State, Local Governments Increase Green Spending

Posted on 8 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Green Spending State and Local Governments

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The U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances says public spending protecting natural resources jumped from $27.7 billion in 2014 to $32.3B in 2018. These data show increased government funding of conservation and management of resources, such as fish, game, forestry, soil, water, and electric energy.

Some specific preservation programs include protection of soil and water resources, including controlling beach erosion, managing dams to prevent floods, educating the public about conservation and generating hydroelectric energy. While expenditures rose, a five-year comparison (from 2016 to 2020) showed a 5.7% decline in part-time employment and a 0.3% decrease in full-time employment. Continue reading →

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Toyota NA Expands Parkopedia Use for Payment Services

Posted on 8 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota Motor NA Expands Parkopedia Use for Payment Services

An advancement, but only as good as its database, which appears small.

Building on a smaller app announced back in 2017, Toyota said today that the new ‘Park with Parkopedia’ service covers locating, reserving and paying for off-street parking in 2018 model year or newer Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The original service only located parking. The ‘Park with Parkopedia’ service is integrated into the Toyota and Lexus smartphone apps* and vehicle infotainment systems.

The new service covers only 60,000 off-street parking locations with more than 6,000 reservable locations across the USA, using Parkopedia’s payment system to manage transactions. The platform enables drivers to register their payment details using a single secure digital account and then pay for their parking within activated locations. The parking reservation information and navigation can then be accessed via the vehicle head unit. Continue reading →

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General Motors Expands Access to OnStar Guardian App

Posted on 7 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino AutoInformed.com on OnStar Guardian service plan extension to other people

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OnStar Guardian customers can now also share safety and security items with others by adding up to seven additional people to the My Family2 section within the Guardian app GM said today.

OnStar Guardian offers Mobile Crash Response3, which uses smartphone sensors to detect crashes and alert an Emergency-Certified OnStar Advisor4. OnStar Guardian also will launch new features this month in Location Status5, including the ability to save and share favorite locations on the app’s embedded map and receive notifications for destination departures and arrivals of family and friends. Continue reading →

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Toyota Via KINTO to Sell Cars That ‘Evolve in Tune With People’

Posted on 7 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino AutoInformed.com on Toyota Via KINTO to sell performance GR Yaris Morizo Selection

A new variation on an old theme. Click to Enlarge.

Toyota Motor and KINTO today announced that, amid “rapidly advancing technological innovation surrounding cars and based on a mutual desire to swiftly deliver the evolution of cars to customers, they have taken on the challenge of providing ‘cars that evolve in tune with people’…”

In a vast advancement – in press release theory so far, that is – from evolving auto industry efforts to personalize vehicles, they started this endeavor by offering today, through KINTO*1, the new GR Yaris Morizo Selection*0, a car that can be updated with the latest software tailored to each customer. (Toyota to Launch New Model Yaris in Japan in February) Continue reading →

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May US Light Vehicle Sales – Start of an Affordability Slump?

Posted on 4 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino AutoInformed.com on May US Light Vehicle Sales – Start of an Affordability Slump?

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U.S. new light-vehicle sales were okay in May 2021, but fell  from April’s highs. May’s Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate, aka SAAR, was 17 million units. However, April’s SAAR was revised upward to 18.8 million units. May 2021’s SAAR was up 40.3% from May 2020’s, when light-vehicle sales had just begun to recover from April 2020’s pandemic lows under the previous “drink bleach” administration.

A 17 million-unit SAAR in conventional auto-exec-think would be celebrated as strong: “Even as the historic sales pace slowed slightly, this was the strongest May since 2015, and several brands celebrated their best-ever monthly volume. The annualized rate fell from 18.8 million units in April to 17.2 million units last month, in line with the SAAR registered in both 2018 at17.2 million units and 2019 at 17.4 million units,” said consultancy LMC. (April Sales Shower US Market More than 18 Million Times, US New Vehicle Sales in May Forecast as Record Setting. Global Sales are Another Matter Entirely)

But there is more going on here, AutoInformed opines, given current market conditions. While automakers and the business press have been chasing the semi-conductor shortage, many claim May’s drop in sales are the effects of a supply and demand imbalance. However, the vehicle mix of highly-equipped vehicles, plentiful low-interest-rate money, and the headlong rush into electric vehicles – priced above an average working person’s ability to carry the loan – are starting to make light vehicles un-affordable to the working and middle classes. For example Ford Motor set record electrified vehicle sales – up 184 % on F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid, Mustang Mach-E, Escape and Explorer Hybrid models Continue reading →

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Dutch Court Rules Shell Must Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Posted on 3 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Dutch Court Rules Shell Must Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Shell, not surprisingly, said it will appeal the ruling and that the company has set their goal to become carbon neutral by 2050. This is demonstrably greenwashing.

