Digital billboards might be a great way to build brand image and sell product, but the problem is attracting and holding the gaze of drivers. Researchers at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute are grabbing driver attention far longer than a danger threshold that previous studies had identified. The Swedish government had allowed […]
The fiscal cliff may have caused some anxiety for the American public during the holiday season, but there are benefits to the outcome for fleets – a few tax breaks and incentives for alternative fuel vehicles. Electric, natural gas, propane autogas, algae, and cellulosic vehicles and fuels are seeing alternative fuel tax credits and refueling […]
Nissan Motor Co. will be increasing the warranty coverage for battery modules in its Leaf battery electric vehicle, to reassure customers of their durability. Nissan plans to notify current owners and dealers early next year that it will make their warranties retroactive to cover all existing Leafs; it will also extend to new 2013 model Leafs. The automaker will repair or replace the car’s lithium-ion battery if it loses more than 30% of its capacity to hold a complete charge after five years or 60,000 miles....;
Greentech industry research and consulting firm Pike Research sees the electric vehicle market shifting in 2013. It certainly is a tough industry to thrive within, whether that be startup companies like Tesla, Coda, and Fisker, or major automakers like Nissan, General Motors, Ford, and BMW. Pike Research sees capital investments shifting more this year toward battery components and away from EVs. Components may be more marketable than complete battery packs with limited EV sales volume. Companies like Dow Energy Materials and BASF will continue to invest in anode, cathode, and electrolyte material research and development – though the technology will need to meet some changes in customer expectations, according to the study....
The changing landscape of transportation got more interesting in this new year with the announcement that rental car giant Avis is buying the largest car sharing company, Zipcar, for $491.2 million. Zipcar started up in 2000 and has seen slow growth in this niche industry where more major competitors have been entering in recent years. Zipcar now has 760,000 members and competes with car rental majors Hertz (Hertz On Demand) and Enterprise Holdings (Enterprise CarShare), along with a few major automakers; Ford Motor Co. announced a partnership last year that brought hundreds of Ford Focus models to campuses around the country....