Topic: Diesel Emissions

A global shortage of urea has led to a crisis in the supply of AdBlue, a diesel exhaust fluid required for modern Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems to meet emission standards. China, the world's largest urea producer, halted exports to prioritize domestic fertilizer production, threatening to halt the Australian trucking and mining industries. The hosts address rumors that AdBlue contains pig urine, clarifying that while it uses urea, the claim of using raw animal waste is factually incorrect.

The Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal involves the use of "defeat devices" to cheat laboratory tests. Fixing the 11 million affected vehicles would require expensive hardware retrofits, such as three-stage catalytic converters or urea-based "AdBlue" systems, costing billions of dollars.

The discovery of Volkswagen's emissions-cheating software has caused a major crisis for the German automotive industry. Reports suggest that the demand for diesel cars in Europe was already slowing due to concerns over sulfur emissions and nitrogen oxide (NOx). The mayor of Paris has announced plans to ban diesel engines by 2020, signaling a broader strategic shift in European transportation policy.

In the 1990s, European policymakers promoted diesel fuel as a solution to global warming because it produces fewer CO2 emissions than gasoline. This policy was supported by the European car industry but ignored warnings about nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. Experts now describe the focus on CO2 over air quality as one of the EU's most significant policy mistakes.

Volkswagen is embroiled in a massive scandal after researchers discovered software designed to cheat emissions tests in TDI diesel engines. The "defeat device" triggered cleaner performance only when the car's rear wheels were stationary, such as during laboratory testing. This revelation is described as a significant embarrassment for Germany, potentially damaging its reputation for engineering integrity and honesty.

A comparison of diesel fuel prices and availability between the U.S. and Europe reveals significant differences in efficiency and regulation. The hosts discuss high-MPG Volkswagen models available in Europe that are banned in the U.S. due to stringent EPA emissions testing.

The conversation turns to the practical impacts of EU governance, such as a mandatory 3% tax increase on diesel to combat CO2 emissions starting July 1st. The hosts speculate that the lack of local control could eventually lead to a civil war if member states like Spain or Portugal resist the central authority. They note that non-member countries like Norway and Switzerland have avoided these complications by maintaining sovereignty.

Massive protests have erupted across Europe, specifically in the United Kingdom and France, driven by the rising cost of diesel fuel. While raw material costs are increasing, European governments have implemented additional CO2 emission taxes on diesel based on global warming concerns. In the UK, truckers blocked the West End of London, pressuring Prime Minister Gordon Brown to reconsider a planned fuel tax increase.