By AMZAD ALI, age 12
PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons
In September, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that Volkswagen (VW) had software in their vehicles that hid the fact that the cars were heavy polluters. For six years, VW used software that detected when their vehicles were being tested to see how much pollution they created. The software reported that the cars were producing levels of pollution that were below the legal limit so that they could pass the tests without reducing harmful emissions. After the test was over, the vehicle would go back to creating emissions above the legal limit. VW has recalled millions of vehicles as a result of the scandal. Additionally, the scandal has prompted investigations into other brands also suspected of cheating.