Category Archives: transportation

Highway Trust Fund – Higher Taxes or Big Spending Cuts?

The latest report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office paints a grim picture of the status of the Highway Trust Fund that is supposed to keep the nation’s transportation infrastructure up to date and in good repair. Put simply, the … Continue reading

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FAA Approves Boeing 787 Battery System Design Changes

The Federal Aviation Administration today approved Boeing’s design changes for modifications to the 787 Dreamliner battery system. The agency claimed that this would address risks at the battery cell level, the battery level and the aircraft level. Previously the FAA had approved the current battery system design, which conspicuously failed on at least two low-time Dreamliner aircraft. Continue reading

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Zhongding Power to Fund $200 Million EcoMotors Engine Plant

Zhongding Power and EcoMotors today announced an agreement to produce engines in Anhui Province China. The plant represents an investment by Zhongding of more than $200 million and will have a capacity of about 150,000 “Opoc” engines per year when production begins in 2014. Continue reading

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Mega Commuters in U.S. Travel 90 Minutes or More to Work

More than 8% of U.S. workers have commutes of 60 minutes or longer and almost 600,000 full-time workers are mega commuters with journeys of at least 90 minutes and 50 miles. The average one-way daily commute for workers across the U.S. is 25.5 minutes, and one in four commuters leaves their county to work. The data come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey, which provides local statistics on a variety of topics for even the smallest communities. Continue reading

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New Regulations for Safety, Emissions Hurt Micro-Cars

While there is a clear emerging global trend of rising demand for small and inexpensive cars, regulations are increasing their costs. Since 2010, supply by automakers has been growing as they offer products in the range of €10,000 (~$13,000). Some vehicles in this price range are micro-cars, such as the Piaggio, NT3, Renault Twizy ZE, Tata Nano, and Opel Rak-e, all unheard of in the United States. However, there are two A-segment vehicles playing in this space, the Skoda Citigo and Daimler Smart ForTwo, which is on sale in the U.S. Continue reading

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