Technological Response Options after the VW Diesel Scandal: Implications for Engine CO 2 Emissions

Otto Andersen, Paul Upham and Carlo Aall
Additional contact information
Otto Andersen: Stiftinga Vestlandsforsking (VESTFORSK), Fosshaugane Campus, Pb. 163, N-6851 Sogndal, Norway
Paul Upham: Institute for Environmental and Sustainability Communication (INFU), Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany
Carlo Aall: Stiftinga Vestlandsforsking (VESTFORSK), Fosshaugane Campus, Pb. 163, N-6851 Sogndal, Norway

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: In the VW diesel scandal, automakers were found to be cheating with emission data, by e.g., tampering with on-board detection systems. We have calculated changes in the energy use and emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents that would arise through several options open to automakers, to ensure that the emission of nitrogen oxides is kept within the standards. Several studies show how manufacturers have also significantly underreported vehicles’ actual fuel consumption. We explain our derivation of new factors for energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from diesel- and gasoline-powered passenger cars, as well as their electric hybrid varieties. The results of the analysis show that energy consumption and emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents will increase in the range of 18–21% for passenger cars with diesel and hybrid diesel engines, while for cars with gasoline and hybrid gasoline, the addition is 9–10%. The analysis highlights an environmental dilemma of current car technology, but also the path-dependent ways of thinking that have been prevalent within the automotive sector. From a sociotechnical sustainability transitions perspective, Dieselgate can be viewed as a case of “regime resistance”, whereby incumbent actors seek to maintain the status quo.

Keywords: transport policies; unintended consequences; climate gas emissions; Dieselgate scandal; energy use; transport; NO x reduction technologies; regime resistance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2313/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2313/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2313-:d:156192

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().