Archive for October, 2009
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?
Fisker Automotive – A Two Year Old Company Takes Over an Idle GM Plant
Posted by: | CommentsOnly in America…can a two year old company, a company with its roots in California and not in Michigan, take over a plant that once the largest automaker in the world (GM) had to shut down.
Here is the press release from Fisker:
Fisker Automotive has selected the Wilmington Assembly plant in Wilmington Delaware to build affordable plug-in hybrid cars. Fisker executives made the announcement inside the dormant facility today, joined by Vice President Joe Biden, Delaware Governor Jack Markell and other state officials. The plant will support Fisker Automotive’s Project NINA, the development and build of an affordable, family-oriented plug-in hybrid sedan costing about $39,900 after federal tax credits. Production is scheduled to begin in late 2012 and create 2000 factory jobs and more than 3000 vendor/supplier jobs when production reaches full capacity in 2014.
According to this USA Today report, Fisker will receive a zero interest 12.5 million dollar loan from Delaware, that if played right, may never have to be paid back. In addition, no property taxes and utility costs for a few years may help make the company get the assembling line moving to profitability. This plant will focus on a more affordable family-oriented plug-in hybrid sedan as compared to their $87,900 current luxury sedan, the Karma.
2010 Fisker Karma
The 3,000 mile or 3 month Oil Change – a Myth or Reality?
Posted by: | CommentsConsumer Reports, the nation’s leading independent consumer advocacy group, recently published on their website “Reality Check on Car Care Myths“. This article is a must read for car owners. It covers everything from oil change intervals to car washing to tire inflation. The greatest debate in the car care industry is oil change intervals. The question is, do you change the oil at 3,000 miles or longer? Start by reading what your service intervals are in your owner’s manual. It is true that manufacturers commonly recommend 7,500 miles or more for normal service and 3,000 or 5,000 miles for “severe” service. The key is to determine and be honest about your driving habits. If you are in a lot of stop and go, dusty conditions, take short trips, tow or haul loads…then you may be driving in “severe” driving conditions. Juffy Lube has an online quiz to help you determine if you are driving in “normal” or “severe” conditions. (I know, they are in the oil change business…it’s just one resource…keep reading.) Today new onboard technology allows your car to tell you when your oil needs changing. GM’s Oil Life System “uses an algorithm that tracks engine revolutions and temperature and predicts oil life based on these parameters and driver use.” According to GM, this sometimes means going 12,000 miles or more between changes. Check out this Q & A with a GM engineer.
GM's Oil Life System
Even the State of California is in the discussion. Visit their website www.3000milemyth.org for more information.
Honda’s use a Maintenance Minder System. One Honda manual states if the “SERVICE does not appear more than 12 months after the display is reset, change the engine oil every year.” It also states that the “maintenance minder assumes you will use your vehicle as normal transportation for passengers and their possessions.” According to Honda, “The Maintenance Minder system tracks services on a mileage basis such as the miles between changes to the air filter, spark plugs, coolant and tire rotation. In addition, engine sensors detect driving conditions to recommend when an oil change is recommended and send that information to the Maintenance Minder.”
For more reading and research, check out the Boston’s Globe article on increasing oil change intervals.
So what do I do? I generally change the oil between 3,000 to 5,000 miles due to my driving conditions…and I save money by doing it myself…but that’s just my preference. Instead of paying a quick lube place $25 to $30, I do it for about $15. If you do change your car’s engine oil yourself, be sure to recycle it properly. To locate an oil recycling center near you, go to Earth911.org. To learn more about the oil recycling process and benefits, check out the American Petroleum Institute’s website RecycleOil.org.
Online Games by Ford
Posted by: | CommentsNeed a little help judging your speed and distance during rush hour? Navigating between fast and slow moving vehicles on the freeway can be challenging. Ford’s Five O’Clock Challenge is a fun game to help you navigate freeway driving. Give it a try and test your driving instincts!
Online Game - Ford's Five O'Clock Challenge
Want to test your memory? Try Ford’s Hazard Concentration game and learn about the rules of the road.
Online Game - Ford's Hazard Recognition Challenge
National Teen Driver Safety Week
Posted by: | CommentsOctober 18th – 24th is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Why should a week be set aside to focus on teen driving? Below are some statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support this effort:
In 2007…
* Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for U.S. teens;
* More than one in three deaths for this age group involved a motor vehicle;
* More than 4,200 teens in the United States, aged 15–19, were killed in motor vehicle crashes;
* 11 teens, ages 16-19, died every day from motor vehicle injuries;
* 400,000 teens were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes; and
* Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 were four times more likely than older drivers to crash.
