|
|  |
MSN To see what electric vehicles are capable of and how that’s different from the combustion-powered vehicles, 47 electrics and more than 2200 gas, diesel, and hybrid vehicles were tested. On average, internal-combustion-powered vehicles are slightly quicker. The real-world swiftness of electric motors and single-speed transmissions shows in our passing tests. But the lack of gearing in most EVs hinders top speeds. EVs are vastly more energy efficient. But you’ll have to plan for extra time if you’re pushing past their limited ranges. EVs are quieter at max-attack acceleration as well as while cruising at 70 mph. EVs are heavier than comparable combustion models Read the article at MSN. |
Missouri University Each year, the NTSB issues a “most wanted list” of safety improvements, and their 2019-2020 list includes “screening and treating obstructive sleep apnea” among the top 10 topic areas. People who work nontraditional work hours, such as 11 p.m.-7 a.m., or the “graveyard” shift, are more likely than traditional daytime workers to develop a chronic medical condition – shift work sleep disorder – that disrupts their sleep. According to researchers at the University of Missouri, people who develop this condition are also three times more likely to be involved in a vehicle accident. Shift work sleep disorder increased the risk of a traffic crash by nearly 300%, as compared to both sleep apnea and insomnia, which both increased the risk of a crash by approximately 30%. Read the article at Missouri University. |
Autoblog The cost of used sedans, pickups and SUVs soared 10% in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fastest climb ever in data that go back to 1953. It accounted for more than a third of the 0.8% increase in the consumer price index, which was four times the level economists estimated. With fewer new cars being made amid a shortage in critical semiconductors, both retail consumers and rental car companies have gone to the used-vehicle market to get the wheels they need. Wholesale prices have soared as a result, up 54% in April from a year earlier at Manheim. Most analysts say the increase in car prices, like the spike in inflation as a whole, will likely be transitory as production ramps up and demand subsides. Auto sales had soared amid a pandemic-era boom in road trips and hesitancy to take public transportation, trends that look likely to fade over coming months. Read the article at Autoblog. |
MSN Driving with headphones on or earbuds in is illegal in many places, but even in the areas in which it’s not illegal, it’s a bad idea because it destroys your sense of spatial awareness. Ford decided that it was curious about how bad an idea it is, so it put together a study in Europe to quantify that. It was found that the people listening to music via headphones were on average 4.2 seconds slower to identify cues than those without headphones — practically an eternity when you’re talking about the difference between crashing into someone on a bicycle and avoiding them. Read the article at MSN. |
|
| |
 The Drive The global supply chain has been hit hard by COVID-19-related complications. Factories have shut their doors causing a backlog in production and an increase in product demand, largely due to a significant shortage of the most basic building block of technology: semiconductors. This includes cars, which have become increasingly dependent on electronics over the past several decades. And it’s proving to be perhaps the most devastating supply chain disruption the auto industry has seen in decades – maybe ever, if you ask some executives. The result is new cars with inflated prices and customers clawing at the limited available inventory. Even the used market is ballooning in price. So if you’re looking for the best deal on a new ride, now might not be the best time to buy, especially if you don’t want to be upside down on your loan in a few months. Read the article at The Drive. |
|
 strategy+business Companies are starting to bring employees back to the office and will have to strengthen their “social architecture. Employees and other stakeholders are demanding leaders step up and put some concrete action behind their words. What are the policies behind the mission? When there is a gap between words and action, people will spot it and call leaders out. Agility will grow in importance as an X factor that sets high performers apart. CEOs and heads of HR are talking more about looking for talented people who understand the importance of embracing ambiguity – as well as people who are able to learn new things quickly and, if necessary, unlearn them just as fast. Fostering and embedding the corporate culture will have to become a priority. The core skills of leadership will matter more than ever. Leaders will have to work overtime to share the company’s values, and the stories behind them. Read the article at strategy+business. |
|
|
 By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor Although Merchants has recently announced a spate of electric vehicle-related announcements, Senior Vice President of Mobility, John Cail, explains that the news is the result of the company’s ongoing electric vehicle initiative. “We’ve been building our electric vehicle strategy for some time, including electrified vehicle fleet management services, charging, OEM relationships, and more. “Merchants is developing and implementing EV strategies because we foresee that’s where our clients are migrating,” he adds. “We are building out our ecosystem of partners and are ahead of the curve and will remain out in front in order to offer our clients the best possible outcomes.” READ MORE |
|
|
|
