Britain urges European Union to probe into emissions tests

The software at the center of Volkswagen’s emissions scandal in the US was built into the automaker’s cars in Europe as well, Germany said Thursday, though it isn’t yet clear if it helped cheat tests as it did in the U.S.

On Friday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered a recall of close to half a million VW vehicles, after it emerged some vehicles were fitted with a “defeat device” for emissions tests.

The outing of Volkswagen as a US emissions test cheat has cast an unflattering light on regulatory failings closer to home, adding momentum to a push underway to close gaping European loopholes. But though these limits did come down – and the technology was available to meet the tighter standards – Kings College scientists have said that actual emissions have remained much the same since the turn of the millennium, while those from petrol engines have been slashed by 96 per cent. However, the ban has been restricted to vehicles which are yet to be sold or registered, meaning Swiss motorists who now own an affected auto will not need to take action.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) which discovered the software, found defeat devices in four-cylinder diesel versions of the Audi A3 and VW’s Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat models. Cars are generally put through a 20-minute test that involves prescribed acceleration, gear changes and deceleration.

They do so by optimising the engine to run cleanest at the sluggish rev counts and throttle inputs typical of the test cycle, at the price of greater fuel consumption, Carbon dioxide emissions and pollution in more normal driving.

Mr Dobrindt said random tests would be carried out on cars made by other manufacturers. However, the control system is switched off in real world driving conditions meaning emissions could be four times higher than the official test results.

The Volkswagen crisis, however, should make it easier to bring in the new tests: transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has already called for them to be fast-tracked.

“Therefore, it is premature to comment on whether any specific immediate surveillance measures are also necessary in Europe and the implications for vehicles sold by Volkswagen in Europe”.

New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman said he would collaborate with other U.S. states to enforce consumer and environmental law.

European politicians on Wednesday voted to speed up rules to tighten compliance with pollution limits on cars, adding to pressure for reform after US regulators caught Volkswagen AG rigging the performance of vehicles in tests. “There are several thousand vehicles we test”, said Vincenzo Lucà, a spokesman for TÜV SÜD, the Germany-based worldwide certification organization.