Wandering the halls of the SAE 2009 World Congress, I came upon the Scuderi Group booth. I immediately stopped because I had lingered in their display back in 2007 to study their split-cycle engine concept. At that point, all the company had were the mathematical formulas on thermodynamics that seemed to prove the potential for their innovative combustion cycle. An animated video showed how the engine might work.
At SAE 2009, the company had a full-size cutaway version of the engine, and a working prototype will be tested early this summer. Some seven years in the making, progress continues and the company projects that the Scuderi Cycle offers the potential to be 30-percent more efficient than current internal combustion engines.
Generally, the concept of the Scuderi Cycle is easy to understand. It splits the four cycles of a typical Otto-cycle engine between two cylinders. Intake and compression strokes are handled in one cylinder while power and exhaust strokes happen in a second cylinder. Most of the gains in efficiency come from the extreme compression of the intake charge (upwards of 200 bar or 2900 psi).
In an interview with Stephen Scuderi, the son of the inventor, future tests will benchmark the feasibility of the new combustion cycle. "Once we prove that it works, we plan on licensing the technology to engine manufacturers to develop for their specific applications," Scuderi said. According to company sources, the Scuderi group is discussing their technology with 14 different engine manufacturers. The engine should work well for any typical engine application, including all aspects of the transportation sector as well as fixed-location uses for applications like generators.
According to Scuderi, production versions could run on gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. The company also sees great promise for turbocharging the design. According to the company, the projected torque characteristics of the engine will be similar to a diesel engine, with excellent low-speed power.
If you think that companies like General Motors only think about fuel economy when new CAFE standards are making news, you'd be wrong. GM and other manufacturers are always looking for new technologies to more efficiently power the next generation of transportation.
Need proof? You could look to the 1978 Eldorado GM built in the 1980s that ran on coal dust. The engine was a turbine. Engineers labeled that technology "disruptive" and they couldn't get the NOx under control, but it goes to show the imagination and vision of automotive engineers.
A less disruptive and more promising technology is one that been around for a few years, Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI). Several manufacturers have produced working prototypes, including Mercedes-Benz. The technology promises fuel-saving and emissions-reductions.
According to GM, an HCCI engine, when combined with other advanced technologies, provides up to 15 percent greater fuel economy than a comparable, non-HCCI engine by radically altering the combustion process.
In general terms, the heat and pressure within an HCCI engine's cylinders are used to ignite the air/fuel mixture without the aid of a traditional spark-generated flame - roughly analogous to the combustion process of a diesel engine. Heat is a necessary enabler for the HCCI process, so traditional spark ignition is used when the engine is cold to generate heat within the cylinders and instigate "auto-ignition" of the mixture.
More than a laboratory experiment, HCCI has been successfully demonstrated in prototype models in North America and Europe. Last spring, GM took the technology on the road, putting journalists and others in an HCCI-equipped Saturn Aura for real-world drives in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York. The vehicle featured the breakthrough of auto-ignition (HCCI) from idle to 60 mph, which significantly advances the benefits of HCCI and the viability for production.
"HCCI delivers enhanced fuel savings without sacrificing the performance consumers have come to expect," said Prof. Dr. Uwe Grebe, executive director for GM Powertrain Advanced Engineering. "It is a great example of how GM is developing advanced engine technology for consumers that squeezes more miles per gallon of gas and reduces emissions."
HCCI's efficiency comes from reduced pumping losses, burning fuel faster at lower temperatures and reducing the heat energy lost during the combustion process. Consequently, less carbon dioxide is released because the engine's operation in HCCI mode is more efficient.
During HCCI mode, the engine approaches the efficiency of a diesel, but unlike a diesel, it requires only a conventional exhaust system. Diesel engines require more elaborate and more expensive exhaust "aftertreatment" to reduce emissions.
Even though the U.S. government is working very closely with both Chrysler and General Motors as it tries to help build profitable companies from the two struggling American automakers, the government will not tell the companies what to build.
There have been fears of the government mandating exactly what type of vehicles to build ever since GM received its first loan from the Bush administration. Admittedly, the rumors seem like they could be true, as the government may end up with approximately a 50 percent share of GM's equity. But it turns out they have little basis in reality.
"The government is not going to prevent GM from making every type of vehicle it can sell profitably. The goal is to put the company in a position to succeed," a source close to the task force told the Detroit Free Press on the condition of anonymity. "The government is not going to be in the business of telling GM what products they can build."
GM's future product lineup will contain more cars and fewer trucks, but that's partly a response to the changing automotive market and not because of government demands, insists the source. "Car companies across the industry are making a play for the small-car market because of rising fuel prices and fuel-economy standards," said the source.
"The government wants to get its money back," said Jim Hall, managing director of 2953 Analytics. "To do that, GM has to build vehicles that sell profitably," which have typically been SUVs, trucks, and performance vehicles. To that end, GM says it is working on fuel-efficient technology for use across its lineup – from vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt and Cruze to SUVs like the Escalade Platinum Hybrid – as the company intends to still be a full-line vehicle manufacturer after its restructuring is over.
"The goal is to get the government out of this as quickly as possible," said the government source. "The task force was told to behave as investors - to build the company's value. Then it's up to management to make decisions that are in the best interest of their stakeholders."
