Multiple States Report Increased Car Thefts in 2022
April 24, 2022 - Nationwide data isn’t available yet for 2022, but car thefts are way up in some parts of the country. The increases are part of a years-long trend, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which notes that nationwide car thefts were up 16.5 percent in 2021 relative to 2019 figures.
In Washington state, for example, local law enforcement reported that vehicle thefts are up 88 percent in the first three months of 2022 compared to 2021: 12,569 so far this year compared to just 6,692 in the first three months of the last year.
NCIB last released its statistics for the vehicles most likely to be stolen in the U.S. back in October of 2021, revealing full-size trucks from Ford and Chevrolet were the most stolen vehicles in 2020. The Honda Accord and Civic were the next most stolen vehicles on the list.
Ford F-150 Lightning Backup Power Home Integration System Will Cost $3,895
May 1, 2022 - One of the most interesting features of the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup is its ability to be used as backup power for your home.
For starters, you'll need the Ford Charge Station Pro, which is a Level 2 home charging station that can charge the Lightning in eight hours. The Ford Charge Station Pro comes as-standard with the extended range F-150 Lightning but standard range customers will have to dish out an additional $1,310.
Next, you'll need the Home Integration System, which consists of an inverter, transfer switch, and a battery that runs the system in the event of a power outage. The Home Integration System will switch your home power from the utility line to the Ford Intelligent Backup Power system in the F-150 Lightning. The Home Integration System will cost an additional $3,895.
Nauto Adds Channel Partners, Makes Predictive Vehicle AI Safety Tech More Broadly Available
Company introduces new subscription offering for channel and small to mid-sized fleets looking to optimize their driver and road safety needs
Nauto® announced the addition of new partners to its channel program and a new Nauto Essentials Subscription that enables fleets of all sizes to accelerate their adoption of Nauto's predictive-AI vehicle safety technology.
With the addition of Brandmotion and Advantage Asset Tracking, Nauto now has 15 channel partners across established fleet management companies like Donlen, leasing companies such as Orix, and resellers through the partnership with Geotab Marketplace, and more.
City of Austin Fleet Mobility Team Tackles the Transition Towards EVs
By Fleet Management Weekly Staff
Like most government fleets, including cities all over the country, the city of Austin is pivoting towards electric vehicles.
The city's Fleet Mobility Services manages a comprehensive full life cycle management program for approximately 7,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment across the entire city, including emergency services as well as city owned utilities: water, electric, refuse, and public works.
The Emerging Technology Division of the fleet department is working on a strategy of advanced automotive technology on multiple fronts, including alternative fuel programs, electric vehicles, telematics, and car sharing.
Thanks to a clear mandate from the city of Austin’s leadership on developing a BEV program, Fleet Mobility Services has plenty of momentum to make the transition to EVs
Don’t Swap Your Gas-Guzzler for an Electric Vehicle to Avoid High Fuel Prices
April 29, 2022 - If you're thinking about swapping your internal combustion-powered car or truck for a new EV just to save money at the pump, make sure to do the math first - especially if your current ride is paid for.
If you tow earth-moving equipment or haul gravel for a living, you're probably going to want a heavy-duty diesel-powered pickup, because today's EVs aren't going to cut it. Likewise, if you reside in an apartment and don't have a parking space, much less a garage with a Level 2 charger, an electric vehicle may be a hard sell.
The Ford F-150 XLT-trim Lighting starts at $74,269 with a 320 mile range and estimated annual fuel cost of $1011. The conventionally powered Ford F-150 Lariat costs $56,020 with a 546 mile range and estimated annual fuel cost of $3028.
