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

Posted on 25 March 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Solar Geoengineering Research

Click to Enlarge.

The US should conduct a research program for Solar GeoEngineering in coordination with other nations, subject to governance, and alongside a strong portfolio of climate mitigation and adaptation policies, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. There currently is no coordinated national effort for solar GeoEngineering research. (UN on Global Warming: Rapid, Far-Reaching Unprecedented Changes in All Aspects of Society Needed; and SEC Starts Task Force on Climate Change Investment Risks)

The report emphasizes that solar geoengineering is not a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar GeoEngineering discusses strategies designed to cool Earth either by adding small reflective particles to the upper atmosphere, by increasing reflective cloud cover in the lower atmosphere, or by thinning high-altitude clouds that can absorb heat. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in energy, environment, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted on 25 March 2021 by Ken Zino

Meg Whitman, former head of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Mark Tatum, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the National Basketball Association, are joining the Board of Directors of General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) effective today, the company said.

With the election of Whitman, 64, and Tatum, 51, GM has 13 directors. Seven GM directors are now women. The company’s 12 independent directors have leadership and board experience in information technology, digital commerce, retail, higher education, investment management, international affairs, defense, transportation, cybersecurity, and pharmaceuticals, among others, GM said. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Census Survey – Stimulus Payments Eased Financial Suffering

Posted on 25 March 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Stimulus Payments Eased Financial Suffering

Vote Democratic to decrease working people suffering and end welfare for the rich?

By now the unnecessarily severe negative effects are well-documented from the previous Administration’s denials that Covid was a threat to public health and the American economy. Americans are about to receive a third round of stimulus checks through the new American Rescue Plan Act that the Biden Administration pushed past the do-nothing Republican congressional non-representatives of the people – none of them voted for it – in spite of overwhelming public approval polling ranging from 60% to 85% of the items therein.

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. There were no large amounts of capital that would return home and be invested in the US economy, although plenty of rich people including foreigners supped at the welfare for the rich GOP table.  Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in AutoInformed Editorial, economy, fools 'n frauds, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 24 March 2021 by Ken Zino

Isuzu Motors, Hino Motors and Toyota Motor announced today that they have agreed on a new partnership in commercial vehicles. The three companies intend to combine Toyota’s CASE* technologies with the commercial vehicle foundations cultivated by Isuzu and Hino. 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 →

Tweet
Posted in alternative fuels, environment, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nissan Recalls 80,376 Sentra Cars for Failed Brake Lights

Posted on 20 March 2021 by Ken Zino

Nissan is recalling 807,376 Sentra Cars for failed brake light and starting problems. In the required NHTSA filing, Nissan said this safety defect is unique to model year 2016-2019 Sentra vehicles because a clevis pin grease that uses a high concentration of silicon, and a bulb system that uses a high current switch are close to one another. No other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles share this specific combination of factors and are unaffected by the issue, Nissan claims. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in electronics, news analysis, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hyundai, Shell to Expand Cooperation on Clean Energy

Posted on 19 March 2021 by Ken Zino

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, but this time with a different “focus on clean energy and carbon reduction in response to market changes.” Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in alternative fuels, environment, marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

All-Electric BMW i4 Shown

Posted on 19 March 2021 by Ken Zino

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 in different versions covering ranges of up to 590km (WLTP) and up to 300 miles* (EPA). With a power output of up to 390kW / 530HP the BMW i4 can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in around 4 seconds. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in news analysis | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 19 March 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino on semiconductor supply collapse

All-new F-150 Limited. Too bad about the missing control modules.

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 for a number of weeks, then ship them to dealers once the modules are available and quality checks are complete. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in electronics, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Covid Curse – EU Sales Drop 19% in February, -22% YTD

Posted on 17 March 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on February 2021 new passenger car sales in the European Union

Click to Enlarge.

During February 2021, new passenger car registrations in the European Union dropped by 19.3%, as COVID containment actions, a botched vaccination program and overall uncertainty continue to negatively affect demand of a key industry.

With 771,486 units registered across the EU region, according to ACEA, this marked the lowest February total on record since 2013. All four major EU markets recorded losses last month. Italy posted the smallest drop (-12.3%), while the other markets faced stronger deterioration: Germany (-19.0%), France (-20.9%) and Spain (-38.4%). Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in economy, sales | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted on 16 March 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Carbon Free Electricity in California

Space technology at space exploration costs?

The California Energy Commission (CEC), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) have released the first joint agency report and a summary document examining how the state’s electricity system can become carbon free by 2045.

