EPA Logo (Photo : Twitter)
Air pollution regulators in the United States and Canada are expanding their on-road emissions testing to include all makes and models of diesel vehicles, following the recent Volkswagen cheating scandal that caused its cars to run cleaner during lab tests. The company has admitted that it installed hacked onboard software in 11 million autos, resulting in the the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new auto industry policy to conduct random real-world inspections.
Officials hope that the new testing method will make it more likely to catch cheaters. Christopher Grundler is the EPA's director of the office of transportation and air quality. The federal agency is searching for similar existing programs in other nations.
Grundler gave few details about the updated emissions tests. However, he revealed that they would center on 2015 and 2016 diesel cars, and also include new models for manufacturer certification, according to The New York Times.
Automakers have asked the EPA what test conditions will be used. It told the car makers that it is not obligatory for them to know that information.
The EPA performed its first tests last week on Volkswagen diesel vehicles, and found hacked software on around 10,000 VW, Porsche, and Audi models. VW claimed no "defeat software" has been installed to cheat on emissions tests.
However, the German automaker will reportedly roll out a "TDI Goodwill Program" to provide cash to diesel car owners with cheating scandal-involved vehicles, according to Engadget. It would be in the form of prepaid cards.
In the past, the EPA's road testing for auto pollutants was mostly on large trucks, and spot checks for older cars. It also does tests with regulators in California and Canada.
Europe is planning to launch on-road emissions tests in 2017. Mexico, India, South Korea, and China are also considering real-world testing.
The EPA was formed in 1970.
