Obama is attacking Romney over Bain Capital's unsuccessful run with a Michigan auto supplier, Cambridge Industries. Obama should be careful, because Romney's supporters might start reminding everyone what happened under Car Czar Steven Rattner.
A very "Private equity" like takeover of GM and Chrysler, under which plants, dealers, and many many jobs were cut, in order to re-organize the companies. The only difference here is that Rattner was using taxpayer money instead of investor money to back the re-organization, but his goals were essentially the same as Bain's would have been: improve shareholder (taxpayer) value by re-structuring the operations into profitable enterprises.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
EPA's Hybrid Payback Calculator
The EPA has posted a very nice interactive hybrid vehicle payback calculator. It lets you quickly adjust assumptions to see how long a hybrid or electric vehicle would pay for itself based on fuel savings.
For example, comparing a Chevrolet Malibu Eco to a base gasoline Malibu, 12,000mi/year, 60% city driving, gasoline at $3.75, the tool says that you would save a whopping $200/year on gasoline, and that the $550 MSRP difference would be paid off in 2.7 years.
Clearly, the Malibu Eco isn't an irresistibly good deal, because that $200/year in fuel savings is going to cost you several cubic feet of trunk space.
For example, comparing a Chevrolet Malibu Eco to a base gasoline Malibu, 12,000mi/year, 60% city driving, gasoline at $3.75, the tool says that you would save a whopping $200/year on gasoline, and that the $550 MSRP difference would be paid off in 2.7 years.
Clearly, the Malibu Eco isn't an irresistibly good deal, because that $200/year in fuel savings is going to cost you several cubic feet of trunk space.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Ethics of Manuals?
Over at Salon.com, David Sirota asks if it is "ethical" to drive a manual transmission. The reason for his question is recent news that more people are choosing manuals, and also, that automatics are now sometimes equal to or better than manuals in fuel economy.
I find it odd that he only considers fuel economy in his question.
A more careful ethicist would also consider the resources going into the transmission. For example, a manual will over its lifetime consume one or two clutches. An automatic (unless it is one of those rare CVTs) will consume several changes of automatic transmission fluid, a.k.a. oil.
Also, consider that automatics usually cost about $1000 more than a manual. Why is that? Simply, omplexity. The automatic has more parts, including electronic controls. More parts means more manufacturing footprint to make it.
It seems to me that manuals are more "ethical" than automatics until such time as their fuel economy gains can overcome the manuals advantage in simplicity.
I find it odd that he only considers fuel economy in his question.
A more careful ethicist would also consider the resources going into the transmission. For example, a manual will over its lifetime consume one or two clutches. An automatic (unless it is one of those rare CVTs) will consume several changes of automatic transmission fluid, a.k.a. oil.
Also, consider that automatics usually cost about $1000 more than a manual. Why is that? Simply, omplexity. The automatic has more parts, including electronic controls. More parts means more manufacturing footprint to make it.
It seems to me that manuals are more "ethical" than automatics until such time as their fuel economy gains can overcome the manuals advantage in simplicity.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Fireman's Lowrider Towncar
I spotted this wild Lincoln Towncar lowrider cruising Southfield today. He had tiny red wheels, lots of chrome, red tinted windows, and a fire dept. sticker on the rear screen. His rear axle was braced and chrome plated, as were many other suspension parts.
I found a video about the car on the Detroit Free Press site.
I found a video about the car on the Detroit Free Press site.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Video: Bridgestone Airless Tires
Bridgestone's airless tire concept isn't new, it was unveiled a few months ago, but somehow I missed this video from the Tokyo Motor Show. It has a nice animation about how the non-pneumatic wheel works: specially shaped plastic spokes carry the load, and deform to absorb impacts.
There are major engineering challenges to be solved for designs like this, so these aren't exactly a few months or even years away from mass production. For example, how do you keep debris from getting caught between the spokes? How will the spokes do when hit with red-hot brake rotors in a repeat braking situation? What happens if you drive over a few large nails, which penetrate through the friction layer and into the spokes, will the wheel still perform?
These type of wheels do have some very interesting tuning possibilities. For example, they could have a different lateral stiffness (very high) than radial stiffness, so impact harshness could be reduced while keeping a sharp turn-in feel.
A few years ago, Michelin brought out a concept the called the Tweel (tire+wheel). After some initial publicity, the Tweel seems to have disappeared--I can't find any new news about it on Michelin's web site any more.
Find great deals on tires online at CARiD.com.
