The Big 3 at NAFA’s I&E: The OEM Panel Returns to the Main Stage
NAFA Fleet Management Association, the vehicle fleet industry’s largest trade association, announces the return of the well-received OEM Panel presentation at NAFA’s 2020 Institute and Expo, April 6-8, Indianapolis, Indiana.
This presentation, taking place on Wednesday morning, April 8, will feature Frank Dankovich, Director of Fleet Sales at Chrysler Group; Edward Peper, Jr., U.S. Vice-President at General Motors Fleet; and John Ruppert, General Manager - Commercial Vehicle Sales & Marketing at Ford Motor Company.
10 Top Picks of 2020: Best Cars of the Year
Consumer Reports’ Top Picks represent the best of the best from hundreds of current models rated by CR and backed by survey data from their members.
These cars have some of the highest Overall Scores in their categories, factoring in road tests, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety. When selecting Top Picks, only CR-recommended models that come standard with forward collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection are considered.
The Top Picks are listed by price range. The Corolla is—hands down—the most new car for your money in the small-car segment. It’s roomy for a compact sedan, efficient (33 mpg overall in our testing), and comes with standard advanced safety tech.
Read the article at Consumer Reports.
MaaS Appeal: How Mobility as a Service is Changing the Face of Fleet
Mobility as a Service is increasingly becoming part of corporate considerations but just how far is it shaping fleet management decision-making around the world? Curtis Hutchinson finds out.
The rate of change blowing through the global fleet sector is unprecedented. Internal combustion engines are on notice as legislative moves across different continents seek to ban them over the coming decades. Fleets are now faced with making electrification work as a practical alternative which also makes financial sense.
Against this backdrop the emergence of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) offerings, focused on the greater integration of flexible modes of public and private transportation, are moving out of left field and into the mainstream.
So how is the rollout of MaaS impacting the management of fleets in different international markets? We asked key fleet providers in North America and Europe to explain the current demand for MaaS and how they expect it to evolve in the coming years.
The Best Plug-In And Hybrid Vehicles For Winter Driving
Many EVs and plug-in hybrids are able enough to take on serious winter driving in Snow Belt states—where getting through the white stuff is an everyday thing, not just something you encounter on the last few miles to the ski slopes in California.
All-wheel drive and generous ground clearance are two must-haves that really help in getting through snow drifts and snow banks and navigating back roads with freshly fallen snow. A good set of winter tires is also a must.
Subaru knows that it appeals to outdoorsy types, and that even if shoppers choose the hybrid version they’re going to want the same level of go-anywhere capability. So it’s not surprising that the Crosstrek Hybrid really sacrifices nothing—all while adding an EPA-rated 17 miles of plug-in hybrid range and better mileage than the standard Crosstrek.
Read the article at Green Car Reports.
The Shrinking Fuel Cost Advantage of All-Electric Vehicles
What it means for BEV TCO
By Mark Boada, Executive Editor
One of the long-standing selling points of electric vehicles – both hybrids (HEVs) and battery-powered-only (BEVs) – is lower fuel costs, electricity being cheaper to buy than gasoline or diesel. Given that electric vehicles’ purchase prices are higher than comparable models powered by internal combustion engines (ICEs), that differential is supposed to make EV total cost of ownership competitive if not superior to the alternative, as long as you hold onto your EV long enough.
Now, this fuel cost advantage isn’t the only one EVs are supposed to deliver. Other operating costs are also lower, as fully electric cars and SUVs don’t have spark plugs, transmissions, radiators, oil and fuel filters, exhaust systems, and other gasoline-specific components that require routine maintenance. In addition, their brakes last longer, since their stopping power is supplemented by the inertia of the electric motor.
But for fleets looking to add BEVs to their inventory, there’s a fly in the ointment.
