Tuesday, 12 September 2017

The Emissions Minefield

On Tuesday 23 February around 40 Yorkshire Region members and guests gathered at the Holiday Inn Brighouse, to attend the latest presentation from Andrew Marsh, director of Auto Industry Consulting.

The event started with tea and coffee, provided at no charge to those attending from Yorkshire Region funds.

Andrew then got the presentation underway, with an overview of existing and new EU and US testing processes.

It was interesting to note that the US has traditionally operated an 'Honesty Pact', albeit with serious penalties for incorrect test results enforceable by the EPA and state authorities who can test any stock at any time. Failures to comply can result in all vehicles being repatriated, and destroyed as an ultimate sanction.

In the EU, the process is carried out by government approved bodies or test houses, and if approval is granted in one EU member state, this is sufficient to cover all EU states.

Andrew then delved deeper into the situation at Volkswagen, covering internal politics, failed takeover bids and providing a better understanding of the current situation, interacting with those attending as relevant points were made.

He then moved on to recent developments in the USA and the VW emissions scandal that has erupted there. A report was issued in 2014 raising concerns, but this was dismissed by manufacturers who claimed that the tests carried out were not representative of those required under statute.

Andrew explained the detailed timeline then in his typically engaging and informative style, making the subject matter come to life with insight, before bringing this section to a close with details of the differing rectifications being proposed in the US and the EU.

Andrew went on to cover other vehicles which have either been recalled or had similar concerns raised, many of which are currently ongoing, and perhaps unsurprisingly where the findings are in dispute. Individual governments have confirmed that further tests have been carried out but they have yet to release any results.

From here, Andrew spoke about the current emissions testing processes, including the complexities of the system and the very different requirements of emissions testing and checks carried out as part of the MOT – with no apparent link between the two. The presentation then moved on to the new test processes which will apply from 2017 and how they will be implemented.

Andrew then looked to the future predicting that hybrid drive vehicles will become far more common in coming years as manufacturers strive to meet increasing stringent requirements, with internal combustion engines providing direct drive only existing on an increasingly small number of light vehicles. Andrews's advice was that in these increasing complex times, the only way to keep up to date is by maintaining your CPD.

The event finished with final questions from the floor, before Yorkshire Region Chairman Ivan Marriott brought the evening to a close with the traditional show of thanks.

Dave Foster, AInstAEA MFIEA MIMI

IAEA Yorkshire Region.