Archive · 14 Jun 2025
Cheating and Tampering Increase Car Pollution
Cars today have systems to reduce pollution, but some companies cheat on tests.
They install special devices to make cars seem cleaner than they are.
This is mainly done in diesel cars because the systems are more complicated.
Some car owners also tamper with their cars to make them run better or avoid extra costs, which is often illegal.
These actions lead to more pollution, and have led to expensive health problems.
To fix this, we need better ways to find cheating and tampering.
Eventually, switching to electric cars will eliminate these problems, but until then, we must ensure that the existing cars run as cleanly as possible.
Emission control systems in cars are facing challenges due to cheating by manufacturers and tampering by owners.
Manufacturers may use defeat devices to make cars appear cleaner during tests, primarily in diesel vehicles.
Owners tamper with emission systems to improve performance or avoid costs, often using aftermarket devices.
The Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal resulted in billions in health costs, highlighting the impact of cheating.
Solutions include better detection of tampering, in-service emissions testing, and a shift towards EVs.
- Who
- Carmakers, car owners, regulatory authorities, and researchers.
- What
- Manufacturers and car owners are cheating emission tests and tampering with emission control systems in vehicles.
- When
- From the 1950s onward, regulators started requiring carmakers to reduce pollutants.
- Where
- Worldwide, with notable issues in the European Union and the United States.
- Why
- Carmakers cheat to meet emission standards without fully complying, while owners tamper to improve performance or cut costs.
Manufacturers
Owners
Compliance
Manufacturers
Reduce cost by cheating.
Owners
Comply with emission standards
Testing
Manufacturers
Defeat devices shift the car to low-emissions mode during testing only.
Owners
Adhere to strict emission requirements at all times.
- Key Pollutants Reduced
- Particulate matter and nitrogen oxides
- Primary Target
- Diesel cars and trucks
- VW Scandal Cost
- $50 billion
- Euro 6 Emission System Cost (Petrol)
- ~$600
- Euro 6 Emission System Cost (Diesel)
- 3-5 times higher than petrol