Last Tuesday, President Obama unveiled the administration's new restrictions for fuel economy. A 35% increase rose the overall average miles per gallon required by car manufacturers to 35.5 mpg from the current 27.5 mpg. Following his unveiling of the new plan the President gave his support to Ford by mentioning he owns a Ford Hybrid back in Chicago and that it runs great. This support is well received by the loyal customers of the Preston Automotive Group in Maryland.
With the release of the new Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Preston Auto Group has noticed the ongoing trend of the hybrid fuel-saving phenomenon. The Ford Motor Company has also planned the comeback of the Ford Taurus, scheduled for release during this summer, insuring that buyers from the Maryland and Delaware area will rely on the customer support and the vast inventory that Preston Ford has to offer.
The sales representatives at Preston Automotive Group know that people expect the most value for their dollar, which is why Preston Ford has received The Ford Motor Company President's Award four years in a row. Their award winning service combined with Ford Motor Company's collection of fuel saving cars and trucks is why President Barack Obama supports Maryland and Delaware Ford dealers like Preston Automotive Group.
Some skeptics believe that in the U.S. automotive industry there will be no demand for small cars in America however the Preston Automotive Group is confident that there is a great market for small cars, as foreign manufactures have already proven. Also with gas prices likely to climb higher during the summer months, Maryland and Delaware shoppers will have higher interest in fuel saving hybrids and small cars for summer travel.
The South African automotive industry would only be able to create and sustain more jobs if it could achieve a vision of producing one-million cars a year, the National Association of Automobile and Allied Manufacturers (Naacam) reported on Monday.
This was one of the main reasons that Naacam was supporting the second South African Automotive Week (Saaw), an industry showcase and think-tank that was being held in Port Elizabeth during October this year.
Naacam executive director Roger Pitot said that it would not be possible to meet an industry target of 70% local content without much higher production volumes. Hitting the one-million vehicle-a-year mark, would increase employment levels in the auto industry by between 50% and 60%, he added.
Saaw chairperson Alfred da Costa, who has interests in component manufacturing, said Saaw 2009 would be a mix of a four-day industry expo, a "Navigating the Storm: A roadmap to Vision 2020" conference and networking opportunities.
International interest from manufacturers in China, India, Taiwan and Holland showed that the African market was seen as being a potential growth area by the world’s automotive industry, he said. Da Costa urged local component manufacturers to turn this to their advantage by entering into licence agreements with foreign suppliers wanting to enter the African and local South African markets.
Over the next two years, the component industry would be characterised by mergers, takeovers and a consolidation of suppliers by original equipment manufacturers, the Saaw said in a statement on Monday.
The local companies already had the skills, facilities and infrastructure in place, and would benefit from technology.
"Original equipment manufacturers demand that local suppliers have international licensing agreements in place. Therefore, having international links in place is not a choice but a necessity," said Da Costa.
Saaw is the only industry event supported by both Naacam and the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa, together with the Automotive Industry Development Centre.
Bosch Automotive Electronics India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Bosch Group, inaugurated its manufacturing plant here on Tuesday. The plant will manufacture electronic control units (ECUs) for diesel and petrol fuel injection systems.
Bosch had already invested Rs. 60 crore in this facility and plans an additional investment of Rs. 68 crore and increase employee strength to 300 persons.
Automotive Group Chairman of Bosch Bernd Bohr told reporters that the company was already planning to supply electronic components for Tata Nano and the low-cost car technology developed in India might be used later in Europe. The two R&D centres in Bangalore would be part of developing such technology. "Some of the production in the Indian units is for export to countries like Korea," he said.
Member of the board, Robert Bosch, Germany, Volkmar Denner, said market studies indicated an early revival from the slowdown in India, which was a significant automobile market, expected to grow 7 per cent by next year. "Last year, the Latin American and Asian markets did better than North America and Europe," he said.
Managing Director of Bosch, V. K. Viswanathan, said Bosch in India had a turnover of Rs. 6,500 crore last year with the units in Bangalore contributing Rs. 5,477 crore.
The automotive electronics segment had grown at a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 20 per cent since 2002.
Auto dealership chain Sonic Automotive Inc (SAH.N) expects to see the highest sale of used cars in May since it went public in 1997, helped by demand for luxury cars with extended warranties, its chief financial officer told Bloomberg in an interview.
Sonic's May sales are expected to exceed 7,000, CFO David Cosper told the news agency, adding that new car sales were down for the month.
Ray Ciccolo, president of Village Automotive Group, said the company has acquired South Shore Volvo in Norwell for $4 million.
The dealership will be called Volvo Village of Norwell, Ciccolo said in a press release.
The company also owns Boston Volvo Village, which it describes as the largest and oldest Volvo dealership in New England; the Norwell dealership will be the company's second Volvo dealership.
"We have had a lot of success with the Volvo brand, and we are excited to bring the level of service that our dealerships provide as well as our enthusiasm for the Volvo brand to the South Shore community," Ciccolo said in a statement.
Volkswagen is looking to grow its expertise in hybrids and electric cars by exploring a partnership with Chinese automaker BYD.
Though VW is Europe's largest car company, BYD has considerable experience in lithium-ion batteries and is a division of BYD Co., which produces them for cell phones.
The deal was announced Monday after BYD officials visited VW facilities in Germany. No terms were revealed.
