Source ADAC)

“The trade wants the car manufacturers to pay for the hardware retrofitting of diesel vehicles. The manufacturers would have to be held responsible for this, said Holger Schwannecke, General Secretary of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), in the run-up to the International Crafts Fair (IHM) in Munich. "

(Source: Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung)

# 28.02.2018 Is my diesel vehicle affected?

It is worth taking a look at the vehicle registration document:
If you still have an older vehicle registration document for your car, the "Key number for 1" field is decisive.
In the newer registration certificate Part I, you must pay attention to fields 14 and 14.1. The emission standard is noted in field 14; it is precisely defined in field 14.1. If the number given in it ends with 00 to 88, your diesel car only meets the Euro 1 to Euro 4 emission standards.

According to the judgment of the Federal Administrative Court, it is possible that in the first step you are no longer allowed to drive such a car into the city center of Stuttgart, for example. For Euro 5 diesel there would therefore be a one-year grace period. These cars can be recognized by the number-letter combinations 35AO to 35MO.

If you drive a newer diesel that meets the Euro 6 emissions standard, there are currently no restrictions. If there is a "14.1" and a two-digit letter abbreviation, for example 36NO to 36YO, in field 36 of the registration certificate Part I, then you can use the city center without any worries.

# 28.02.2018 Hamburg starts at short notice

In Hamburg, the first measures will be carried out in spring 2018.

"The diesel drive-through restrictions in Hamburg will probably be the first nationwide," Kerstan told the NDR. "The signs can still be ordered today and set up within a few weeks."

There are likely to be passage restrictions on two busy streets in the Altona-Nord district. (Source: NDR)

This results in practically only shifts in the loads, alternative roads can continue to be used.

# 27.02.2018 Federal Administrative Court:

Cities can impose driving bans

A decision has been made by the Federal Administrative Court.

Driving bans could be designed and implemented proportionately, explained the judges. The defendant cities of Stuttgart and Düsseldorf would have to check their air pollution control plans for proportionality.

The reactions are different. The shares of the German automotive industry gave way on Tuesday, the verdict was probably already expected. In any case, the strategy will now be revised in the corporations.

Volvo had already announced the withdrawal from the diesel engine in 2017. According to press reports, Fiat also wants to phase out the diesel engine by 2022.

# 08.08.2017/XNUMX/XNUMX Bonuses for scrapping old diesel cars

The Volkswagen group, including the subsidiary brands Audi, Seat, Skoda and Porsche, offers old diesel cars that comply with the Euro 1 to Euro 4 emission standards when buying new cars for scrapping the cars.

However, it will also support cars that comply with the current Euro 6 standard, which were still approved according to the old measurement method. The environmental tests carried out by KBA, ADAC and Deutscher Umwelthilfe showed that many models had significantly increased nitrogen oxide levels in practice.

The cars with engines according to the new tests according to the Euro 6d standard with test procedures based on more practical procedures will only be available on the market at the end of 2017.

First and foremost, these and other bonuses are to be assessed directly as sales incentives for new vehicles.

# 04.08.2017 Small solution accelerates transformation process

The decided "small solution" via software update can positively influence the transformation process when buying new cars, the uncertainty increases among buyers, because a hardware solution for the diesel will be available for the approved diesel cars with Euro 5 and Euro 6 Norm does not give.

The share of new registrations with diesel engines fell to 2017% in July 40,7 and it will probably decrease continuously after this decision. In contrast, the manageable offers for hybrid and electric vehicles are gratefully accepted by the market. According to a press release from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, registrations are increasing: “Vehicles with hybrid drives (7.383) increased by +103,7 percent, including plug-in hybrids (2.417) by as much as +137,9 percent. Electrically powered cars (1.820) showed an increase of +131,8 percent. "

# 01.08.2017/XNUMX/XNUMX New diesel alliance

Before the summit, the new, old alliances for diesel are forging. Politicians, trade unionists and the auto industry are advocating the "small solution" with a software update for diesels with Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards. This does not solve the problems associated with the emission of pollutants before the operating temperature is reached.

# 29.07.2017 Driving bans under discussion

Tax breaks for Euro 6 diesel?

The last advocates of the diesel engine are once again going public with their demands and taking a stand against diesel driving bans.

The president of the industry association VDA, Matthias Wissmann, expresses his ideas to the newspapers of the Funke Group: "If the Diesel Summit in Berlin next week develops a convincing concept, I definitely see a chance that the Federal Administrative Court, as the highest authority, will come to a different conclusion could come as Stuttgart ”.

Horst Seehofer, Prime Minister of Bavaria, plans to continue supporting diesel cars according to the current issue of Spiegel “, Said the CSU boss to the mirror.

# 28.07.2017 The days before the diesel summit

Audi is restructuring the board of directors

According to Spiegel report, CFO Axel Strotbeck, Head of Production Hubert Waltl, Head of Human Resources Thomas Sigi and Head of Sales Dietmar Voggenreiter will be dismissed from the board at short notice. Matthias Müller, head of the Audi parent company Volkswagen, is said to have informed the four people concerned about the impending dismissal in the vicinity of an Audi supervisory board meeting. (Source: Spiegel from July 28.07.2017, XNUMX)

Stuttgart is subject to the legal dispute with Deutsche Umwelthilfe

In order to improve the air quality, the city of Stuttgart has to make significant improvements to the measures. The judges judge the previous measures as insufficient. A diesel driving ban on January 01st, 2018 is more likely.

Appeals against the judgment are still possible.

Volkswagen and Porsche

The pressure on the car manufacturers is increasing and they are responding with new offers to convert the approved diesel vehicles. Volkswagen announces that more than 4 million registered vehicles will be retrofitted. Transport Minister Dobrindt and the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), who have so far been noticeably cautious, are even ordering registration bans for the 3.0 TDI Porsche Cayenne and shutdowns for the VW Amarok without retrofitting.

[aesop_content color = “# ffffff“ background = “# 333333 ″ columns =“ 1 ″ position = “none“ imgrepeat = “no-repeat“ floaterposition = “left“ floaterdirection = “up“ revealfx = “off“ overlay_revealfx = “off “] Euro 6 standard for diesel vehicles - Adblue. The urea solution Adblue is supposed to convert the nitrogen oxides into water vapor and nitrogen. A prerequisite, however, is a catalyst that is at least 200 degrees Celsius hot. On the short journeys, however, the emission control system does not reach the required operating temperature, which is why there is no complete emission control. A preheated catalytic converter from the supplier Continental, for example, could help. However, this increases the purchase price by around one thousand euros per diesel car.

[/ aesop_content]

German environmental aid information video

In an information video, the German Environmental Aid (DUH) provided information about the dangers of nitrogen oxides in car traffic and the exhaust gas measurements.

Source: Information video from Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH)

Addendum

Infoblog on current developments in the emissions scandal from July to September 2017.

Cover picture: Diesel driving bans symbol - Copyright Trueffelpix @ fotolia.com

• About
• Last articles

N. Hawthorn

Author on the topics of sustainable mobility and new mobility concepts.

Questions and suggestions under 01575/287 3616 or by email to leser@greencarmagazine.de.

Comments are welcome to be entered. They are activated after a content check.

Last article by N. Hagedorn (Show All)

• Jeep Avenger Altitude Electric – the flexible outdoor SUV - December 4, 2023
• Italy – Tesla in high demand for new BEV registrations in 2023 - December 4, 2023
• Heat pump in an electric car - December 4, 2023