Category Archives: auto news

US Should Cautiously Track Solar GeoEngineering Research to Mitigate Climate Change – National Academies of Sciences

“Scientific understanding of many aspects of Solar GeoEngineering technologies remains limited, including how they could affect weather extremes, agriculture, natural ecosystems, or human health,” the report said.   Continue reading

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Meg Whitman and Mark Tatum Join GM’s Board of Directors

With the election of Whitman, 64, and Tatum, 51, GM has 13 directors. Seven GM directors are now women. Continue reading

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Census Survey – Stimulus Payments Eased Financial Suffering

Data from the US Census Bureau clearly support the need and positive effects of stimulus payments, unlike the failed Republican tax cuts for the rich that did not result in increased investments in the US economy because the off-shore holdings were largely fictional tax dodges not real investments in overseas businesses. Continue reading

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Isuzu, Hino, Toyota to Quicken Carbon Neutrality with Commercial Vehicle JV

Through this collaboration, they will try to hasten societal implementation and distribution of CASE technologies and services, and to help address various difficulties facing the transportation industry as well as help achieve a carbon-neutral society. Continue reading

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Nissan Recalls 80,376 Sentra Cars for Failed Brake Lights

The stop lamp switch may become contaminated with off-gassing from silicon- based grease used in surrounding components (HVAC and brake booster clevis pin) in close proximity. Oxidation may occur at the switch contact surface due to electric arcing, resulting in silicon dioxide build-up. This build-up may lead open circuits and an inoperative stop lamp switch. Continue reading

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Hyundai, Shell to Expand Cooperation on Clean Energy

Hyundai Motor Company in Goyang, Korea has signed a five-year global business cooperation agreement with Royal Dutch Shell to increase clean energy projects. The deal, which runs through 2026, marks the fourth extension of the partnership that began in 2006, … Continue reading

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All-Electric BMW i4 Shown

At this week’s BMW Group Annual Conference the upcoming BMW i4 was teased. The fully electric 4 door Gran Coupé will go on sale later in 2021, including a BMW M Performance model. The i4 model line will be available … Continue reading

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Billion Dollar Oops – Ford F-150s, Edges Without Electronics

The global semiconductor supply collapse has its teeth into Ford Motor, which is now building F-150 trucks and Edge SUVs in North America without some parts. These include electronic modules that contain scarce semiconductors. Ford will build and hold them … Continue reading

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California Law – 100% Clean Electricity by 2045. Here’s the Plan

The 178-page report claims that the goals of SB 100 can be achieved in different ways but reaching them will require significant investments in new and existing technologies and an increased, sustained build-out of clean energy projects to bring new resources on-line. The report modeled various scenarios to examine sample paths to carbon-free energy. It will be followed with additional analyses of energy reliability and evolving conditions. California’s electricity mix is already more than 60% carbon free. About 36% of that comes from renewable sources, predominantly wind and solar. Continue reading

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First Look – Canoo EV Pickup Truck

The larger story, perhaps, is the company, not the vehicle. Canoo is a Los Angeles-based company that has, arguably, pioneering technologies. Its business model drops traditional ownership and is a glimpse at the future of automobility that other companies are also pursuing. Canoo will not have a physical sales network. The company will offer its product directly to customers via subscription, not ownership. Continue reading

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FAA Wants $14,500 Fine Against Drunken Passenger for Causing an Emergency Landing at JFK Airport

Typically, the FAA addresses unruly-passenger incidents using a variety of methods ranging from warnings and counseling to civil penalties. Effective immediately, however, the FAA will not use warnings or counseling. The agency will pursue legal enforcement action against any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates, or interferes with airline crew members. This policy will be in effect through March 30, 2021. Why should it stop then was unexplained? Continue reading

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GM Needs Range, Battery Cost Cuts to Speed EV Plans

The forecast battery energy density increase could enable greater range in a similarly sized pack or comparable range in a smaller pack. The weight and space savings from smaller battery packs could help with vehicle mass or create more room for additional technology. Continue reading

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2020 Dealer Service Visits Drop 6%. EV Owners Dissatisfied

On average, there’s nearly twice as much maintenance work being done during dealer service visits than repair work. However, the maintenance-to-repair ratio for BEV owners is nearly an even split. While more complex service repair work usually results in lower customer satisfaction than does maintenance work, the opposite is true for BEV owners Continue reading

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Volkswagen Will Hasten Its Transition to a Mobility Company

Its latest strategy says that ‘by turning the vehicle into a software-based product, Volkswagen is setting the scene for new, data-based business models aimed at lowering entry barriers to individual mobility while offering very attractive service packages for the customers. Volkswagen thus aims to generate additional revenue over the service life of the vehicle through charging and energy services, through software-based functions that customers can reserve as needed, or through automated driving.” Continue reading

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Cash Crunch? BMW and Daimler to Sell PARK NOW Joint Venture to EasyPark Group

EasyPark claims to be an international player and is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. EasyPark wants to buy PARK NOW to expand its business activities according to its global growth plan. EasyPark is a growing, European mobility company that helps drivers remotely find, manage, and pay for both parking and electric vehicle charging. EasyPark  says it supports its users, the companies they work for, cities and parking operators with parking administration, planning and management working in ~2,200 cities in 20 countries throughout Europe and Australia. Continue reading

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