Auto Transportation Blog

As new emission laws come into play, auto manufacturers are currently looking at new technologies that will make their vehicles conform to the standards at a much cheaper cost as well as bolstering their sales numbers. But the problem is that current technology is changing so rapidly that many automobile manufacturers fear that the technology they put into their vehicles could quickly become obsolete, which is why they’re always on the prowl for new technologies that won’t become obsolete.

Auto transporters are a part of this too - as technology changes, their trucks and trailers need to be up to speed, which is costly and time consuming. So auto makers and auto transporters alike are rushing to find companies that can supplement their technological needs and keep their vehicles on the road without violating ever-changing emission standards. Toyota has already partnered with Tesla to develop an electric vehicle, and both GM and Ford are also looking for alternative-energy partners to help facilitate their plans for putting low-emission vehicles onto the market.

The CEO of Westport Innovations, David Demers, has dismissed theories regarding biofuels and their impact on the auto industry, despite testimonials from auto transporters and others in the industry who use biofuels. Demers says that his company is looking at creating a new natural gas engine, despite the fact that he hasn’t said anything else about it.

Natural gas is a fuel that is currently being used in vehicles across the globe, and many countries have alomst 20% of their total vehicles running on natural gas. And that’s just what Ford and GM are looking into, despite the fact that electric vehicles are all the rage right now in the United States. But still others are opposed to the new technologies, saying that natural gas isn’t renewable and the world may not need biofuels or natural gas as the transition to electric vehicles is becoming more and more mainstream.

But we’ll wait and see, as we say, because that’s about all we can do at this point. The debate on the right renewable energy source still rages, and probably will for a long time.

You may not be aware of this, but most of the motorsport industry’s cool things come out of Britain. The weight reduction technology seen in NASCAR and Formula One racing was pioneered by British firms and because the industry is forever looking for new ways to make their cars go faster, be lighter and reduce pit times, the people in the design sector need to be creative.

Which is hwy Gordon Murray, a Formula One designer originally from McLauren, is going to invent a brand new car that will adapt all the cool things from the motorsport industry and put it into a safe commercial car that anyone can buy.

The goal is to produce a safe car with the lowest possible environmental footprint, and auto transporters are really excited to see what he comes up with. a new frontrunner in the auto industry could be just what it needs to get sales up again, despite the fact that it would only be availble in Britain for the first few years of its existence. But the fact that someone is looking to build a new, safe, fast, economic and envrionmentally-sound car is something that no one should be overlooking.

The United States Department of Energy is planning on giving out free home charging stations for early Chevy Volt buyers, which will be on sale later this year. Already almost 4,500 customers are slated to get a free 240V charge station, and most of them will also include the home installation costs. Auto transporters are interested as well, as this could boost Volt sales numbers (and shipping numbers), but many people are claiming that the government is overstepping its bounds.

However, the Department of Energy is claiming that this new program will allow them to see just how electric vehicles are used, despite the fact that many people are claiming that the government shouldn’t care how they use their vehicles. I myself am opposed to this greatly, because government and business need to remain separate. But people who are planning on buying a Volt are happy to see that they get a free charging station, so I guess it all works out in the end.

Auto transporters have been shipping new plug-in car models such as the Nissan Leaf for a few months now, but there’s still no clear-cut winner in the plug-in electric race. My question is: so what? There are lots of people betting on different vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt, but there has yet to be a clear-cut winner in the race. The Volt can provide enough power to handle any American’s typical daily commute, while Nissan is claiming that and more.

However, many consumers are wary that purchasing a plug-in vehicle will limit their driving habits. What if they want to drive up to Seattle from Portland to see a Mariner’s game? With only a 100-mile range on an eight-hour charge for both vehicles, that could present a problem. A major problem. It looks like electric vehicles won’t be changing too many people’s minds, but for daily driving it’s a no-brainer; essentially using energy that you would be using at home anyway as fuel for your car has a lot of people turning their heads and demanding the new vehicles; pre-orders for the Volt and the Leaf are through the roof, meeting and beating expectations set by both Cheby and Nissan.

The U.S. Agriculture Department has released a new report on the state of the biofuel industry, and, specifically, the state of achieving 36 million gallons of renewable biofuels - this report is mandated in the Energy Independence and Security Act, and we’re pround to bring you a summary of the report.