The goal of this campaign is to develop an awareness of teen car accidents and to work to find solutions to above difficult statistics. The focus should also be on parents, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Blog. It is up to parents to discuss the dangers of driving – since many teens underestimate dangerous situations and often take unnecessary risks.
Check out the Ford sponsored “Driving Skills for Life” website. This website lists safe driving tips, has links to videos on how to maintain your vehicle, suggestions for Eco-Driving, and tips for parents to help coach their teens. In addition, resources for educators are provided to help implement this teen program.
DrivingSkillsForLife.com, by Ford Motor Company
OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Service Pays Off
Posted by: | CommentsGM’s OnStar recently paid off for a California resident. Some 2009 and newer model year GM vehicles have the option of OnStar’s advanced service – Stolen Vehicle Slowdown.
According to OnStar, Stolen Vehicle Slowdown “gives our subscribers added security by allowing OnStar Advisors, who work with law enforcement, to send a signal to the stolen vehicle to gradually slow it down. The service is also expected to help reduce the risk of property damage, serious injuries or fatalities resulting from high-speed pursuits of stolen vehicles.” (See OnStar’s video explanation on how this service works.)
MSNBC reported that the thief’s plan was foiled when OnStar disabled the vehicle remotely during the chase.
Technological devices like OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Service is not only a service to customers, but also to police that are charged with chasing and arresting the carjackers. By eliminating the need for high speed chases, lives are being saved.
To learn how OnStar works, check out this HowStuffWorks.com article.
When do you think all vehicles will have this technology?
Your 18 Year Old Ford Vehicle May Have a Recall
Posted by: | CommentsIf your Ford is equipped with a Texas Instruments speed control deactivation switch, your vehicle could be at risk. Ford Motor Company is recalling some 4.5 million vehicles (see notice). The majority of vehicles within the recall are ten years old or older…my question is…how many of these vehicles are already in the salvage yard?
Ford Motor Company Recalls Vehicles
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal government’s General Services Administration (GSA) invested 300 million into its fleet in an effort to “green” it up. (See press release.) This purchase included 35 hybrid-electric buses. I would really like to see the federal government (via grants from the GSA and via education from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Idle Reduction Campaign) work with local school systems to update its school bus fleet. What is more important, in transportation terms, than transporting students safely (this includes not breathing in toxic fumes) from home to school? One safety issue that has been overlooked for years is the fact that students breath in diesel fumes from school buses while entering and exiting the bus. Most of the harm comes from buses being lined up at schools, idling, waiting for students to be dismissed from school. Then when the bell rings, students rush out onto the sidewalks next to the idling buses.
Read this article from the EPA on “What you should know about diesel exhaust and school bus idling“.
Some school districts are taking steps to reduce diesel exhaust exposure, but implementation of new all-electric or hybrid buses would solve many of the issues. I got immersed in this topic several years ago when I was assigned to supervise bus lanes as a middle school teacher. Every day I would get a sore throat after monitoring the bus lanes. I was disappointed in the common practice of buses idling so I compiled research and submitted it to the school’s superintendent – resulting in a policy change about buses idling in a district with about 40 school buildings. As a parent, talk to your superintendent about all-electric and hybrid buses – your child’s health depends on it. Check out the hybrid school bus below and send this link to your school’s transportation director or superintendent.
Navistar Hybrid School Bus
Algae – Another alternative to fossil fuels?
Posted by: | CommentsFuel from Algae may be the next craze in the alternative fuel marketplace. (Learn about Algae.) The significant, quick growth of algae is the key. Some algal strains can double their mass several times in one day. This has received attention from investors. According to this Popular Mechanics article, investors are spending millions to find out if Algae can be a potential money-making biofuel.
Algenol Biofuels Website
The United States Department of Energy lists the following benefits:
Benefits of Algal Biofuels
Impressive Productivity: Microalgae, as distinct from seaweed or macroalgae, can potentially produce 100 times more oil per acre than soybeans—or any other terrestrial oil-producing crop.Non-Competitive with Agriculture: Algae can be cultivated in large open ponds or in closed photobioreactors located on non-arable land in a variety of climates (including deserts).
Flexible on Water Quality: Many species of algae thrive in seawater, water from saline aquifers, or even wastewater from treatment plants.
Mitigation of CO2: During photosynthesis, algae use solar energy to fix carbon dioxide (CO2) into biomass, so the water used to cultivate algae must be enriched with CO2. This requirement offers an opportunity to make productive use of the CO2 from power plants, biofuel facilities, and other sources.
Broad Product Portfolio: The lipids produced by algae can be used to produce a range of biofuels, and the remaining biomass residue has a variety of useful applications: combust to generate heat; use in anaerobic digesters to produce methane; use as a fermentation feedstock in the production of ethanol; and, use in value-added byproducts, such as animal feed.
