Mobile Apps Might Be Cool, but Way Too Distracting, Says NHTSA Chief

NHTSA Chief David Strickland was willing to make jabbing comments to people in the audience at Telematics Detroit 2011. While it?s become a big profit center for automaker and technology suppliers, infotainment and other mobile apps are being heavily criticized. Federal regulators and several state and municipal governments say that even more needs to be done to improve safety and reduce driver distraction.

 

Biofuels Producer Solazyme Sees Strong Stock Prices as Investor Interest Continues

Even though biofuels have been controversial in the U.S., investors see them as a possible alternative fuel that's better than petroleum and will have increased demands. Solazyme makes biofuels from a variety of feedstocks that include microalgae, sugarcane, corn, and cellulosic. Another California-based biofuels company, CoolPlanetBioFuels, also received prominent investor support recently.

 

Smith Electric Vehicles, A123 Systems Working Together on Commercial EVs

Battery maker A123 Systems will be supplying batteries for Smith Electric Vehicles' commercial vehicles with A123's Nanophosphote Lithium Ion Battery Systems. Smith's Newton truck is the first recipient of A123 battery technology and 7.5-ton powerhouse. Smith Electric Vehicles provides electric freight transport trucks for Coca-Cola, Staples, and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Trade-in Prices At Record Highs

Demand for many late-model used vehicles is way up, which is also driving up trade-in prices for savvy shoppers. Small cars are especially booming, thanks to inventory shortages by some automakers following the Japan earthquake.

 

Distracted Driving Remains Focus of NHTSA

Distracted driving remains a major concern of Ray LaHood, head of the NHTSA. Some 17M vehicles will be equipped with advance info-tainment devices by 2017. BMW, following Subaru, will be running ads discouraging distracted driving throughout the year. New vehicles are providing a great deal of information to the driver; using this new technology properly will be a challenge to all drivers.