2012 Volkswagen Cc R-line on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Winterkorn kept diesel scandal secret, letter claims

Former Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn allegedly kept quiet for two weeks about emissions defeat devices in the company's models. US officials eventually made the automaker's deception public on September 18th. "In the conversation on 03.09.2015 with the regulator CARB (California Air Resources Board), the defeat device was admitted," an employee told Winterkorn on September 4, according to Reuters citing Germany's Bild am Sonntag. Based on this information, Winterkorn had plenty of time to admit the problem. Evidence like this letter continues to suggest top figures knew about the emissions problem. In addition, a separate Bild am Sonntag report recently claimed that an employee emailed Winterkorn in May 2014 to tell him US regulators could discover the cheating. In the lower echelons of the company, the deception was allegedly an open secret among engineers as early as 2006, and people kept quiet even after workers tried to admit what was happening. This culture of secrecy seems to go even deeper than just the diesel emissions scandal. For example, engineers admitted that they cheated on CO2 tests to meet the company's strict standards. According to Green Car Reports, these problems also affected the US. In 2004, an Audi worker in America allegedly discovered an issue with the exhaust gas temperature sensor in some vehicles, but a German executive said not to admit the problem to US regulators. It's not clear whether any high level employees tried to fix the diesel emissions issue or if they simply kept the problem hidden. The company's internal report, which is due in the latter half of April, might address that concern. So far, the VW Group has said only a small group of people caused the scandal. However, these many allegations to the contrary make that claim difficult to believe. Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: Volkswagen Sustainability Council meets, Zee.Aero flying car spotted?

The Volkswagen Sustainability Council held its inaugural meeting in Berlin. Made up of nine international experts, the council will advise VW and take action on its own as it sees fit. In the meeting, the council decided that in 2017 it will focus on tackling CO2 emissions, planning for post-2025 regulations, and assisting the automaker's "transformation from car manufacturer to mobility services provider," as VW Chairman Matthias Muller puts it. Volkswagen has approved 20 million euros (about $21.75 million) in funding for Sustainability Council projects for its first two years. "We are fully aware of the large transformation that lays ahead Volkswagen Group," says George Kell, Sustainability Council Chair and Founding Director of UN Global Compact. "We were invited to be part of this journey and are very much looking forward on being actively involved in the development of this journey." Read more at Green Car Congress, or from Volkswagen. Honda plans to ramp up its share of hybrids sold in the US. In response to increasingly strict emissions standards, the company wants electrified vehicles (including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, and fuel cell vehicles) to make up two-thirds of Honda and Acura sales in US by 2030. Some analysts are skeptical, though. Christopher Richter of CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets says that dealers are telling Honda they don't want hybrids. "Unless there's a change in what dealers want, I don't think they are going to get there that fast," Richter says. Read more at Automotive News. Witnesses report spotting what could possibly be the Zee.Aero electric aircraft at Hollister Airport in California. Zee.Aero, a startup funded by Google cofounder Larry Page, has a hangar at that airport, where a photo was taken of the aircraft in question. The craft is said to be capable of vertical takeoff and landing and can fit in a one-car garage, earning it the "flying car" moniker. Eyewitness Saul Gomez described the aircraft as "quiet" and "hovering 20, 25 feet off the ground." Read more at Electrek, and watch the interview at Mercury News. Related Gallery 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid: First Drive View 26 Photos News Source: Green Car Congress, Volkswagen, Automotive News, Electrek, Mercury NewsImage Credit: Copyright 2016 Sebastian Blanco / AOL Auto News Green Acura Honda Volkswagen Green Automakers Electric Hybrid recharge wrapup

Recharge Wrap-up: Chevy bi-fuel Silverado 3500HD Chassis Cab, VW Car-Net works with Apple Watch

Volkswagen's Car-Net app will be compatible with the Apple Watch. Using the app, owners will be able to lock and unlock their car, check charging status or fuel level, locate their car, flash the lights, and honk the horn of their vehicle remotely from their wrist. E-Golf owners can begin or end charging or operate climate control through their Apple Watch. The app can also monitor other household drivers with speed and boundary alerts - perfect for the parent who lends their car to a teenager. Read more in the press release from Volkswagen. Chevrolet is launching the bi-fuel 2016 Silverado 3500HD Chassis Cab. The work truck will now offer a version that will run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG). "CNG burns cleaner and costs less at the pump than gasoline, making it an appealing option for fleets," says GM's Ed Peper. Companies like Southern California Gas Co. find that trucks like this meet their work needs and help them achieve their goals of greening up their fleets, GM says. Read more in the press release from GM. UPS has made a deal to buy renewable natural gas from Clean Energy Fuels. This make UPS the biggest user of natural gas in the shipping industry. Clean Energy Fuels, co-founded by T. Boone Pickens, will provide UPS with its Redeem brand natural gas, which uses methane captured from landfills. UPS hopes to log 1 billion miles with its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet by 2020. "Our rolling laboratory approach provides a unique opportunity for UPS to test different fuels and technologies," says Mitch Nichols of UPS. "Today's RNG agreement will help mature the market for this promising alternative fuel." Read more in the press release below. UPS BECOMES NATION'S LARGEST USER OF RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS IN SHIPPING INDUSTRY New Agreement with Clean Energy Will Help Grow Market for Use of Methane Gas from Landfills as Fuel Atlanta, May 5, 2015 – UPS® (NYSE:UPS) today announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase renewable natural gas (RNG) for its delivery vehicle fleet from Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE). The deal signifies UPS's plan to significantly expand its use of renewable natural gas for its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. The company has a goal of driving one billion miles using its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet by the end of 2017. Clean Energy Fuels, co-founded by T.