The report is the initial analysis called for in Senate Bill 100 (SB 100, De León, Chapter 312, Statutes of 2018), the state’s policy requiring that renewable and zero-carbon energy resources supply 100% of electric retail sales to customers by 2045. The bill was signed into law in 2018 and calls for these resources to replace fossil fuels for generating electricity in the state. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, energy, environment | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Look – Canoo EV Pickup Truck

Posted on 16 March 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Canoo

“The most cab-forward and space efficient” on the market?

Canoo Inc. (Nasdaq: GOEV), a firm developing purpose-built electric vehicles (EVs), showed its fully-electric pickup truck during the Motor Press Guild’s Virtual Media Day (VMD) in partnership with Automobility LA late last week. The production version of the pickup truck will receive pre-orders in Q2 2021, with deliveries beginning as early as 2023. With more than 350 employees from technology and automotive companies, Canoo says it has designed a modular electric platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space and adaptable to support a wide range of vehicle types and applications for consumers and businesses. The pickup truck is the third vehicle that will be based on the company’s proprietary multi-purpose platform architecture.

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 →

Tweet
Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 15 March 2021 by Ken Zino

In a drunken flying incident, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration wants a $14,500 civil penalty against an airline passenger for allegedly interfering with flight attendants who instructed him to wear a face mask and stop consuming alcohol he had brought on board the aircraft. The incident occurred late last year on a jetBlue Airlines flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York to the Dominican Republic. The FAA says the passenger “crowded the traveler sitting next to him, spoke loudly, and refused to wear his face mask.”  (Trump Legacy – FAA Adopts Stricter Unruly Passenger Policy)

A flight attendant warned the man that jetBlue’s policies required him to wear a face mask, and twice warned him that FAA regulations prohibit passengers from drinking alcohol they bring on board an aircraft. Despite these warnings, the passenger continued to remove his face mask and drink his own alcohol, the FAA alleges. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in aviation, fools 'n frauds, people | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford Motor Recalls Millions More Takata Airbags after NHTSA Denies Petition. Separately, Continental Tires Also Recalled

Posted on 12 March 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Ford Takata Safety Defect Recalls

Shrapnel is on the left side of this screen capture from NHTSA Takata testing. Click to Enlarge.

Late today, Ford Motor Company announced that it will proceed with safety recall for multiple vehicles with certain Takata driver-side front airbag inflators after NHTSA denied its petition of repeal earlier this year. In another unrelated safety defect recall, Ford is recalling Continental tires.

In the affected Takata vehicles, the driver-side front airbag inflators were installed as original equipment and contain a calcium sulfate desiccant, which differed in design from the earlier recalled Takata airbag inflators that spewed shrapnel into a vehicle’s interior. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in customer satisfaction, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Needs Range, Battery Cost Cuts to Speed EV Plans

Posted on 11 March 2021 by Ken Zino
Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on joint development agreement between GM and lithium metal battery firm SolidEnergy Systems

GM’s next-generation lithium metal batteries could enable higher range in a similarly sized pack or comparable range in a smaller pack.

General Motors President Mark Reuss announced a joint development agreement with lithium metal battery firm SolidEnergy Systems (sic) or SES. To accelerate Li-Metal battery commercialization, GM is working with several companies and making investments that will allow it to scale up to production quickly. GM’s lithium metal battery with a protected anode will have a combination of affordability, high performance and energy density, it’s claimed. The initial prototype batteries have completed 150,000 simulated test miles at research and development labs at GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. This GM claims demonstrates real-world potential.

“Affordability and range are two major barriers to mass EV adoption,” said Reuss. “With this next-generation Ultium chemistry, we believe we’re on the cusp of a once-in-a-generation improvement in energy density and cost. There’s even more room to improve in both categories, and we intend to innovate faster than any other company in this space.”  Reuss was speaking one year after the reveal of the first-generation Ultium Platform. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, environment, mobility company | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

2020 Dealer Service Visits Drop 6%. EV Owners Dissatisfied

Posted on 11 March 2021 by Ken Zino

During the pandemic lock-downs during 2020 many vehicle owners drove fewer miles and thereby extended service intervals. Nonetheless, dealer service visits are only down 6% from 2019 and overall satisfaction increased to 847 (on a 1,000-point scale) from 837 a year ago, according to the J.D. Power 2021 Customer Service Index (CSI) Study  released today. Overall satisfaction also increased for a sixth consecutive year. However, EV owners are dissatisfied with service. Their overall service satisfaction is 69 points lower than the average customer and 76 points lower for service quality. Hmn. Continue reading →

Tweet
Posted in customer satisfaction, people | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment