Many Cars on U.S. Roads Do Not Meet NHTSA Safety Standard for Rollover Crashes
August 22, 2022 - The wrongful death suit that Ford lost in Georgia last week has something to do with a safety standard NHTSA revised in 2009, outlining the weight vehicles had to withstand in rollover crashes.
Back then, NHTSA said roofs in vehicles weighing up to 6,000 pounds had to withstand three times the vehicle weight, but NHTSA didn’t apply the same standard to heavier cars weighing between 7,000 and 10,000 pounds, saying these only had to withstand one-and-a-half times their weight. That lower safety standard is becoming a problem.
The agency ignored warnings from safety advocates that the roof- crush standard should be just as strict regardless of weight, but NHTSA said the cost of strengthening roofs on heavier vehicles would outweigh the benefits. Many cars that drivers in the U.S. currently use do not meet the NHTSA safety standard from 2009.
Come to the NETS Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference
If you are concerned about road safety, please consider attending the annual NETS Strength In Numbers Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference in Ann Arbor in October. It’s a great place to both learn and network.
‘Don’t Just Stand There, Make it Happen’
When people ask me what I like about the fleet industry, I immediately think of two things: It’s a nice industry – people are nice – and they are ever so willing to share their knowledge and experience to help others achieve success, even their competitors.
When our FMW team attended the NAFA Fleet Management Institute & Expo last April, it was our first foray into the fleet “world” since the pandemic. The week after, Ted Roberts and I attended RTA’s dynamic Fleet Success Summit.
Like many, we're feeling more confident now and are excitedly looking forward to the NETS Hybrid conference in Ann Arbor in early October, and then the AFLA Corporate Fleet Conference in Tucson the following week. Today, we learned about NAFA’s Leadership Development Institute, October 4-5, in Indianapolis.
Wondering whether you should attend any of these events? Here's a thought from an auto industry icon: “Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don’t just stand there, make it happen.” ~Lee Iacocca
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief
Envoy Technologies & Inspiration Fleet Boost Access to EVs Nationwide
Envoy Technologies, Inc and Inspiration Fleet have partnered to accelerate the national expansion of Envoy’s electric-only car sharing service.
Envoy is a community-based electric car sharing service and platform that offers electric vehicles as an exclusive amenity to apartments, hotels and workplaces.
Inspiration specializes in working with e-mobility pioneers like Envoy and is uniquely positioned to support this expansion. They partner with major auto manufacturers, charging networks and fleet service providers to finance, deliver and manage a seamless transition to all-electric fleets.
Steer EV Partners with Enterprise Fleet Management to Lease over 1,000 EVs
August 22, 2022 - Electric vehicle subscription company, Steer EV, announced it is entering into an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management to lease over 1,000 EVs.
Companies like Autonomy and Steer EV help give consumers the option to drive electric vehicles without the hassle of owning or leasing a car. According to recent data, the global vehicle subscription market was worth around $5 billion in 2021 and expects to reach over $31.7B by 2030.
Steer EV sees the new deal with Enterprise Fleet Management as an ample opportunity to grow its US presence. The agreement is worth between $80 and $150 million for over 1,000 EVs. Subscription services make it easy for users to go electric by offering a wide range of EVs to choose from.
