According to records filed in the case, Achtemeier conspired with mechanics in garages and operators of truck fleets to disable the anti-pollution software installed on diesel trucks.

Coconspirators who wanted to disable their trucks’ pollution control hardware system—a process commonly known as “deleting”—sought Achtemeier’s help to trick the truck’s software into believing the emissions control systems were still functional, a process known as “tuning.”

Monitoring software on a deleted truck will detect that the pollution control hardware is not functioning and will prevent the truck from running. Achtemeier disabled the monitoring software on his client’s trucks by connecting to laptops he had provided to various coconspirators. Some of the coconspirators would pass the laptop on to others seeking to have the anti-pollution software disabled on their trucks. Once the laptop was hooked up to the truck’s onboard computer, Achtemeier could access it from his computer and tune the software designed to slow the truck if the pollution control device was missing or malfunctioning. Achtemeier could “tune” trucks remotely, which enabled him to maximize his environmental impact and personal profit.

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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    13 days ago

    Why? Just Why?

    I mean sure, there is some money aspect to it, fine.

    But why spend all that time and energy just to be able to pollute more. I mean, that is the benefit of more pollution? Even if you don’t believe climate change, polluii less shouldn’t be that hard to understand as something positive?

    I’m just… Not getting this. I’m assuming the guy has a mental illness that would explain this, maybe?

    • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod@lemmy.world
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      12 days ago

      If the “delete” was removing their catalytic convertor and not just reprogramming the ECU then there is a mild to moderate performance increase caused by reducing exhaust pressure. If it’s easier to push the exhaust out then there’s more power going to the wheels.

      If it’s just ECU changes it’s probably related to the air/fuel mixture it’s using. Often douchebags will hack this to “roll coal” but changing this can give you increased horsepower at the expense of emissions.

      As someone whose car has a tune but still passes emissions inspections, this guy is both bad at tuning cars and also an asshole.

    • CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net
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      12 days ago

      Believe it or not there is a subset of the far right who vehemently believe we are ruining the atmosphere but not pumping ENOUGH carbon into it.

      It’s a weird reverso climate change belief. These people blame all the historic hurricanes, wildfires and changing temperature on the completely unfounded idea that humans are limiting their CO2 output.

      EDIT: https://www.mediamatters.org/neil-cavuto/fox-contributor-calls-more-coal-plants-solution-extreme-heat

      • andrewta@lemmy.world
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        13 days ago

        I’ve heard of deleting. But I wasn’t sure why anyone would do this. Scary if what you are saying is true.

        • CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net
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          12 days ago

          During the July 20 edition of Your World with Neil Cavuto, Fox contributor Brian Brenberg called for more coal plants as a solution to extreme heat, claiming, “I think most of America wishes the coal plant was still there because… more people could be in a cool environment and be safer.” [Fox News, Your World with Neil Cavuto, 7/20/22]

          Climate denier Patrick Moore, a right-wing media darling who works as a nuclear energy consultant, has refuted the idea that carbon dioxide levels are “getting too high” due to human activity. In 2022, Moore wrote on X, “It has been known since at least 1920 that adding CO2 to greenhouses and even to open air causes a huge increase in plant growth, with no harm caused to plants or animals.

          https://www.mediamatters.org/joe-rogan-experience/joe-rogan-continues-cast-doubt-climate-science-joe-rogan-experience

          • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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            3 days ago

            We need to put laws in place to limit free speech for either companies or people with large followings. If you have a large following you should not be allowed to say what you want because it ALWAYS ends bad.

            You can say what science knows to be true and if you make bullshit claims that can be disproven you van either admit that you don’t know what you’re talking about and people stlhould stop listening to you, or you go to jail