Volkswagen’s dishonesty regarding its emissions may have a more positive effect on the environment than you might expect. This week, the German carmaker agreed to commit more than $200 million to a fund with the primary purpose to cut diesel pollution. This is part of Volkswagen’s settlement regarding its 80,000 3.0-liter diesel vehicles that exceeded U.S. emissions limits. An official announcement of the hefty investment is expected to come on Monday, and comes in addition to the $2.7 billion the company agreed to pay as reparations for the emissions of another half-million 2.0-liter diesel vehicles.
Though the VW emissions scandal is now more than a year old, its repercussions have continued and a complete settlement has yet to be reached. As Reuters reports, negotiations involving the car maker, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and lawyers for VW owners have been ongoing for weeks. That said, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who oversaw the latest hearing regarding the car company, noted that the parties had made “substantial progress,” and that he was “optimistic that there will be a resolution.”
Recommended Videos
Should the $200 million deal come to fruition tomorrow, Volkswagen will have agreed to spend up to $16.7 billion in the name of resolving cheating accusations. But even this is just the tip of the iceberg. Reuters notes that the German manufacturer still has to deal with billions more in fines as part of a different settlement involving the Justice Department regarding an ongoing criminal investigation, as well as a civil suit that alleges VW violated the Clean Air Act.
Since late 2015, Volkswagen has been banned from selling any U.S. diesel vehicles, and it has yet to be determined whether sales will resume. But given the enormous amounts of money the company is pouring into righting its wrongs, the planet may well benefit.
These new NASA EVs will drive astronauts part way to the moon (sort of)
Three specially designed, fully electric, environmentally friendly crew transportation vehicles for Artemis missions arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. The zero-emission vehicles, which will carry astronauts to Launch Complex 39B for Artemis missions, were delivered by Canoo Technologies of Torrance, California. NASA/Isaac Watson
NASA has shown off a trio of new all-electric vehicles that will shuttle the next generation of lunar astronauts to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center.
5 upcoming EVs I’m excited for, from luxury SUVs to budget champions
Almost every major automaker has released an EV by now -- or plans to soon -- and makers like Ford and Kia already have a variety to choose from. But if you haven't found one that's right for you yet, hang tight. There are dozens of announced electric car models that have yet to come out, and it's clear that the future of EVs is bright.
From longer range to lower prices, the next batch of EVs gives us plenty to get excited about. Here are five upcoming EVs that we can't wait to drive.
Volvo EX30
