(Wired) VW's confession that it illegally programed the software in 11 million diesel-powered cars to cheat on emissions tests comes with the sting of betrayal for owners. The automaker's been touting the benefits of "clean diesel" for years, and it dominates the American market for the gasoline alternative.
Last week, the EPA accused the German automaker of using a "defeat device," an algorithm that detects when the car is being tested by the EPA and changes its performance to meet emissions standards. The rest of the time, the cars produce up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxides (NOx), the stuff linked to increased rates of asthma and other respiratory problems.