A Dutch court has ruled that Shell must speed up cutting carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 when compared with 2019 levels. The ruling also applies to Shell’s suppliers and customers. This outstanding step toward a corporation’s accountability and responsibility derived from activist groups that filed a lawsuit in April 2019 on behalf of more than 17,000 Dutch citizens. The suit alleged that Shell’s continued investment in fossil fuels represents a threat to human rights.

The District Court in The Hague ruled that Shell was “obliged” to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of its activities by 45% at the end of 2030 compared with 2019. The court ruled that “Shell’s climate policy was not concrete and is full of conditions…that’s not enough”, thereby ordering the company to cut carbon emissions by a remarkable 45% by 2030. Continue reading →

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Wheels Falling Off Ram Trucks. More Than 446,000 Recalled

Posted on 2 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on wheels falling off Ram 3500 pickups

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FCA US is recalling an estimated 446,643 U.S.-market vehicles because their wheels can fall off. Dealers will correct their service and owner’s manuals, and inspect and replace their wheel studs, as needed. The recall also affects additional vehicles in Canada (est. 31,086), and certain markets outside North America (est. 104). An estimated 32,365 Ram 4000 cab-chassis trucks are affected in Mexico.

In an unusual statement FCA said: “routine customer data analysis led to an FCA US investigation that discovered certain service and owner’s manuals contain incorrect lug-nut torque instructions. Accordingly, the corresponding vehicles may have had their lug nuts over-torqued, a condition that could conceivably compromise studs and lead to wheel separation.” Continue reading →

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Rerun – Toyota Shows Electric bZ4X SUV Concept in US

Posted on 2 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Toyota Shows All-Electric bZ4X SUV in US

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The Toyota bZ4X Concept made its North American debut at Toyota Motor North America’s headquarters in vote suppressing, anti-democracy Texas today. Already shown in Shanghai, bZ4X was jointly developed with Subaru. The Toyota bZ4X SUV Concept uses the new e-TNGA BEV-dedicated platform that was jointly developed by the two companies: Toyota with advanced expertise in vehicle electrification, starting with hybrids; Subaru is expert on AWD technologies.

The Toyota bZ4X Concept, is the first of a global series of battery-electric vehicles to be introduced under the “Toyota bZ” brand umbrella. Other partners in the green juggernaut under full sail include BYD, Daihatsu and Suzuki. Toyota plans to introduce 15 BEV models by 2025, including seven new BEV models of the Toyota bZ series. The Toyota U.S. lineup in total, accounts for more than 40% of all alternative powertrain vehicles sold in the U.S. – including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electrics, hybrids and plug-in hybrids. (Japan Inc: Toyota and Hino to Pioneer Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks with Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson) Continue reading →

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Manufacturing – Not Online Shopping – Leads E-Commerce

Posted on 1 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Manufacturing, Not Online Shopping Largest in E-Commerce

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According to the Census Bureau’s 2018 E-Commerce Statistics report, manufacturing e-commerce shipments made up 67.3% or nearly $4.0 trillion of the $6.0 trillion in total value of manufacturing shipments. Consider for comparison that retail e-commerce sales were only 9.9% or $519.6 billion of the $5.3 trillion in total retail sales. E-commerce made up 23.4% of the total sales, shipments, receipts or revenue of all four sectors covered in this e-commerce report.

So much for the conventional wisdom that E-commerce is huge shopping service. In 1999, e-commerce accounted for $729.6 billion (18.1%) of the $4.0 trillion total value of manufacturing shipments. By 2018, this share had risen to 67.3%,  and growing in 2002 and 2009 when the total value of manufacturing shipments and e-commerce shipments declined.

Any way you look at it, this is another strong argument for the Biden Administration infrastructure initiative that is opposed by the insurrection party that once upon a time was considered friendly to business. Want to make America great again? Well, invest in people, education and infrastructure and stop lying about the elections and fomenting treason. Continue reading →

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Honda Supplying Electric Power Unit for Commercial Work

Posted on 1 June 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Honda Motor eGX electrified DC power unit

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Honda Motor is supplying its eGX electrified DC power unit to Original Equipment Manufacturer customers for use as a power source in small-sized work equipment. Starting in June 2021, Honda will begin supplying the eGX in Japan, then expanding into other regions such as Europe and the U.S. Honda is planning to exhibit the eGX at the upcoming World of Concrete Show 2021, which will be held from June 8 through 10 in Las Vegas.

