Unrealistic emissions targets risk encouraging car manufacturers to lie

SIR – As a former sales executive in the oil and gas industries, I recall that the golden rule when setting targets for the sales force was that they should be difficult, but not impossible, to achieve.

If they were unachievable then the sales people would be demoralised and would either give up or resort to subterfuge. It seems that government bureaucrats set nitrogen dioxide emissions targets that were unrealistic, leading Volkswagen to set up a “defeat device” system that would reduce emissions to the specified level for the duration of the testing procedure.

The key question is this: did Volkswagen executives tell the officials that the emissions target was unachievable? Or did they meekly accept the target and then find a way to circumvent it?

James Allan

Hartlepool, Durham Vorsprung durch Technik”, Comment, September 25) is right. Those who cannot innovate, regulate.

In the Eighties, the motor industry was pleading for time to complete development of an entirely new range of engine designs that would eradicate most, if not all, dangerous emissions. General Motors in particular had made significant advances.

The regulators did not wait, however, and decreed that all engines should be fitted with catalytic converters. Consequently further research investment was lost, and we are still using engine designs that are essentially no different to those of the Twenties.

John Micklethwaite

Huby, North Yorkshire SIR – It would be unfortunate if the fall-out from the VW scandal led to the demise of diesel cars.

Diesel is far less explosive than petrol and wholesale replacement by the latter would without doubt lead to more deaths by fire in car accidents. That’s before considering commercial transport – replacing diesel lorries and trains with petrol is almost unthinkable.

Ian Wilson

Chippenham, Wiltshire SIR – In the new climate of added scrutiny surrounding diesel emissions, is it too much to expect lorry and coach drivers to turn off their engines when not being used?

The widespread practice of leaving them running for long periods is heedless and needless.

Robert Leven

Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire SIR – Does Volkswagen really believe that the resignation of one senior executive will be sufficient for a “fresh start” (report, September 24)?

Faced with probably the world’s largest ever class action, the £4.7 billion set aside to pay for the fall-out will not even cover their legal fees.

Peter Hine

Banbury, Oxfordshire