‘Charge It’ Takes on New Meaning for Retail Centers, Malls
A growing number of retailers are installing electric vehicle charging stations in their parking lots so customers can plug in and charge up their vehicles while browsing inside. Retailers see the chargers as a good investment and an opportunity to maintain goodwill with their eco-conscious customers. For now, most are providing electricity for free.
Study: Rapid Increase in Average New Vehicle’s Fuel Economy
A recent study by the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute found that new vehicles are getting an average 14% better mileage than four years ago. The average mpg for all 2012 light-duty vehicles is 21.5 compared to 18.9 mpg for model year 2008. The typical car sold in 2011 got 22.5 mpg, up from 20.8 mpg as recently as 2008. The study found a drop of 3 mpg for hybrids.
Automakers Respond to Growing Demand for Diesels
Buyers can expect new diesel models from Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Chevrolet, Jeep, Cadillac, Mazda, and Ram as automakers respond to rising consumer interest. Diesels achieve about 30% better fuel economy than similar gasoline models, but higher diesel fuel prices and worries about finding stations with diesel fuel have had an impact on sales. Some analysts expect a significant increase in diesel sales when the new models arrive in 2013.
Zipcar, City of Boston Partner to Launch FleetHub Program
ZipCar is partnering with the City of Boston to launch a new fleet-sharing program called FleetHub. Some existing city-owned fleet vehicles will be outfitted with Zipcar's proprietary car sharing technology for use by city employees, combining vehicles once dedicated to city departments to create an interdepartmental fleet. By focusing on fleet modernization, the City can dispose of older, under-utilized vehicles while modernizing the fleet with alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles.
Tips for Safer Winter Driving
The Federal Highway Administration estimates approximately 40% of crashes each year are directly related to snow, sleet, ice or other winter weather. Tips to help drivers navigate slippery winter roads include allowing sufficient time to reach their destination, use headlights, slow down, avoid using cruise control, and steer in the direction of the slide if their vehicle begins to skid. Fleet managers should review winter driving basics with their drivers.
