PG&E and EDI Unveil Utility Trucks Capable of Shortening or Eliminating Electric Outages
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Efficient Drivetrains Incorporated (EDI) have unveiled two new utility trucks, including the industry’s first electric hybrid drivetrain Class 5 truck featuring 120 kilowatts of exportable power capable of providing power to homes and businesses during outages
The vehicles feature the “EDI Drive” plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) system, which provides up to 30 miles of all-electric range and an additional 300 miles of range in PHEV mode and an 80% reduction in emissions when compared to conventional trucks. In addition, these vehicles are the industry’s first to also offer both parallel and series hybrid modes, allowing the vehicle to maximize fuel efficiency in both highway and in-city driving conditions.
READ MORE to learn about the capabilities
Donlen Releases 36-Month vs. 60-Month Sedan Lifecycle Cost Analysis
Donlen has released their “Lifecycle Cost Management: 36-Month versus 60-Month Sedan Lifecycle Cost Analysis” comparing costs associated with cycling a vehicle at 60 months versus the traditional 36-month cycle.
The analysis unveils the lifecycle costs associated with extending the cycle times for a typical sedan. "This analysis compares real data based on our Donlen portfolio and the findings identify how costs are impacted the longer you hold on to a vehicle. Our consulting team has published this analysis to help fleets understand the implications of extending their vehicle lifecycles,” said Amy Blaine, Vice President of Consulting, Analytics and Sustainability.
How Could Traffic Enforcement Play Out On Roads Of The Future?
On the roads of the future, it's possible that speeding tickets will be doled out by new automated law enforcement systems instead of by police officers in patrol cars.
Systems now being developed by the federal government to handle vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications in an upcoming connected-car era may have the capability to more precisely track the locations and speeds of individual motorists.
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Now That Cars Have Black Boxes, Are You Being Tracked?
Who gets access to the info in your vehicle’s event data recorder? A black box, formally known as an event data recorder (EDR), and informally known as a narc-in-the-box, logs a variety of data regarding the operation of the vehicle in which it's installed.
The good news is that EDRs do not (yet) track your location, nor do they beam real-time information to feds, cops, carmakers, or mothers-in-law. That's what your smartphone is for.
Return of the $3 Gallon? U.S Gas Prices Are Falling Fast
The national average price of regular unleaded, now at $3.38 a gallon, is down 8 percent from the end of June. Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at GasBuddy.com, thinks this year will bring the cheapest autumn gasoline prices since 2010.
Last year drivers spent $40 billion at the pump in September, and Kloza thinks that bill will be at least $2 billion lower in 2014. The savings at the pump should help stimulate consumer spending in other parts of the economy.
