Archive for Auto Upkeep News
In a presentation in Paris on March 1st, Richard Newell the Administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration, indicated that by 2035 new light duty vehicle efficiency is projected to reach 40 mpg (miles per gallon). In addition, flex fueled vehicles, mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and full hybrids will account for the majority of alternative fueled vehicles sold.
See the presentation below…look specifically at slides 10 and 11.
Energy Information Agency: 2035 - The U.S. Energy Outlook including Alternative Fueled Vehicle Projections
I was disappointed to see (or I guess not to see) that a very small percentage of new vehicles would be 100% pure electric. With any projection, I guess time will tell. Either way, alternative fueled vehicles will play a role in meeting the new CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards for 2016. The new standards require an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 mpg in 2016. See Whitehouse.gov article on these standards.
Who’s hiring in the auto industry? Tesla Motors!
Posted by: | CommentsWill California become the new Michigan in automotive manufacturing? If the EV (electric vehicle) market takes off jobs will be bountiful in small start-ups. Just take a look at Tesla Motors…a company only a handful of years old…is looking for design engineers, CNC machinists, firmware engineers, manufacturing engineers, project engineers, technicians, sales advisors, and more. After a quick search of their website, over 140 jobs were listed.
Tesla’s criteria:
* You must have a genuine passion for electric vehicles and electric propulsion systems. Without passion, you would find what we’re trying to do too difficult. There are much easier jobs.
* You must want to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial company.
* We are building real products — not presentations. This must excite you. You must be a builder.
Even with unemployment hitting double digits (10.2% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), some companies are hiring!
Cash for Clunkers Analysis – Edmunds.com vs. White House
Posted by: | CommentsIt has been a boxing match from Edmunds.com and the White House this week. It all started when Edmunds.com published the press release titled “Cash for Clunkers Results Finally In: Taxpayers Paid $24,000 per Vehicle Sold, Reports Edmunds.com“. The White House responded a day later on their blog with the post titled “Busy Covering Car Sales on Mars, Edmunds.com Gets It Wrong (Again) on Cash for Clunkers“. To counteract the White House blog post, Edmunds.com published another press release.
Summed up…
Edmunds.com analysis – The “taxpayer cost for every incremental vehicle sold was $24,000″
White House analysis – “The Edmunds’ analysis rests on the assumption that the market for cars that didn’t qualify for Cash for Clunkers was completely unaffected by this program.”
and…
“Edmunds also ignores the beneficial impact that the program will have on 4th Quarter GDP because automakers have ramped up their production to rebuild their depleted inventories.”
Another thing to consider is even if buyers would have purchased a vehicle anyway (even without the CARS program), the amount of money they saved may have went into the economy in additional purchases – stimulating the economy further. For example, if a couple saved thousands on the price of a vehicle (that they were going to purchase anyway), did they go out and purchase a computer or TV due to that savings?
You make the call. Whose analysis is correct?
Auto Upkeep as a First Course in a General Service Technician NATEF Program
Posted by: | CommentsI am often asked how Auto Upkeep, a curriculum designed to teach basic car care, maintenance, and repair, can also be used in a NATEF (National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation) certified program that trains automotive technicians. The key is that all students need to start somewhere, often this means learning about the basics. While Auto Upkeep does an outstanding job covering the basics for all drivers, it also covers 67 out of 153 General Service Technician (GST) tasks (about 44%). For a program to be certified for GST training, NATEF requires addressing all (100%) of the tasks. A NATEF certified GST program is required to have a minimum total of 500 hours of combined laboratory/shop (co-op) and classroom instruction. Auto Upkeep is designed as a 1 credit course (approximately 135 combined lab and classroom hours). Auto Upkeep works well as a first course in a GST program and for those that want to develop the fundamental knowledge and experience in owning and maintaining an automobile.
To learn more about Auto Upkeep, go to AutoUpkeep.com
To view the matrix correlation, check out the file below:
Auto Upkeep – NATEF General Service Technician 2009 Tasks Matrix
I am pleased to announce that the Auto Upkeep textbook and workbook are now available through Mardel, Inc. (Mardel Christian and Education Stores). Mardel, Inc. operates Mardel.com and 32 retail stores in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
We are lucky to have a store close to us in Springfield, MO. They have a wide range of educational supplies for homeschoolers. Click HERE to find a Mardel store near you.
Mardel Christian and Education
NACAT 2009 – Charlotte, NC – Blogging Live from 32,000 feet
Posted by: | CommentsThe last two days I attended the North American Council for Automotive Teachers (NACAT) conference held this year in the Queen City – Charlotte, North Carolina. Hundreds of automotive teachers from the US and Canada attended. I always enjoy seeing familiar faces and catching up.