Volkswagen said the move allows it to expand its alternative-propulsion strategy, called BlueMotionTechnologies, and could help it grow in China. VW also has announced deals with Sanyo and Toshiba for partnerships involving electric cars.
BYD is a small player compared with VW, but it received a $230 million investment last September from a firm owned by American billionaire Warren Buffett. BYD appears to have ambitious growth plans and said at the Detroit auto show that it wants to bring an electric car to the United States.
Based in Shenzhen, China, BYD has been making cars since 2005. It has a plug-in hybrid, the F3DM, on sale in China and is planning to launch five vehicles in 2009, including two with alternative powertrains: the F6DM plug-in hybrid and the e6 electric van.
"Particularly for the Chinese market, potential partners such as BYD could support us in quickly expanding our activities," Volkswagen board member Ulrich Hackenberg said in a statement.
The VW-BYD agreement parallels a deal announced last week involving another German giant, Daimler, which purchased a 10 percent stake in California electric-car maker Tesla.
Auto dealership chain Sonic Automotive Inc (SAH.N) expects to see the highest sale of used cars in May since it went public in 1997, helped by demand for luxury cars with extended warranties, its chief financial officer told Bloomberg in an interview.
Sonic's May sales are expected to exceed 7,000, CFO David Cosper told the news agency, adding that new car sales were down for the month.
Average gas prices in Denver have risen nearly 19 cents in the last month, according to the American Automobile Association's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.
The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Denver as of Monday is $2.15 and 8/10ths, AAA said. On the same date in April, the average price was $1.96 and 9/10ths.
Monday's price for mid-grade gas in Denver is $2.30 and 9/10ths a gallon, up from $2.10 and 6/10ths a month ago. For premium, it’s $2.41 and 2/10ths, up from $2.20.
A year ago, regular gas in Denver averaged $3.57 and 7/10ths a gallon. The all-time peak price was $4.00 and 6/10ths on July 17, 2008, AAA said.
In Boulder-Longmont, the average price for regular gas was $2.15 and 7/10th Monday, up from $1.98 and 3/10ths a month ago.
For now, increased demand is pushing up the price investors are willing to pay for a barrel of crude oil, according to the AAA. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude oil closed up $1.22, at $54.42 per barrel, on Monday. Crude oil has been trading around $50 a barrel this spring, up from around $30 over the winter, the AAA said.
The Fuel Gauge Report is compiled for the AAA by the Oil Price Information Service with the help of Wright Express.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co said on Monday its new Insight model became the first hybrid to be crowned Japan's best-selling car last month.
The Insight went on sale in Japan in early February as Honda's first real attempt to challenge Toyota Motor Corp's dominance in the gasoline-electric hybrid segment.
A ranking of Japan's top 30 excluding 660cc minivehicles announced by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association showed the Insight selling 10,481 units in April, catapulting it from 21st place in March.
The car, whose main sell is its affordability with a price tag starting at 1.89 million yen ($19,190), was followed by Honda's Fit subcompact.
Toyota's Vitz subcompact ranked third. Other Honda and Toyota models comprised the top 10 list.
Toyota's flagship hybrid, the Prius, came in 21st ahead of the launch of its successor third-generation version on May 18.
Honda was the only domestic brand to see its car sales rise in April from the year before.
Average gas prices in Denver have risen nearly 19 cents in the last month, according to the American Automobile Association's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.
The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Denver as of Monday is $2.15 and 8/10ths, AAA said. On the same date in April, the average price was $1.96 and 9/10ths.
Monday's price for mid-grade gas in Denver is $2.30 and 9/10ths a gallon, up from $2.10 and 6/10ths a month ago. For premium, it’s $2.41 and 2/10ths, up from $2.20.
A year ago, regular gas in Denver averaged $3.57 and 7/10ths a gallon. The all-time peak price was $4.00 and 6/10ths on July 17, 2008, AAA said.
In Boulder-Longmont, the average price for regular gas was $2.15 and 7/10th Monday, up from $1.98 and 3/10ths a month ago.
For now, increased demand is pushing up the price investors are willing to pay for a barrel of crude oil, according to the AAA. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude oil closed up $1.22, at $54.42 per barrel, on Monday. Crude oil has been trading around $50 a barrel this spring, up from around $30 over the winter, the AAA said.
The Fuel Gauge Report is compiled for the AAA by the Oil Price Information Service with the help of Wright Express.
A shared anniversary for a legendary display and BMW led to double the fun at Lake Como, writes Bob Montgomery
A UNIQUE PLATFORM for the most beautiful automobiles from the past as well as some of the boldest concept cars from the present, the 80th annual Concorso d'Eleganza took place in the glorious location of the Grand Hotel Villa d'Este and the Villa Erba in Cernobbio on the shores of Lake Como.
This year's event was a double anniversary, for sponsor BMW Group was also celebrating 80 years since it produced its first automobile, giving rise to several special displays of BMW cars at the event.
Also celebrated at the Concorso D'Eleganza was 100 years of the Bugatti and Morgan marques.
As expected, Bugatti Automobiles SAS displayed a range of examples of this most famous of marques, from the "Tank" Grand Prix car to the last Bugatti Atlantic 57SC built – which is owned by Ralph Lauren.
Four special models of the Bugatti Veyron were also displayed, finished in the racing colours – blue for France, red for Italy, green for Britain and white for Germany.
