At a time when the world is racing against the clock to combat climate change, companies like Xtreme Diesel Performance are making that battle all the harder. The EPA’s lawsuit against the New Jersey-based company exposes a practice that has devastating consequences: the sale of illegal parts that disable emissions controls on diesel vehicles.
Xtreme Diesel Performance (XDP), based in Wall Township, New Jersey, is well-known in the automotive world for producing performance-enhancing products for diesel engines. While these parts are marketed as improving power, fuel economy, and overall engine performance, their use comes at a steep environmental cost. According to the complaint filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), XDP has been producing and selling parts that defeat emission control systems, enabling vehicles to bypass regulations designed to curb the release of harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and carbon monoxide (CO).
The Mechanics of Pollution Control Defeat
Diesel vehicles are equipped with sophisticated emissions control systems that limit the release of harmful gases. Among these are exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems, diesel particulate filters (DPFs), and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems. Each of these systems plays a crucial role in ensuring that vehicles meet federal emissions standards. By tampering with or removing these systems—often referred to as “deletes”—vehicles can emit significantly higher levels of pollutants.
The products sold by XDP include a range of hardware and software solutions designed to circumvent these emissions controls. These include “EGR delete” kits, which disable the system that recirculates a portion of exhaust gas back into the engine to reduce NOx emissions, and “aftertreatment delete” products that allow for the removal of essential pollution-control components like DPFs and SCRs.
By allowing drivers to essentially shut off these emission-lowering systems, XDP’s products significantly increase the level of harmful pollutants being released into the atmosphere. According to the EPA, these modifications result in the release of higher levels of NOx and PM, which can exacerbate air quality issues, particularly in densely populated or environmentally sensitive areas.
The Public Health and Environmental Fallout
The environmental and public health ramifications of XDP’s actions are staggering. Nitrogen oxides are a primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog, and are linked to a variety of health problems. Ozone exposure can cause severe respiratory issues, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with preexisting respiratory conditions like asthma.
Particulate matter, another pollutant released when these emission control systems are bypassed, is composed of tiny particles that can lodge deep in the lungs or even enter the bloodstream. Long-term exposure to PM has been connected to cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and premature death. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes millions of premature deaths annually, and particulate matter is one of the leading culprits.
Communities surrounding highways, industrial areas, and locations with a high concentration of diesel-powered vehicles are especially vulnerable. The increased emissions stemming from tampered vehicles contribute to worsening air quality in these regions, aggravating public health issues and increasing healthcare costs for treatment related to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Beyond health concerns, the environmental impacts, including acid rain formation, are also notable, as NOx can combine with other substances in the atmosphere to create acidic precipitation, which harms ecosystems, damages infrastructure, and affects agricultural productivity.
Economic Consequences for the Local Community
Beyond the environmental and public health consequences, the economic fallout from such pollution is suffocating. In areas with elevated pollution levels, healthcare systems become strained, often forcing communities to allocate more resources toward treating pollution-related diseases. The long-term financial burden on families, communities, and even businesses cannot be understated. Communities located near truck stops, distribution centers, and major highways—places where diesel vehicles frequently operate—are disproportionately affected by this toxic cocktail of pollutants, often seeing a decline in property values due to poor air quality and a higher prevalence of illnesses.
Moreover, industries that rely on clean air and water, such as agriculture and tourism, are adversely impacted. Pollutants like NOx and PM have detrimental effects on soil health, crop yields, and water quality, all of which are vital for the agricultural sector. Tourism industries in states where natural beauty is a key attraction may also suffer as smog and other visible signs of pollution tarnish the landscape.
The Legal Case and Its Implications
The EPA’s complaint highlights how XDP’s actions blatantly violate the Clean Air Act’s provisions. The Clean Air Act was enacted to protect public health and the environment by regulating air pollution from mobile and stationary sources. Under Section 203 of the Act, it is illegal to manufacture or sell any device that bypasses or disables emission control systems. XDP’s sale of these “defeat devices” undermines the very purpose of the Act and jeopardizes years of progress in reducing vehicle emissions.
While XDP is far from the only company involved in the production of these devices, the scale of their violations is notable. The EPA estimates that XDP has sold a significant number of these illegal devices, each representing a separate violation of the Clean Air Act.
As a result of Xtreme Diesel’s pollution, the company was fined $1,125,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Xtreme Diesel Performance’s website is: https://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/