What do you think? Will algae be the next big fuel source?
Green Tire Technology Saves Fuel
Posted by: | CommentsDid you know that the tires you select can impact your fuel economy? The rolling resistance of a tire is key to achieving higher efficiency. All major tire brands have released some form of fuel saving tires. Goodyear has the Fuel Max, which they claim will save 2600 miles worth of gas (a 4% improvement) over the life of the tire. Yokohama manufactures a tire (the dB Super E-Spec) using Orange Oil, thereby reducing the input of precious non-renewable petroleum during the manufacturing process. Bridgestone has the Ecopia and now the Michelin Man is promoting the Michelin Energy Saver A/S tires proclaiming they are the most fuel-efficient tires on the road by increasing fuel efficiency by up to 8%.
The latest Michelin Man advertisement.
Floor mat Safety – Check your car’s floor mats!
Posted by: | CommentsToday’s vehicles have numerous safety devices: anti-lock brake systems (ABS), seat belts, air bags, electronic stability control, traction control, adaptive cruise control, and collision warning devices. But one of the least technological devices that you should also pay attention to is your driver’s side floor mat. Did you know that a driver’s side floor mat that doesn’t fit correctly can cause a deadly situation? Read this article on how an off-duty highway patrol officer and three members of his family were killed. Floor mats, not some advanced technological device, caused Toyota Motor Company’s largest recall to date – 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Read the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) summary.
What should you do? If you have a Toyota or Lexus within the recall range follow the recommendations from the NHTSA and Toyota. For everyone else, check your driver’s floor mat too. Make sure it properly fits the vehicle and is secured using specially designed floor anchors.
It’s that time of year again…October is Fall Car Care Month
Posted by: | CommentsTwo times during the year are most important for your vehicle: Spring and Fall. Last Spring I blogged about April as being Spring Car Care Month. Now you need to get ready for winter. While many of the tech tips I presenting in April are still very valid for Fall (read Auto Upkeep’s top ten list from April), you need to take a few additional steps to get ready for cooler weather (especially if you live in areas that get snow and ice).
1. Add your local reputable tow truck company’s phone number in your cell phone. That way if you are stuck in a snow pile or need a jump, the number is handy.
2. Add tire chains to your trunk if you live in an area that has chain control laws. Check out California’s chain control requirements.
3. Be sure you have a set of jumper cables in the trunk. Remember the lower gauge number, the better (more heavy duty) the cables. For example a 4 gauge jumper cable is better than a 10 gauge jumper cable. And most importantly, only perform a battery jump start if you know the proper steps.
4. In addition to a standard Roadside Emergency Kit, you may want to supplement it with a Severe Weather Kit.
5. Add ICE to your cell phone address book. ICE is the acronym for In Case of Emergency. This assists first responders in contacting your loved ones if you are hurt and unconscious. For example, put ICE-MOM or ICE-DAD in your cell phone address book. See this article on I.C.E. from the Oakland County, Michigan Department of Homeland Security.
6. Finally, check the tread depth on your tires. You should have a minimum of 2/32″ of tread (and preferably more) on your tires. Anything less than 2/32″ is legally worn out. Most new passenger tires come with 11/32″ of tread. The more tread you have on your tires, the better traction you will have. Here is an article from TireRack.com on how to measure tread depth with coins.
If you do need to take your vehicle to a repair facility, AAA (the nation’s leading Auto Club) has “tips on how to speak auto technicians“.
In 1996, GM discontinued its full-size, body-on-frame car architecture – ending the Caprice Police Car production. But 15 years later, GM plans to emerge as a leading provider of vehicles to law enforcement centers. The all new 2011 Chevy Caprice Police Car has the following special features:
• Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year
• Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
• Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment
• Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference
• Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology
• Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt
• A larger interior volume – 112 cubic feet / 3,172 liters – than the Ford Crown Victoria, including nearly 4 inches (101 mm) more rear legroom
• The barrier between the front seat and rear seat is positioned farther rearward, allowing for full front-seat travel and greater recline for officer comfort
• At 18 cubic feet (535 liters) free space (beyond battery located in trunk), the Caprice’s trunk volume is large enough to accommodate a full-size spare tire under a flat load surface in the trunk storage area.
• High-output alternator
• Engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers
• Standard 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps
• Large, four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads
• Heavy-duty suspension components
• Police-calibrated stability control system
• Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.
Read the full press release.
2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle
What do you think? Will the new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle become the leading choice among law enforcement agencies over the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and the Dodge Charger Police Vehicle?