The four supercars were displayed in front of signs with the names and racing histories of four drivers closely identified with Bugatti's racing success.
One of the surprising aspects of the Concorso d'Eleganza is the very high proportion of cars that have been in the possession of the same family since new.
This sets it apart from that other great Concours d'Elegance event, Pebble Beach in California, where the cars are predominantly in the hands of rich collectors, and reinforces the sense of "old wealth" that predominates the Italian event.
Indeed, speaking to several such owners, the overall impression gained is not so much of a great motoring event as one that marks the commencement of the “season”.
The cars on display were subject to a pre-selection process so that only six examples were displayed in each class.
Very much the crème de la crème – and what a selection! A small number of the most interesting included a Mercedes 500K from 1936, which had until recently been part of the collection of Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, a spectacular yellow Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Sedanca Town Car from 1933 similar to the model in the film The Yellow Rolls-Royce, and a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso model from 1963, which was for a long time owned by the actor Steve McQueen.
Cars with a competition history were also well represented, and here pride of place must go to a superb Porsche 356 Glöckler from 1952.
Walter Glöckler was a successful Frankfurt motor dealer for whom six examples of a super lightweight Porsche 356 were built.
With an aluminum body and a hard top by the coachbuilder Weidenhausen, six were apparently built – with the example on display believed to be the sole survivor.
Two other cars must be mentioned. First of these is the wacky BMW 2800 from 1969 – a sort of Fiat X1/9 on steroids, also designed by Bertone and based on BMW 2500 running gear and first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1969.
Not part of the competition, but shown for the first time outside the BMW Museum, was the BMW Gina Light study which was undoubtedly the car that drew the greatest crowds and greatest reaction.
The Gina Light pushes the limits of contemporary materials and production processes far into the future.
This is most evident in the practically seamless outer skin, made of an elastic textile material which is stretched over a moveable framework.
While this is the single feature which attracts the most attention – and lots of finger-poking – the Gina Light abounds in clever details such as the wing and central mirror design.
Best of the Show was awarded by the international jury to a sublime Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B (1938). Fittingly, this was the choice of not just the jury but also of the public vote.
The Concorso d’Eleganza is an evocation of the grand era which was the heyday of many of the cars present and provides a magnificent setting in which to view and appreciate the glory of a bygone age of car design. Long may it continue.
Tacoma council members provided a big octane boost Tuesday for the long-planned LeMay Automobile Museum.
Council members approved a resolution clearing the way for the museum to apply for a $3.5 million loan from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 108 program.
Museum officials said they would use the money to leverage other financing that will allow them to break ground this year on a museum near the Tacoma Dome.
David Madeira, museum president and chief executive, said the loan – combined with funding from the New Market Tax Credit Program – would give the museum 100 percent of its goal and allow it to move ahead with construction of the $28.4 million first phase.
It could take a couple of months to get the final approval on the tax credits, but Madeira said the project qualifies for the program and there is no reason to believe it won't take place.
"It's a great night," Madeira told The News Tribune. "We appreciate the city's partnership and help getting this done."
Council members, stung by criticism from taxpayers, emphasized that the federal government is the source of the loan funds – not the city's general fund.
"It is not in fact a loan from the city," said Councilman Mike Lonergan after reading from a letter from a constituent. "We are not giving anything away."
Lonergan said council members believe there is an economic development benefit from the museum, and they are "not putting any of the city’s own limited resources" into the loan.
Councilwoman Marilyn Strickland said the museum will serve as "our own economic stimulus package." It will provide construction jobs to women and minority-owned companies, and give Tacoma a tourist attraction, Strickland said.
Tacoma has participated in the Section 108 program for about 20 years. Mayor Bill Baarsma noted that money from the program was used to save the Sheraton hotel, now known as the Hotel Murano.
The museum would have up to seven years to repay the loan, and the debt will be secured by the museum building and land, pledge from a capital fund-raising campaign and cars from the museum collection.
The Union ministry for heavy industries has asked states to set up a single-window clearance system for the automotive sector for putting upcoming manufacturing projects on the fast track.
The idea is to offer manufacturers all local clearances such as factory licenses, land allotment, environmental certifications, and power supply at a single facility, according to Surjit Mitra, additional secretary, ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises.
He said the absence of a single window system was one of the main reasons why India was unable to fully utilise the twin advantage of possessing one of the largest pools of talented scientists, engineers and technicians in the world at extremely competitive costs.
Currently, the automobile industry in India is concentrated around manufacturing hubs like Manesar in Gurgaon, Pune and Chennai. “We are giving a special thrust to last mile connectivity between ports and auto hubs and creation of specialised port infrastructure for handling vehicle exports. Ports like Chennai and Mumbai have already improved their connectivity and are able to handle more automobile exports, “ said Mr Mitra.
The attempts by heavy industry ministry to speed up the setting up of single window clearance at state level comes at a time when the automobile industry in India is emerging out of the slowdown blues. On a sequential basis there has been a marked up-tick in the primary dispatches by the major auto players since the beginning of the year. Passenger cars and two-wheelers are two segments that have seen a revival in demand of late.
The Indian auto market grew 0.7% to 97.2 lakh units in FY 09 with the government’s stimulus package helping to revive demand. The government had cut excise duty by 4% on all vehicles and reduced excise duty to 8% from 10% on commercial vehicles and auto parts.
