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Volvo Group probes emissions control component

Investigation comes as North American arm firms up electric future

 

Volvo’s global headquarters is investigating issues with an emissions control component on its diesel engines, saying that, against expectations, a part becomes less effective with age.

The disclosure follows not long after Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) president Paul Voorheve, fresh to the role after leading the firm’s Australian operation, hailed the importance of all-electric truck demonstrations in California next year, with a view to commercialisation in the region in 2020.

Recent scandals involving diesel car engines, known as ‘Dieselgate’, have been credited with advancing the cause of electric vehicle propulsion generally and with lumping carmakers with immense costs in fines and fixes.

For Volvo Group, the probe is in its early days and the company indicates preparedness for a significant financial hit, mostly in the northern hemisphere.

“The Volvo Group has detected that an emissions control component used in certain markets is degrading more quickly than expected, which could cause the engines to exceed emissions limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx),” it says in an announcement.

“All products equipped with the component meet emissions limits at delivery; the degradation is due to a materials issue that occurs over time.

“A full analysis of the issue is not completed and it is not possible to assess the financial impact at this stage; however, the cost could be material.

“The Volvo Group has detected that an emissions control component used in certain markets with stringent emissions standards is degrading more quickly than expected, reducing its ability to convert nitrogen oxides as efficiently as intended, which in turn could cause the engines or vehicles to exceed emissions limits for NOx.

“The investigation so far indicates that the degradation does not seem to affect all vehicles and engines in the same way and to the same extent.

“The company is now in the process of informing the appropriate authorities in various markets, and beginning discussions regarding remediation plans.

“The degradation of the component does not pose a product safety issue, nor does it negatively affect vehicle or engine performance in areas other than emissions control.

“The degradation is a result of a materials issue that occurs over time. All engines and vehicles equipped with the component meet emissions limits at delivery. The largest volume of potentially affected engines has been sold in North America and Europe.

“A full analysis of the issue and plans with regulatory authorities are not completed and the company is therefore not yet able to estimate the volume of engines or vehicles that may need to be addressed.

“Consequently it is not possible to assess the financial impact at this stage; however the cost to redeem the issue could be material.”

Comment has been sought from Volvo Group Australia.


Read about Volvo’s recent electric mobility developments here


Meanwhile, VTNA’s electric push will be facilitated by a link with California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and with “industry leaders in transportation and electrical charging infrastructure”.

“This is an excellent opportunity to show the end-to-end potential of electrification,” Voorhoeve says.

“From solar energy harvesting at our customer locations, to electric vehicle uptime services, to potential second uses for batteries, this project will provide invaluable experience and data for the whole value chain.”

Volvo notes the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has preliminarily awarded US$44.8 million (A$63.1 million) to SCAQMD for the Volvo LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project.

The Volvo LIGHTS project will involve 16 partners, and transform freight operations at the facilities of two leading US trucking fleets.

A variety of smart technologies will be used – including remote diagnostics, geofencing, and the company’s web-based service management platform – to monitor all truck performance aspects of the project, and maximise vehicle uptime.

Volvo LIGHTS is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

“This is yet another important step towards our vision zero emissions,” Volvo Trucks president Claes Nilsson says.

“We are convinced that electrified truck transport will be a key driver of sustainable transports, and we’re proud to contribute the Volvo Group’s expertise to this innovative public-private partnership.”

 

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