Dyson, the UK-based high-end vacuum cleaner company based in the UK, has started legal proceedings against German competitors Siemens and Bosch. Dyson is alleging that Siemens and Bosch have been installing sensors in their vacuums that have them operate at a higher power setting during normal use, while switching into ‘low-gear’ during lab tests. Dyson has compared this to VW’s recently publicized deception of environmental testing tests through the use of specialized computer controls.
In the European Union, most appliances are subjected to a graded energy efficiency test, with energy efficiency classes that range from G up to A+++. This grade is placed on retail packaging, so that European consumers can factor the efficiency of competing products into their purchasing decisions.
The efficiency testing for vacuum cleaners takes place in a dust-free environment, and it is this aspect of the testing circumstances that Siemens and Bosch have allegedly taken advantage of. Dyson claims that the two companies have gamed this test by installing a dust sensor in their vacuums, which masks an issue inherent to all bagged vacuum cleaners: as their bag fills and the fabric’s pores are plugged with dust, bagged vacuums lose power. In order to maintain the same vacuuming power, the vacuums has to use more power to compensate.
According to Dyson’s tests, the vacuums’ dust sensors are designed specifically to hide this increased power usage. Testing normally takes place in a dust-free lab. And it just so happens that when the vacuum is operated in a dust-free environment with an empty bag (the typical testing scenario), the vacuum operates in a low-power mode, which improves its energy efficiency score. But when used in real-world scenarios, the sensor detects the presence of dust, and runs the vacuum’s motor at full power, consuming more electricity in the process. When in low-power mode, the vacuums operate at 750 watts. As dust accumulates, the energy consumption increases to as much as 1600 watts.
Dyson claims that the deception as a serious impact on the affected vacuums’ ratings, most of which currently feature an A+++ rating, the best grade possible. Testing has allegedly shown that in real-world environments, Bosch and Siemens vacuums would receive a rating of E or F, placing them near the very bottom of the 10 tier scale.
Dyson has initiated legal proceedings against Siemens in Germany and Belgium, and against Bosch in the Netherlands and France. Additionally, Dyson has issued a statement claiming that the EU’s current testing strategy is seriously flawed, and has initiated a judicial review process, demanding that efficiency tests should take place in a typical home environment as well as in labs. The company also suggested that scores should factor in the hidden costs of some vacuums, such as vacuum bags and filters, given the resources their manufacture consumes and the damage they cause to the environment when discarded. Given that one of the well-advertised features of Dyson’s vacuums is that they don’t use bags, such a change in the efficiency evaluation process would obviously work in Dyson’s favor.
Unsurprisingly, both Bosch and Siemens deny Dyson’s claims, and have stated that they don’t do anything to manipulate their efficiency ratings. They’ve also hinted at taking legal action if Dyson continues to press the issue.
James Dyson, the founder of Dyson, claims that these VW-esque manipulations of lab tests are not confined to the auto and vacuum industries, but instead run rampant through the various appliance industries. In an article for the Daily Telegraph, he stated that regulators do a poor job of actually regulating energy consumption, because of “fridges tested with no food, vacuum cleaners tested with no dust, and washing machines tested at inaccurate temperatures. The regulators clearly live in a place that looks nothing like the real world and manufacturers are taking advantage.”
Only time and court proceedings will show whether Dyson’s claims have merit. However, there is one additional piece of trivia that definitely invites some contemplation: remember the engine control systems that were used by Volkswagen to cheat emissions tests? They were manufactured by Bosch. Hmmm.