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. sold 115,000 cars in the first quarter and had sales revenue of CNY23.15 billion ($3.39 billion), the company's general manager, Zeng Qinghong, said Monday.
Zeng, who was speaking at a news conference at the Shanghai auto show, didn't give comparison data. Guangzhou Auto will consider mergers and acquisitions, as well as joint ventures and cooperation with local and foreign companies, and will launch its planned initial public offering when it is approved by regulators and market conditions are favorable, he said.
The company submitted an IPO application to China's securities regulator last year, he added. State media reported late last year the company delayed the listing because the unfolding global financial crisis slowed growth in the domestic auto market.
Since 1893, when brothers Charles and Frank Duryea revved up the first gasoline-powered car manufactured in the United States, Americans have had a deep love for the automobile.
Getting a driver's license has long been a major rite of passage for American teenagers, and pop culture from music to films to television shows has celebrated the automobile.
But the country's love affair with cars hit a rocky patch as gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon last July and the country tumbled into recession.
RITE OF PASSAGE
Getting a driver's license represents freedom, enabling teens to come and go without needing a ride from a parent. The responsibility of a car also is a step toward adulthood.
In 2007, 87 percent of people 16 or older had a driver licenses in the United States, 205.7 million Americans, according to U.S. data.
85 percent of licensed drivers had their own car.
RISE AND FALL OF THE SUV
Passenger cars are the vehicles of choice among Americans with 135.4 million registered in 2006, data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics showed. But Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have accounted for three-quarters of new vehicles since 1995, preliminary findings from the 2008 National Household Travel Survey conducted by the Transportation Department show.
SUVs on the road skyrocketed from 12 million in 1995 to 36 million in 2008, according to the initial findings.
But the trend is waning -- SUVs were the worst sellers in 2008, including such names as the Nissan Armada, Hummer and Dodge Durango.
DRIVING IN POP CULTURE
American musicians from Chuck Berry to the Beach Boys to Willie Nelson to Prince have scored pop hits with songs about cars and driving. There is even a whole genre romanticizing car crashes, as "Last Kiss" and "Dead Man's Curve" illustrate.
"Pimp My Ride," a reality show airing on MTV, took cars in the worst condition and restored and customized them. "Fast and Furious" -- the fourth film in a popular series -- is the latest box-office smash that celebrates driving.
Sales of new cars across Europe fell by 9% in March 2009 compared with a year ago, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
It is the 11th month in a row that the sector has seen sales fall, but the figures were slightly better than expected, the association said.
It said government handouts encouraging motorists to trade in old cars for new ones had helped, especially in Germany.
Sales in Germany, Europe's largest car market, were up 39.9% in March.
But the increase there was not enough to compensate for big drops in new registrations in the UK and Spain. In the UK sales were down by 30.5% while in Spain sales sank 38.7%.
The increase in German sales has been triggered by a scheme that gives buyers cash if they scrap an old car to buy a new one.
Similar schemes are also running in France and Italy, where sales of new cars were also up in March.
Neither the UK nor Spain offer the incentive, although it has been predicted that the UK will announce a similar plan next week.
Tata Motors said it will launch its ultra-cheap Nano car in Mumbai on Monday — a vehicle meant to herald a revolution by making it possible for the world's poor to purchase their first car.
But few predict the snub-nosed Nano will be able to turn around the company, which has been beset by flagging sales and high debt, anytime soon.
The Nano, which is priced starting at about 100,000 rupees ($2,050), is a stripped-down car for stripped-down times: It is 10.2 feet (3.1 meters) long, has one windshield wiper, a 623cc rear engine, and a diminutive trunk, according to the company's Web site.
It does not have air bags or antilock brakes — neither of which is required in India — and if you want air conditioning, a radio, or power steering, you'll have to pay extra.
Tata Motors has been hard-hit by the global downturn. Commercial vehicle sales, its core business, have been decimated as India's growth slows, and consumers have had trouble getting affordable car loans.
The company declared a loss of 2.63 billion rupees ($54 million) for the October to December quarter, and it has been struggling to refinance the remaining $2 billion of a $3 billion loan it took to buy the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford Motor Co. in June.
Even the launch of the Nano has been scaled back.
The car is arriving six months late because of violent protests by farmers and opposition political party leaders over land, which forced Tata to move its Nano factory from West Bengal to the business-friendly state of Gujarat.
Company officials have said it will take at least a year to complete the new factory, and until then, Tata will only be able to produce a limited number of Nanos from its other car plants in India.
Tata Motors hasn't yet given details on production volumes, but most analysts doubt the company will be able to make more than about 50,000 cars in the next year — a far cry from the 250,000 the company had planned to roll out initially.
Vaishali Jajoo, auto analyst at Mumbai's Angel Broking, said even if Tata Motors manages to sell 250,000 Nanos a year, it will only add 3 percent to the company's total revenues.
"That doesn't make a significant difference to the top line. And for the bottom line, it will take five to six years to break even," Jajoo said.
Still, in this new age of global thrift, the Nano sounds appealing to more than just the struggling farmers and petty businessmen across India that Tata initially had in mind for the car.
"What do you think the chances are that the Nano will come to America? Personally, I'd love one," Steven Smith, whose first car was a Volkswagen Dune Buggy, wrote recently on the Nano Facebook page.
