Increase in Natural Gas Exports Could Result in Higher U.S. Prices

There is growing interest in natural gas as an alternative fuel for certain types of trucking due to its attractive price compared to diesel. Some companies are seeking permits to ship liquefied natural gas to other countries, and a U.S. Department of Energy study says continuing increases in natural gas exports could cause U.S. prices to rise by between 36% and 54% by 2018.

 

Report Urges NHTSA to Increase Expertise in Vehicle Electronics

A National Academy of Sciences branch is asking the NHTSA to add technical help and refine its investigative techniques. It recommended that the federal agency form an advisory panel of specialists who can assist in regulatory reviews and specific vehicle investigations. The group said the NHTSA should have a better understanding of the more complex hardware and computer software being installed by automakers.

Continuing Strength in New Vehicle SalesCompact Car Cost of Ownership

New vehicle sales are looking strong in January and don?t seem to be reversing the strong close to 2011, according a JD Power and LMC Automotive report. At 681,000 units sold, it?s a 6% increase from January 2011. With a SAAR of 10.9M units, it's lower than December 2011 but well above January 2011.

 

Supreme Court Says Police GPS Tracker Infringed on 4th Amendment Rights

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that police violated the Constitution by placing a GPS tracking device on a suspect's car without a valid warrant and monitoring its movements for 28 days. The defendant's attorney said the decision was "a signal event in Fourth Amendment history." The majority of justices said the problem was placement of the GPS on private property, constituting a "search."

 

Saving Lives With ‘Lane-Keeping Technology’

Automakers are continuing to develop "lane-keeping technology" although the NHTSA wants additional research and evaluation before recommending it to the public. The technology is suited for certain road conditions; the angle of the sun, curves in the road or weather conditions can affect the system's ability to activate properly.