Taking advantage of the characteristics of the electrified power unit, the eGX accommodates the needs of work equipment use in places where it is difficult to secure adequate ventilation and in use environments where users want to avoid equipment noise as much as possible, such as during nighttime and in residential areas. Moreover, the eGX improves operability and ease of maintenance, which will reduce the user’s workload. The eGX also contributes to the users’ zero-emission goals, said Honda. Continue reading →

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Memorial Day – 31 May 2021

Posted on 31 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Memorial Day

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Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971, known as Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day. Today, Memorial Day honors the more than 1 million men and women who have died in military service since the Civil War began in 1861.

President Biden said at a service yesterday: “Thank you very much.  Good morning, everyone.  It’s good to be here on this solemn occasion with so many friends — Governor Carney, Senator Carper, Attorney General Kathy Jennings.  General Berry, it’s good to see you.  And thank you for everything you do for the Delaware National Guard.  Continue reading →

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Helio Castroneves Sets Record-Tying Fourth Win at Indy 500

Posted on 30 May 2021 by Ken Zino

This win makes Helio Castroneves the first driver to win overall at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Indianapolis 500 in the same calendar year.

Honda took its 14th Indianapolis 500 win, with Meyer Shank Racing’s Helio Castroneves scoring the victory – his record-tying fourth win—at The Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Starting from the eighth position for his 21st consecutive Indianapolis 500, Castroneves led just 20 laps en route to his fourth 500 historic victory, trading the lead several times with Honda powered Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou in the closing stages of the race. Palou would go on to finish second, less than half a second behind the victor.

It is ironic that Castroneves was eased out of Team Penske’s IndyCar Team for a seat racing sports cars. The fan favorite returned to open wheel racing this year and presented Roger Penske – now owner of the Indy 500 – with a reminder that age and cunning often overcome a track full of fast but ultimately losing young racers. That’s what happens when you dance – or race – with stars. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls 2013-21 Transit Connect Vans for Rollaways

Posted on 28 May 2021 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is issuing a safety recall for 2013-21 Ford Transit Connect vans with the 2.5-liter engine and 6F35 transmission because they can roll away. In the 192,080 Transit Connect affected vehicles, the Hilex-supplied bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. The bushing can degrade in the presence of contaminants. The bushing also has the potential for thermal degradation. A review of the in-vehicle package design shows that the bushing location on affected vehicles may expose the bushing to external contaminants. Ford said is not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this dangerous defect.

A damaged or missing bushing could prevent the shifter from moving the transmission to the intended gear position.  This could allow the driver to move the gear shift lever to park, turn the vehicle off, and exit the vehicle with no instrument panel warning message or warning chime indicating the vehicle is not secured in park. This latest safety defect, as noted, covers 192,080 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories, and an additional 12,629 in Canada. Continue reading →

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Volta Trucks Fully-Electric Commercial Zero to Debut in Italy

Posted on 28 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volta Trucks Fully-Electric Commercial Zero to Debut in Italy

The Zero will be displayed in conjunction with Volta Trucks partner, DB Schenker.

Volta Trucks, a full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer, says that the Volta Zero will make its Italian debut between 7 and 11 June in Milan. The customer event in Italy follows similar successful French and Spanish events that have seen more than 600 individual demonstrations of the Volta Zero in COVID-secure environments.

The arrival in Italy also follows the company’s recently announced Europe-first principles within its Road-to-Zero Emissions strategy, with Volta Trucks set to launch four full-electric commercial vehicles and increase its projected sales volumes to more than 27,000 by 2025. Given the competition from existing truck makers, this is ambitious. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen, Carmel, IN to Test Cameras and Machine Vision Software to Speed Traffic. Potential Privacy Threats?

Posted on 28 May 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Volkswagen and Carmel, IN to Test New Machine Vision Software

This joint project is the first for Volkswagen globally. The company says that its software could have applications in various multi-modal transportation solutions in cities worldwide.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) and the City of Carmel, IN, have a research project that uses existing city cameras and Volkswagen machine-vision software to help optimize traffic flows, analyze street usage patterns and support emergency response.

The city will have a dashboard that gathers data from various locations and highlights key learnings. The software does not track individuals or individual vehicles; it automatically pixelates faces and license plates. Still, there are privacy concerns here. The software also does not store images, but only the counting data it generates, as a further form of privacy protection. Still, there are privacy concerns here as there is no assurance that tracking could be enabled. Continue reading →

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