Volkswagen Petrol Cars To Receive Particulate Filters From 2017

The Volkswagen Group has been using particulate filters in its diesel cars since 2008. Now, during its 56th annual general meeting (AGM), the German carmaker has decided to install particulate filters in its petrol engines as well. To begin with, the Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi A5 will be fitted with these filters. The company says that the filters will later be installed in over seven million new cars. The number is also expected to be further increased, depending on the results of the new fitments.

Speaking about the new development, Mithias Muller, CEO of Volkswagen AG, said, “We will successively equip the Group's new TSI and TFSI engines with gasoline particulate filters. This initiative will begin with the 1.4-litre TSI engine in the new VW Tiguan and the Audi A5 in June 2017.”

Particulates are microscopic particles that cause pollution upon coming into contact with air. Inhaling these particles adversely affects one's health and can cause heart attacks and premature death.

Particulate filters are located in the exhaust system, just after the gases exit the engine. Till now, only diesel engines used these filters because of their high level of emission of particulates. In petrol engines, the percentage of particulate emissions is considerably less, but research indicates that even this minute amount of particulates can contribute to polluting the air to a considerable extent.

Apart from this, the CEO also shared the company's plans to launch electric and autonomous vehicles in the coming years. Volkswagen’s economic loss and the strain on the company's goodwill thanks to last year's diesel gate emission scandal might have made the company take these steps. Whatever be the reason, this is a laudable attempt on part of the company to make its cars greener.