Learning from Geotab’s Battery Degradation Tool
How long will your electric batteries last? Will they lose range over time? Geotab has been researching this with their battery degradation tool, and they’ve been pleasantly surprised with the results.
Caution: Not All Transportation Quotes Are Created Equal
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in FMW in March, 2021, but as fleet costs continue their upward climb, it is even more compelling today.
By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor
"Not all transportation quotes are created equal.” That’s the cautionary message from Teri Ross, vice president of sales and client relations for PARS.
“Quotes for transport services may seem like a simple matter of specifying the cost for moving a vehicle from point A to point B,” says Teri.
“Transport company quotes are not the same and can result in ‘apples to oranges’ comparisons that astute fleet managers must drill into to discover the real cost. Otherwise, an unaware fleet manager will find unexpected charges on the invoice,” she notes.
“At first blush, a quote from one vendor may look to be $20 more expensive than another, leading to a decision to go with the cheaper quote,” Teri explains. “Once the invoice arrives, fuel costs can be $60, $80, even $100 more than the original quote depending on the distance."
Ford Warns Dealers Over F-150 Lightning Scalping
By Mike Sheldrick, Senior Editor
Fleet managers who might be tempted to order an out-of-stock unreserved 2022 F-150 Lightning are likely to be disappointed.
To tamp down overwhelming demand, Ford has stopped taking reservations for the vehicle and doubled initial production by 150,000 annually by mid-2023. More recently, it has made moves to end F-150 Lightning scalping among customers and dealers even before the truck's first deliveries -- likely by late June.
According to an article in Insideevs.com, Ford has warned dealers who interact with customers in a manner that is "negatively impacting customer satisfaction and damaging to the Ford Motor Company brand," and that "if it is determined that your dealership is engaging in such practices, Ford Motor Company reserves the right to redirect that dealership's allocation of the F-150 Lightning for the entirety of MY 2022."
New And Used Car Prices Keep Climbing. Don’t Expect Relief Anytime Soon
January 8, 2022 - An ongoing global shortage of microchips - key components needed for today’s autos to operate - that began in 2020 continues to slow down manufacturers’ production of new vehicles, which has translated into demand outpacing supply.
Part of the reason for record transaction prices is that automakers have slashed their discounts because, generally speaking, they don’t need to offer big incentives to sell cars right now.
If you have flexibility in the timing of your purchase and are not finding what you want on dealer lots, it may be worth ordering your car. Additionally, interest rates are generally low right now. The demand for used cars has pushed trade-in values well above normal. You may be able to negotiate on the value assigned to your trade-in.
Idle Time: US Drivers Waste $21 Billion Per Year While Going Nowhere
January 8, 2022 - The first step toward changing drivers’ behavior is making them understand how much fuel a running car or truck is using, even when it’s not moving.
Make some simple changes, including avoiding drive-thru windows and drive-up ATMs and shutting a vehicle down while it’s in an automated car wash. Turning engines off and on - even diesels - does no harm, and starters and batteries are much more durable now than they were in the past.
“Even on the coldest days, most manufacturers recommend avoiding idling and driving off gently after running the vehicle for about 30 seconds,” the energy department advises. “Not only will the engine warm up faster by being ‘at work,’ but the car’s interior will warm up more quickly as well.”
