Engine Makers Improve Fuel Economy Using Emissions-Controlling Technologies
In a move towards smaller engines with more power, medium-duty truck engine makers have turned their attention back to improving fuel economy after more than a decade of focusing on controlling emissions. Isuzu Commercial Truck of America and Mitsubishi Fuso are two manufacturers who said their new trucks will get up to 20% better fuel mileage than their predecessors due to new fuel-economical engines. Truck buyers will find the engine technologies added to meet emissions standards over the past decade will make it easier to meet the new 2014 standards for fuel efficiency and greenhouse gases.
Many Drivers Unwilling to Pay for Car Safety Features
A recent MetLife Auto & Home American Safety Pulse poll found most drivers prefer to spend their money on GPS (63%) over safety features such as electronic stability control (45%). Electronic stability control significantly decreases the likelihood of a single-vehicle crash by up to 59% and provides a 23% reduction in the probability of fatal crashes, but only one-third of respondents said they would pay extra for the feature. Almost one-third (31%) had never heard of electronic stability control. Less than half of respondents were familiar with other safety features such as brake assist, forward collision, and lane departure warnings.
Fleets Find Fuel Card Benefits Extend Beyond Fill-Ups
Advances in fuel card technology now offer fleets benefits such as fuel-theft prevention and the ability to instantly access large amounts of driver data in real time. Newer fuel card programs are simplifying the process of using and getting information from the cards. With proper identification, fleet managers can review and manage their account from any computer with Internet access while eliminating the need for operators to manually input data. Rising fuel costs are forcing fleets to seek technological advantages in fuel purchasing that were previously unnecessary and involve negotiating discounts and preventing fuel theft.
Start-Stop Batteries Help Gasoline Cars Improve Mileage
Johnson Controls' start-stop batteries are designed to improve mileage by about 5 percent and help carmakers meet new federally-mandated efficiency standards of 54.5 mpg by 2025. When a vehicle with start-stop batteries comes to a halt, so does its engine, saving fuel and boosting miles per gallon. The car's advanced battery keeps the lights on and the stereo playing until the pedal is pressed and the engine restarts. Stop-start systems include not only the battery but brake sensors and other custom car parts and should add about $500 to the purchase price of a new car.
Drowsy Driving Creates Major Safety Risk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 100,000 automobile accidents occur every year as a direct result of fatigued driving. Such accidents lead to approximately 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses annually. Because there is no foolproof way to determine whether or not a crash was caused by fatigue, some estimates suggest driver fatigue may be a factor in as many as one in four accidents. Research has shown that the levels of impairment created by sleep deprivation are comparable to those that occur with intoxication. Getting enough sleep on a regular basis is the most important thing that drivers can do.
