Commentary

Volkswagen threatens recall of 124,000 electric cars

Published by
Source: Volkswagen

A charger containing traces of cadmium is causing headaches for Volkswagen, which says that because of the presence of the carcinogenic metal, the German automaker may be forced to recall 124,000 electric and hybrid vehicles.

The toxic heavy metal was once used to plate trims on many vintage vehicles, but it is now banned for use in most car parts due to its cancer-causing effects.

A supplier, who has not been named by the company, had not indicated that the toxic heavy metal had been used in the chargers it supplied to the automaker for installation in battery-electric and hybrid vehicles made under the Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche brand names between 2013 and June 2018.

Traces of the toxic heavy metal were detected in small amounts by the company on July 20, with each charger containing 0.008 grams of cadmium per charger.

Reports say that the automaker took immediate action, stopping production and delivery of vehicles concerned and informing Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).

The cadmium is present in a relay that resides inside a solid housing within the charger, and the company says that drivers are not at risk of exposure.

The presence of the heavy metal does however pose a risk to technicians who may come in contact with the component, and may not conform with European end-of-life regulations.

The 124,000 affected vehicles are not yet being recalled, as Volkswagen awaits a verdict from the KBA to clarify if the chargers breach health and safety standards, however production has resumed with cadmium-free chargers now being sourced from another supplier.

It is not the first controversy withstood by the nearly 80-year-strong car manufacturer. In September 2015, the company announced the need to refit 11 million vehicles worldwide after being issued an emissions violation notice by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Although the automaker has promised to launch a new electric vehicle ‘virtually every month‘, there are no electric VWs currently available in Australia and so Aussie consumers are not affected by the recall.

Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, and has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability.

Bridie Schmidt

Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, and has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Australia’s biggest coal state breaks new ground in wind and solar output

New South Wales has reached two remarkable renewable energy milestones that signal the growing contribution…

6 January 2025

New Year begins with more solar records, as PV takes bigger bite out of coal’s holiday lunch

As 2025 begins, Victoria is already making its mark on the energy landscape with a…

3 January 2025

What comes after microgrids? Energy parks based around wind, solar and storage

Co-locating renewable generation, load and storage offers substantial benefits, particularly for manufacturing facilities and data…

31 December 2024

This talk of nuclear is a waste of time: Wind, solar and firming can clearly do the job

Australia’s economic future would be at risk if we stop wind and solar to build…

30 December 2024

Build it and they will come: Transmission is key, but LNP make it harder and costlier

Transmission remains the fundamental building block to decarbonising the grid. But the LNP is making…

23 December 2024

Snowy Hunter gas project hit by more delays and blowouts, with total cost now more than $2 billion

Snowy blames bad weather for yet more delays to controversial Hunter gas project, now expected…

23 December 2024