Tata Motors unveiled the Tata Nano Europa, a slightly more robust version of the Indian model, at the Geneva Motor Show this month, with a planned launch of 2011. But the company has no plans to bring the Nano to America anytime soon.
Your chances of needing the services of a collision repair and refinishing facility are greater than you think. Whether it's from storm damage, rust and corrosion, acid rain and harsh sunlight, or an automobile accident outright, the risks are real. It's wise, then, to know how to select a body shop.
People often think "the insurance company will take care of it for me. In fact, it is your responsibility to choose who will do the repairs for you. This is not a choice that should be taken lightly.
I. Preliminaries
Start shopping for a body shop before you need one; you can make better decisions when you are not rushed or in a panic.
Ask friends and associates for their recommendations. Even in this high-tech era, old-fashioned word-of-mouth reputation is still valuable.
Check with your local consumer organization regarding the reputation of the facility in question. Ask about the number of complaints, if any, and determine how the complaints were resolved.
Try to visit the shop before making the decision on who will repair your vehicle.
II. At the Shop
Ask if the shop customarily handles your vehicle make and model. Ask how long the shop has been in business.
Look for a neat, well-organized facility with modern equipment. Many vehicle manufacturers recommend specific repair procecures and equipment for the repair of their vehicles. Ensure that the facility you choose is trained in these procedures and has the proper equipment.
Professionally run establish meets will have a courteous staff willing to answer all of your questions.
Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area: civic and community service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition Program status, customer service awards.
Are you impressed by the type of vehicles the company is repairing and the way the vehicles are being handled?
Look for signs that the staff is technically competent, such as trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work training from I-CAR (the Inter-Industry ASE Conference on Auto Collision Repair). Also look for ASE certifications—a national standard of technician competence.
Policies, guarantees, and methods of payment should be posted or explained.
RECARO is recalling these convertible child safety seats because the central front adjuster strap on some seats may slip within the metal adjuster (A-Lock) that controls the tightness of the harness straps, thereby preventing those straps from being tightened enough to properly secure a child in the seat. The affected models include RECARO Signo seats manufactured from February through September 2008.
RECARO will replace any defective seat free of charge. For more information, owners may contact the company's customer service department at 1-888-473-2290 or visit its website at www.recaro.com.
In addition, parents and caregivers are urged to sign up with NHTSA to automatically receive updates about child seat recalls via email. The agency's research shows that fewer than half of all affected consumers respond to child seat recalls.
For the first time, EPA is proposing to set emission limits for formaldehyde, benzene, acrolein and other air toxics from certain stationary diesel and gas-fired engines. In 2008, over 1 million of these engines generated electricity, powered equipment and operated during emergencies at industrial, agricultural and other facilities. The proposed limits would apply to engines located at smaller sources of air toxics.
For major sources of air toxics, this rule would only apply to engines that are:
Smaller than or equal to 500 horsepower that were constructed or reconstructed before June 12, 2006, or
Larger than or equal to 500 horsepower that were constructed or reconstructed before December 19, 2002.
To meet the proposed emissions requirements, owners and operators of these engines would need to install "after treatment" controls, such as filters or catalysts, to engine exhaust systems.
EPA estimates that this rule would reduce air toxics emissions by 13,000 tons per year, particle pollution by 2,600 tons and carbon monoxide emissions by 510,000 tons, when fully implemented in 2013.
The public comment period will be open for 60 days upon publication in the Federal Register.
The companies are Active Spectrum, Inc. of Amherst, N.H., Fuss & O'Neill of Manchester, Conn. and Ion Signature Technology, Inc. of North Smithfield, R.I. The grants were issued under EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
Active Spectrum, Inc. has been awarded $69,807 to develop its proposed sensor for monitoring of particulate emissions in diesel exhaust gases. This would be a new, low-cost soot sensor for on-board measurement of soot emissions in diesel exhaust gases. The proposed technology is differentiated from existing methods because of its exceptional sensitivity, high specificity to carbon particulates, and strength against deterioration by accumulated soot. Potential commercial applications of the real-time sensor include diesel emissions reductions by the control of the engine timing in response to sensor readings. Having active control of the engine timing to reduce soot will create a new or additional technique to meet emissions standards for particulate matter beyond conventional approaches using diesel particulates filters. Industrial applications include real-time monitoring of particulate emissions from boilers, power plants, and marine diesel engines.
Fuss & O'Neill will receive $70,000 for the development of electricity generation from anaerobic wastewater treatment in microbial fuel fells. New research with Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology has demonstrated an ability to extract chemical energy contained in wastewater and convert it to electrical power. Chemical energy extracted from wastewater carbohydrates has the potential, in theory, to convert wastewater treatment plants from huge power users to sources of electrical power. This effort is proposed to bring to market MFC technology which could have a radically positive effect on a huge energy-consuming industry in the U.S. It also achieves three of EPA's goals for wastewater facilities: reducing energy requirements, better managing energy use, and the cost-effective production and recover of green power. This technology has the potential to generate sufficient power to operate a host treatment facility without adding or requiring additional energy – in short, it would have the potential to achieve environmental goals in an energy self-sufficient manner.
Ion Signature Technology will receive $69,989for the development of an In Situ thermal extraction detection system (TEDS) for rapid, accurate, quantitative analysis of environmental pollutants in the subsurface.