The United States will soon have the capacity to produce up to 15 bilion gallons of corn ethanol, but the report still says there are a number of barriers to getting to the 36 billion gallon threshold the bill has set down. Among them is the fact that most vehicles on the road are unable to accept ethanol blends higher than 10% because of their makeup, and to convert engines to run on higher blends could cost a lot of money. But that’s not stopping the biofuel industry, who says that with the right technology it could be the fuel of the future. Many auto transporters are already using ethanol blends in their transport trucks, but the industry is still a long way from putting major ethanol blends into consumer vehicles.

It still has a long way to go - much longer than electric vehicles, for instance - but the idea is there, and they’re still working hard on making it a viable energy source. Only time will tell, as we always say, so keep your eyes open and your ears perked.

A new trial run is being conducted in the United Kingdom, and most people who are testing the new full-electric vehicles are pretty happy with their performance. A majority of drivers have noted that it’s a good experience and, despite original concerns, the range of the vehicle is not a problem. They’ve reported no hassles with charging the vehicles and didn’t even flinch when they took them to the major highways - this could be good news for companies specializing in electric vehicles and could be a major stepping stone to having a full compliment of electric vehicles state-side in the next few years.

Auto transporters have seen that hybrids are dominating shipping lists, but electric vehicles are still present; this test could change many a driver’s mind over the next few years, especially if these tests are run in cities across America, which is the plan for hte next few years. The trials have shown that most vehicles are driven just 23 miles per day, despite having a range of 80 miles or more. While these aren’t vehicles you’d want to drive cross-country, they’re perfect for getting around in, and could be here sooner than you think.

Fuel costs and global warming are major factors in today’s race to build the first real alternative energy vehicle, but many consumers aren’t as concerned as they should be; in fact, most are more concerned with other things such as mileage and emissions. A new J.D. Power study predicts a major surge in global sales of alternative-energy vehicles, and by 2015 it’s expected that hybrids and electric vehicles will account for three million vehicles on the road - that’s 3.4% of all vehicles that will be on the road.

But many consumers are wondering which one will be the best, and who can blame them? Plug-in electric vehicles are great because you don’t have to put gas in them, but for the most part they’re made for city driving; they have a limited range and batteries can be expensive once they run out. Hybrids, on the other hand, can use both, but the problem is that gasoline still needs to be present in the vehicle, meaning you still have to make a trip to the pump.

Studies say that both will play a major factor in the alternative energy debate, but until one triumphs over the other, or a third player comes to town, both will be vying for that top spot. Already auto transporters have moved thousands of electric vehicles, but they still report that hybrid vehicles are topping the shipping lists in terms of alternative-energy vehicles.

The 2010 Automotive News PACE Environmental Award has finally been given out, and its a five-way tie: five different automotive parts suppliers have taken home the price thanks to their industry-changing innovations. The award recognizes suppliers who contribute to the stability of the environment and changing the way auto parts are manufactured; many auto transporters have already started placing orders at some of the award-winning companies, and many more repair shops are on their way.

The innovations include a new NOx sensor, new engines that get better gas mileage and produce less emissions, new fuel injection systems that eliminate waste and promote better mileage, and diesel direct-injection technologies which offer unique cabilities that reduce emissions by over 30% were all awarded, and 2011 is shaping up to be an even better year for the awards.

Tesla Motors, Inc, most famous for its Tesla Roadster and the still-to-be-seen Model S, has increased the amount of its stock that can be sold in IPO, and shares are expected to start trading this week. Originally its IPO was just 11.1 million shares; now, however, it has been rased to 13.3 million shares, mainly because of new revenue sources as well as the looming launch of the Model S, which many people are eagerly awaiting. Auto transporters, however, aren’t buying it - rarely is a Tesla moved, but this could be changing soon as Tesla believes that the average American’s taste in vehicles is changing, however slightly.

Tesla has been around for a while, and this move isn’t surprising anyone - in fact, many are surprised that it’s taken this long for more shares to start being bandied about. But Tesla is just biding their time, because the internal combustion engine is doomed, and they see the trend toward electric cars; this could be the exact right time to get some extra buyers in their stock, some more investors, and perhaps put out some new cars. But, as is our motto here, only time will tell. Let’s just hope that it’s not too long of a wait.