SMP 2/6/16 | How Volkswagen Got Caught Cheating | Speaker: John German

Since vehicle emission standards were introduced over 45 years ago, manufacturers have optimized vehicles and emission control systems around the testing requirements while government agencies keep updating the requirements to try to make sure the reductions also occur in the real world. Emission control systems have become vastly more sophisticated and efficient over the years, and so has the software, making it more difficult to detect if manufacturers are cheating on the official tests. Volkswagen stepped over the line in order to reduce the cost and fuel economy tradeoffs with diesel engine NOx controls and they were caught due to a relatively new innovation - a miniaturized emission lab that fits in the trunk of the car.

All talks are free and refreshments will be served. Visitor parking for the seminars (Central Campus) is across the street from Weiser Hall (formerly the Dennison Building) in the U-M Church Street parking structure. There is a $2.00 parking charge implemented by U-M Parking Services. For more information regarding the Saturday Morning Physics series click here or call 734.764.4437.