The scandal surrounding manipulated diesel emissions at Volkswagen has been influencing the news for some time. The VW gate again fueled the national debate about theoretical and actual values. The domestic politicians involved reacted in astonishment. This selective indignation is unjustified, because the discussion has been going on for years. In addition, the actual data has already been demonstrated. The national quality newspapers also did research. They took the opportunity to present the results as news.
De Volkskrant, for example, examined an impressive number of new diesel cars. It was concluded that the strongly limited Nox standards were moderately to strongly exceeded. The Algemeen Dagblad did the same. The results of the investigations are gratefully embraced, certainly now that Volkswagen has been so discredited. They place many findings in a different light with retroactive effect. Modern diesels emit more NoX and Co2 than the brochures and test results promise. The effect on air quality of Diesels older than fifteen years deserves a definitive nuance. Historical findings with regard to this group of motor vehicles must be revised from an environmental perspective.
Deviating values have been known for much longer
The deviating practical values in terms of consumption and emissions have been known for much longer. They have already been demonstrated by various car media. A TNO report also appeared in June this year. It stated again that the NoX practice values of new passenger and delivery vans had hardly changed in the last twenty years. CE Delft also determined it in 2013. Politically involved should have taken the results of domestic and foreign investigations seriously. They were available ready-made. But these were completely ignored because the billions of devouring incentive policy for clean motor vehicles was the number one priority. For years, those responsible in The Hague did not want to change that.
Diesel policy in a different light
Now that research results are embraced and the VW scandal is taking hold, recent diesel policy is being put in a different light. The new developments confirm in any case that the environmental zone in Utrecht has been determined on the basis of the wrong grounds and assumptions. They also say that an unsuccessful, expensive to implement and owner-reducing MRB scheme was not composed from the right perspective. Not to mention the billions of dollars in the additional tax liability for lease cars.
Politically selectively indignant
In the meantime, political dignitaries at the national and local levels are shocked. That outrage has been played and completely selective. He is now hanging on the Volkswagen scandal. Politically involved people have a problem. But they can now issue new policy measures with regard to the so-called clean vehicles. And they have the perfect opportunity to put on the fine for the failed incentive policy with regard to clean driving. That hope seems in vain in advance. Nevertheless, the developments mean good news for the organizations that rightly argue against the ridiculous environmental zone in Utrecht and the unfair old-timer scheme. Car interests and the KNAC can now definitely pave the way for reversing erroneously taken measures with regard to older motor vehicles. By demonstrating the actual effects of older diesels on the environment. Car interests, for example, have shown earlier that they can accurately predict results. And those involved in politics now have the perfect opportunity to apply the diesel policy in a proportionate manner.