The goal of this technology is to provide data to better manage pollution site investigations and cleanup. TEDS would create a collection and analysis system that retrieves soil-bound pollutants as well as soluble and non soluble contaminants from groundwater. When the system is commercialized, it will "sniff" for the presence of pollutants; identify the pollutant, its location and quantity. This process will create conceptual models that depict the location and rate of movement of the pollution. The end result of this process also reduces the regular costs of pollution remediation.
Approximately 25 million small businesses in the United States employ more than 50 percent of the American workforce and develop most of the country's new technologies. SBIR was Three New England-based companies will share nearly $210,000 from EPA for the research and development of green technology. established to ensure that new technologies are developed to solve priority environmental problems, and is just one example of EPA's commitment to achieving real world environmental results through the use of innovative technology.
Since its inception in 1982, EPA's SBIR program has helped fund more than 600 small businesses through its two-phased approach. Phase I awards are used to investigate the scientific merit and technical feasibility of a proposed concept. If the results of this phase are successful, businesses can submit proposals for Phase II contracts, which can reach amounts up to $345,000. These three New England companies are receiving grant money for Phase I research.
Clean Cities Funding Opportunity Issued February 24, 2009 The Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector. The intent of the FOA modification will be to further domestic manufacture and use of energy efficient advanced transportation vehicles (ATVs), alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), and alternative fuels (AFs).
As required by section 721 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, prospective applicants shall be limited to heads of state or local governments or a metropolitan transportation authority, or combinations of these, and a designated Clean Cities Coalition (designated Coalition list is at Clean Cities Coalitions) in order to apply. Areas of Interest (AOI) include
funds for refueling infrastructure for AFs on cost-shared projects (funding minimum of $1.3 million to maximum of $2.6 million);
funds for incremental costs of dedicated AFVs purchased from original equipment manufacturers (funding min. of $800K to max. of $1.6 million);
funds for education, outreach, and workshops for petroleum reduction fuels and technologies to raise awareness and foster a greater understanding of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies (funding min. $900K to $1.8 million);
funds for cost-shared projects that expand the use of alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies including the installation or acquisition of infrastructure necessary to directly support these vehicles (funding max. is $300 million).
The 2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan (FRP) has been released by the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Defense, and Homeland Security. Published jointly by the three departments, the plan describes federal policy for operating and regulating common-use radionavigation systems with the goal of improving both national security and the safety and efficiency of the nation's transportation system.
The federal government operates radionavigation systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) to enable safe transportation and encourage commerce within the United States. The FRP outlines the policy and plan for operating federal radionavigation systems used in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) applications and suggests how existing systems may be consolidated and improved. It also aims to strengthen the mix of civil and military systems that will advance the nation's transportation infrastructure by increasing its capacity to move people and products safely and efficiently.
Systems addressed in the plan include: GPS and GPS Augmentations; Long Range Navigation (Loran); Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-directional Range (VOR); Distance Measuring Equipment (DME); Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN); Instrument Landing System (ILS); Microwave Landing System (MLS); and Aeronautical Nondirectional Radiobeacons (NDB).
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is advising travelers to prepare for a clipper system that will be moving into the state from the northwest around midday today and continue east/southeast across the state through Friday night.
The diagonal direction of the storm is expected to bring:
5 to 7 inches of snow in portions of the northeast (northeast of a line extending from Mason City southeast to Clinton).
3 to 6 inches of snow around Algona, Iowa Falls, Fort Dodge, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, and Muscatine.
1 to 3 inches of snow around Spencer, Storm Lake, Ames, Des Moines, Ottumwa, Fairfield, Burlington and Keokuk.
None to 1/2 inch of snow in the southwest and parts of the northwest.
Strong northwesterly winds will develop behind this system with areas of blowing snow possible before winds subside by late afternoon Saturday. Expect limited visibility in areas that receive snow, especially when winds reach up to 40 mph during the overnight hours.
Motorists are reminded to prepare for the unexpected during winter storms.
Buckle up, everyone in all seating positions.
Check road and weather conditions before making your trip.
High-speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail service will gain significant new funding under a measure of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which President Barack Obama signed on February 17. The act provides $8 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration to provide capital assistance to such rail projects, placing priority on projects that support intercity high-speed rail service. The act also provides $1.3 billion to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, with the majority of funds going toward the repair, rehabilitation, or upgrade of passenger rail assets or infrastructure, and for capital projects that expand passenger rail capacity.
Transit in general gains significantly under the economic stimulus act, which allocates $6.9 billion to the Federal Transit Administration for capital assistance grants. The act directs $100 million of those funds to help public transit agencies reduce their energy consumption and their greenhouse gas emissions, with priority given to those projects that save the most energy. An additional $750 million is provided by the act to support infrastructure investments in "fixed guideway" systems. A fixed guideway refers to any transit service that uses exclusive or controlled rights-of-way or rails, entirely or in part, running the gamut from heavy rail to high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Another $750 million is available for grants to "New Starts" and "Small Starts" projects, which include fixed guideway systems, system extensions, and bus corridor improvements. The act also provides $1.5 billion in supplemental discretionary grants for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure, which could include transit systems.
Experts in transportation safety, veterans' health and medical care, and public health are identifying gaps in current knowledge and developing a strategic plan for addressing key research questions, in fields ranging from epidemiology to psychology and biomechanics.
