NYC DCAS to Expand Use of 99% Petroleum-Free Renewable Diesel in City Vehicles
The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) today announced that it will expand use of renewable diesel fuel, a 99% petroleum-free alternative to traditional diesel fuel. The fuel reduces CO2 emissions by 65% compared to the petroleum-based version. This move is part of the City’s efforts to phase out its use of regular diesel.
The City plans to bid a long-term contract to purchase renewable diesel following a successful six-month demonstration period in which the City tested nearly one million gallons of renewable diesel in City fleet vehicles. Each year, City fleet units use up to 17 million gallons of diesel that could be displaced through this initiative.
U.S. Holds Off on Trump’s Auto Tariffs After Trade Meeting
The Trump administration will hold off for now on imposing new tariffs on automobile imports as top officials weigh revisions to a report on the national security implications.
An auto trade war would deal a blow to car-makers from General Motors Co. to Toyota Motor Corp., which have built their supply chains to take advantage of countries with low duties. The National Automobile Dealers Association estimates that the tariffs would add as much as $2,270 to the cost of U.S.-built cars and $6,875 to the cost of imported cars and trucks.
Read the article at Bloomberg.
EPA Seeks New Truck Pollution Rules
The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to rewrite rules that limit pollution from heavy trucks but that the EPA says slow the economy. The proposed “Cleaner Trucks Initiative” is drawing expressions of hope but skepticism from some environmental groups.
“We are doing it because it’s good for the environment,” said acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, who notes that the EPA is under no requirement to redo the regulation. “Our goal is to update our standards so that we can get these new technologies in use across the country.”
Read the article at The Detroit News.
The 21st Century’s Mega Disruptor: Machine Learning
By John F. Wysseier, President and Chief Executive Officer, The CEI Group, Inc.
Of all the technological advances mankind has achieved over the millennia that have changed the way we live and work, Machine Learning (ML) may well prove to be the one with the most powerful and disruptive effects.
And while one application – autonomous vehicles – is still in its infancy, ML applications in many other business applications are already here and more are on the way.
ML grew out of the computer science of artificial intelligence (AI). Broadly speaking, AI refers to computers programmed to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, like recognizing images and speech and making decisions. As remarkable as that is, ML goes one step further: it creates computers that can learn from experience and actually improve their performance.
New Road Safety Magazine for At-Work Drivers & Their Families
eDriving invites you to take advantage of their new online road safety magazine for your employees and their families, Three60, which includes:
- Guidance for safer at-work driving, including avoiding distractions, winter driving and other seasonal safety messages
- Road safety news from around the world including new laws, studies and shocking headlines
- Family safety updates including tips and best practice advice on child and teen road safety
- Motorcycle safety news, maintenance and rider tips
