Sir, – Surely the real scandal highlighted by the Volkswagen deception is that nitrogen oxide emissions, which cause respiratory disease, are not being tested in the Irish NCT? Furthermore, since 2008, our motor tax system has been biased towards the promotion of diesel-engined cars for private use.
The harmful effects of nitrogen oxide has lead to increased scrutiny of diesel-engined vehicles in the US and larger European cities.
Perhaps it is time for Ireland to follow suit? – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN McCOY,
Sandyford,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – "Am I alone," asks Dr John Doherty (September 26th), "in having a sneaking regard for the technical ingenuity, professional excellence and sheer effrontery of Volkswagen software engineers?" I suspect the answer to his question is yes. In conspiring to cheat engine emission tests, while covertly accepting engine nitrogen oxide emission levels 40 times the US EPA-permitted limit, VW engineers conveniently side-stepped a much more challenging task – the design and manufacture of genuinely clean engines. That would be a laudable achievement. – Yours, etc,
RONAN McDERMOTT,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – The best-rigged cars in the world? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN AHERN,
Clonsilla,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – The VW emissions crises can be seen as an opportunity as well as a fiasco.
It was well known that fuel efficiency ratings under the NEDC European testing standard were wildly optimistic, but everyone agreed to ignore it and carry on the charade. What was not well known was the extent of VW’s software cheating, which must be stopped immediately. We also now know that the emissions equipment in cars is far more flexible and programmable than we might have imagined.
It is obvious that the level of pollution in European cities is far too high.
The VW cheating cars will have to be reprogrammed to reduce their emissions – this will reduce the pollution load, but only from VW cars. However, a “voluntary” scheme could be developed for all manufacturers’ cars where the engines are remapped to reduce “local” pollution (nitrogen oxide, soot, particulates and carbon monoxide).
The EU would have to design a “EuroMix” pollution index so we can have a single number (as we do with CO2 emissions) to keep it simple and to see if progress is being made.
Each manufacturer could then produce a remapping scheme to reduce the pollution score for existing cars, trucks and buses. Owners who applied it would get a certificate which could reduce the annual road tax (or provide parking privileges). The engines might lose some power, but so what – most cars are overpowered anyway so the owners would be no worse off.
This could probably be done within under 12 months and would immediately start to reduce the pollution load on our cities. – Yours, etc,
JAMES MAHON,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Volkswagen’s actions reinforce the suspicion that ethics in business is a thing of the past and that nowadays, nothing and no-one can be trusted. This breeds a cynicism about modern life that is corrosive and depressing.
As usual, the highly paid perpetrators are untouchable and ordinary people pay the price at multiple levels, not least by unwittingly contributing to air pollution and, by extension, global warming. The betrayal of Germany’s hard-earned reputation for technical and engineering reliability, for the sake of short-term profit, to appease the gods of the market, surely indicates a loss of core values at the highest level in business that negatively impacts us all. – Yours, etc,
MAEVE HALPIN,
Dublin 6.