Participants in the strategic planning process include scientists and policy officials from VA, DOT, DOD and Department of Health and Human Services, as well as non-governmental experts. The resulting strategic plan will lay out research needs and identify priorities for the initiative.
The safe-driving initiative strives to increase awareness of motor vehicle crashes among veterans and the importance of safe driving, seatbelt and helmet usage, and other measures. To reach out to veterans and their families, VA will create a national educational program using the Department's network of medical centers, community clinics, drop-in counseling centers (Vet Centers), and veterans benefits offices.
The initiative will also include outreach to mobilize national veterans service organizations; the nation's governors and state police, safety officers, and state highway safety officials; and the private sector - including employers; automobile, motorcycle and sports vehicle dealers and manufacturers; the motor vehicle insurance industry; and driving and motorcycle racing enthusiasts' organizations. NASCAR legend and safe driving advocate, Richard Petty, will also be an active partner in the initiative.
According to the Department of Transportation, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all Americans between the ages of eight through 34. Men constitute about 70 percent of all traffic deaths. In the past decade, both deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes have gone down in the United States, due to increases in seat-belt use and decreases in alcohol involvement, among other factors.
The manufacturer of the world's fastest production car, the 1,287-horsepower Ultimate Aero, has developed an all-electric powertrain for the vehicle. Shelby SuperCars (SSC) has no relation to the legendary automotive designer Carroll Shelby, but it earned respect in the automotive world in 2007 when it set a record by driving its Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo at an average top speed of 256.18 miles per hour (it's an "average" top speed because the car must be driven down the same road in opposite directions, and its top speeds from both passes are averaged to remove any advantages of wind speed or road inclination). Despite the company's fascination with large, powerful engines, it's also a true believer in electric technologies, and it is building the Ultimate Aero EV to prove the electric vehicles provide more linear power and overall performance that internal combustion cars.
The Ultimate Aero EV drivetrain will feature twin motors capable of producing 1,000 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to rocket to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 208 miles per hour. The system will have a range of 150-200 miles, but its onboard charging system will allow for full battery recharges in as little as 10 minutes. The car will feature a three-speed automatic transmission, and the entire electric drivetrain will be liquid-cooled, allowing it to be run full-out for extended periods of time without overheating. (You can be sure that the BBC's "Top Gear" boys will be testing that claim soon.) SSC plans to roll out its first full-scale, pre-production Ultimate Aero EV by mid-2009 and deliveries to customers may start before the end of the year. And to follow on the success of its Ultimate Aero, the company also hopes to claim the title of "World's Fastest Production Electric Car."
Average domestic air fares in the third quarter of 2008 reached $362, the highest level of average fares for any quarter in the 13 years measured by available data, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported.
Average domestic air fares in the third quarter of 2008 were up 10.4 percent from the third quarter of 2007 in the largest year-to-year increase since the second quarter of 2006, and average fares increased 7.4 percent above the previous July-to-September high set in 2000. The third-quarter 2008 average fare was up 22.0 percent from the post-9/11 third-quarter low of $297 in 2004.
Average fares increased 25.8 percent from the third quarter of 1995 to the third quarter of 2008 compared to a cumulative 42.8 percent inflation rate. Third quarter 2008 fares increased 10.4 percent from the third quarter of 2007 compared to a 4.9 percent inflation rate.
Of the top 100 airports based on originating passengers, the highest third-quarter average fares were in Cincinnati; followed by Knoxville, TN; Greenville/Spartanburg, SC; Grand Rapids, MI; and Madison, WI. The lowest fares in the top 100 airports were at Dallas Love; followed by Orlando, FL; Burbank, CA; Long Beach, CA; and Islip, NY. See the BTS Air Fare web page for average fares for the top 100 airports.
The largest year-to-year average fare increases for the third quarter among the 100 largest airports, ranked by 2007 originating passengers, was 26.8 percent in Minneapolis/St. Paul; followed by Islip, NY; Chicago Midway; Knoxville, TN; and Columbus, OH.
The biggest year-to-year average decrease was 4.8 percent in Long Beach, CA; followed by Burlington, VT; Salt Lake City, UT; Atlanta; and San Antonio, TX.
The largest average fare increase from the third quarter of 1995 was 212.0 percent at Dallas Love, followed by Lubbock, TX; Colorado Springs, CO; El Paso, TX; and Houston Hobby
The largest average fare decrease from the third quarter of 1995 to the third quarter of 2007 was 39.0 percent in White Plains, NY. The other top five average fare decreases over this period took place at Manchester, NH; Akron/Canton, OH; Providence, RI; and Newburgh, NY.
The nation's largest airlines had a higher rate of on-time flights this past November than in the same month last year, although the rate of delays was higher than in October 2008, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 83.3 percent in November, an improvement over November 2007's 80.0 percent but below October 2008's 86.0 percent.
The monthly report also includes data on lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers, as well as information on reports of mishandled baggage filed with the carriers and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.
The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) has introduced a new name and logo for its Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) program that better represents the full potential of the initiative. The new name, IntelliDriveSM, still refers to innovations that offer drivers greater situational awareness of events, potential threats, and imminent hazards within their vehicle’s environment, but now encompasses a broader suite of potential technologies and capabilities than the original notion of VII.