This year I was a presenter. The two presentations that I gave were “Back to Basics” and “You Know Cars, They Know YouTube”. Both presentations can be accessed HERE.
I am now on my way home. After a “mechanical” delay leaving from Charlotte I got bumped to a later flight after not making my connection in Atlanta. I guess the plane had a light bulb out that needed to be replaced. But now I am on the way home and scheduled to land in the new Branson Airport in about an hour…then a 30 minute drive and I am home.
A special thanks to all the organizers of the conference and to those that chose to attend my sessions. I have been presenting all over the country educating teachers on how Millennials (aka Gen Y) learn and the importance of finding ways to connect to the “wired” generation. The use of YouTube, Twitter, Wikis, and Facebook is just a start. It also means beginning the curriculum where the students are at…that usually means starting with the very basics of car care, maintenance, repair, and ownership. At the end of a “Consumer Auto” or “Car Care” course, students then have the opportunity to advance onto curriculum that focuses specifically on NATEF tasks. If after a basic course they decide not to pursue a career as an Automotive Technician…that’s fine too…at least they will have a better understanding how cars work and will be empowered car owners.
PS I am using the GoGoInfight Wi-Fi service offered by AirTran…so far so good.
Auto Upkeep Homeschool Kit
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
“When I first thought about this course, I envisioned this being more of a “father son” project, but I ended up being the one who participated in these labs. They were great! I am not a “technical” person at all and that’s just the point. This course is for everyone. In fact, I think it was created with people like me in mind especially. The text is so easy to follow and learn from, that a person who feels quite out of their element in a mechanical situation can now be more at ease!”
See full review at: http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/3327.php
The LINK Homeschool Magazine
“Whether your goal is to incorporate the information into a homeschool curriculum or simply teach your children and yourself about basic automotive maintenance, Auto Upkeep is a ‘must have’ for every home.”
See full review at: http://www.homeschoolnewslink.com/homeschool/productguide/auto.shtml
L. Doran – Homeschool Mom – Review at Amazon.com
“It’s a great way to offer a curriculum other than the basic topics we cover during the school year, plus they are learning a life skill that will enable them to take care of their own automobiles.”
See full review at: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1D79PEIPX0P3O/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
Jocelyn Dixon – Homeschool Student and Top Homeschool Blogger
“It’s courses like these that people think homeschoolers miss out on, but there is opportunity in everything to learn.”
See full review at: http://aponderingheart.com/blog/?p=1900
Jamin – Homeschool Mom
“I wish I would have had this for myself many, many years ago when I started driving!”
See full review at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jaminacema/662999/
Keith Jones at HSAdvisor.com
“Auto Upkeep (is) an easy to use, yet captivating curriculum giving the student a solid understanding of the basics in automotive care.”
See full review at: http://www.hsadvisor.com/reviews/article_Auto_Upkeep.php
To learn more about the Auto Upkeep Homeschool Curriculum Kit, go to www.AutoUpkeep.com/kit
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine reviews the Auto Upkeep Homeschool Curriculum Kit
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The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - TheHomeschoolMagazine.com
Below is a short excerpt from the review by Amy Christy:
When I first thought about this course, I envisioned this being more of a “father son” project, but I ended up being the one who participated in these labs. They were great! I am not a “technical” person at all and that’s just the point. This course is for everyone. In fact, I think it was created with people like me in mind especially. The text is so easy to follow and learn from, that a person who feels quite out of their element in a mechanical situation can now be more at ease!
You can read the full review HERE.
Auto Upkeep Homeschool Curriculum Kits are offered in paperback or hardcover text bindings. To help homeschool co-ops, co-op packages have been assembled for additional savings. Auto Upkeep Homeschool Curriculum Kits and co-op packages can be purchased at AutoUpkeep.com/Kit.
Working Late, So You Have Videos
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Go to www.Video.AutoUpkeep.com
It is 1 am … I have been working diligently expanding the video links on www.Video.AutoUpkeep.com. Over the next few days Linda and I will also be working on creating more Auto Upkeep themed videos…the next one should be “How to Test an Alternator”. Check out our video site when you get a chance.
Auto Upkeep now has a YouTube Channel
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Go to www.YouTube.com/AutoUpkeep
In addition to publishing the book Auto Upkeep, we have begun to shoot, edit, and publish basic car care, maintenance, and repair videos. Our YouTube Channel is “AutoUpkeep”.
The Auto Upkeep Blog is Now Live!
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www.Blog.AutoUpkeep.com