There are major engineering challenges to be solved for designs like this, so these aren't exactly a few months or even years away from mass production. For example, how do you keep debris from getting caught between the spokes? How will the spokes do when hit with red-hot brake rotors in a repeat braking situation? What happens if you drive over a few large nails, which penetrate through the friction layer and into the spokes, will the wheel still perform?
These type of wheels do have some very interesting tuning possibilities. For example, they could have a different lateral stiffness (very high) than radial stiffness, so impact harshness could be reduced while keeping a sharp turn-in feel.
A few years ago, Michelin brought out a concept the called the Tweel (tire+wheel). After some initial publicity, the Tweel seems to have disappeared--I can't find any new news about it on Michelin's web site any more.
Find great deals on tires online at CARiD.com.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Anatomy Of A Scam: Nigerian Check Fraud
If you bite, this is what will happen.
An blandly named fellow, such as "Mark Nelson", will arrange to send you a check, usually by FedEx or priority mail (to give it an air of urgency).
He will ask you to deposit the check, keep some money for yourself, and then split up the rest into smaller Western Union or Moneygram payments.
The reason they use Western Union is that it is not really traceable and can not be revoked. All they need is the Money Transfer Control Number and they have the cash, simple as that.
Then, your bank will sock you with fees and expect you to pay back the fictitious money.
Here we have an example where the package was apparently sent from Boise, ID. However, using the tracking number on the label will show that it actually came from Pennsylvania!
| Acceptance | April 30, 2012, 2:06 pm | DREXEL HILL, PA 19026 |
The fake check itself is pretty good, however, you might notice small flaws. For example, in this case, the ink used for the check account number, check #, signature, and other information was the same color of black and slightly raised (like a laser printer would produce). There is no actual "water mark" on the check paper, when you hold it up to the light you only see printed ink. Also, the "reflective ink" watermark that the front of the check claims is there is not in fact reflective, it is just yellow.
Don't be fooled. There is no such thing as a "work at home" job which pays $100's of dollars an hour for cashing checks and sending out Western Union payments.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Some Dart Thoughts
I haven't had a chance to drive a Dodge Dart yet (I'm not one of those big-time auto journalists, you know) but I did get a good look at them at the NAIAS, and also, I have been watching the launch publicity and early reviews.
Here are some thoughts.
The Dart appears to be Chrysler's first competitive compact/midsize vehicle since the Dodge Cirrus of years ago. It has modern efficient powertrains, a nice interior, and nice gadgets.
It is a 100% improvement over the Caliber, which was, even after a refresh, a cheap rent-a-car.
Reviewers so far have been saying that the driving dynamics are quite good, and NVH is excellent.
Chrysler's weak spot now is quality and reliability. They need to work hard to convince people that they aren't selling pretty junk. Though, these days, even below-average quality new cars are quite a bit better than the average of just a decade ago.
I wouldn't buy a new Dart, yet, but I would not hesitate to lease one.
The other part I'm not sold on is the front end styling. It seems like a mish-mash of Dodge cross and more organic influences. I actually like the basic monochrome version much better than the black bedecked Rallye trim. The front overhang seems very long to me.
Still, this is the first car I have seen from Chrysler in a while that I could see myself owning.
Here are some thoughts.
The Dart appears to be Chrysler's first competitive compact/midsize vehicle since the Dodge Cirrus of years ago. It has modern efficient powertrains, a nice interior, and nice gadgets.
It is a 100% improvement over the Caliber, which was, even after a refresh, a cheap rent-a-car.
Reviewers so far have been saying that the driving dynamics are quite good, and NVH is excellent.
Chrysler's weak spot now is quality and reliability. They need to work hard to convince people that they aren't selling pretty junk. Though, these days, even below-average quality new cars are quite a bit better than the average of just a decade ago.
I wouldn't buy a new Dart, yet, but I would not hesitate to lease one.
The other part I'm not sold on is the front end styling. It seems like a mish-mash of Dodge cross and more organic influences. I actually like the basic monochrome version much better than the black bedecked Rallye trim. The front overhang seems very long to me.
Still, this is the first car I have seen from Chrysler in a while that I could see myself owning.
Friday, April 27, 2012
SOLVED! TheAutoProphet Geocache Challenge 2012
SOLVED!
Jason F. has solved the challenge and captured the prize. However, in true geocaching spirit, he left the container with something new in it for the next person.I didn't think it would still be there, but wow, there it was! So cool! Thank you for the awesome prize and sharing this great park with me. I will be coming back here for sure. Now in true geocaching spirit I left behind a little prize, and I plan on listing it on a caching site if thats ok with you?
Thanks again!
Jason
Ps. I plan on using this to detail my new-to-me 04' Grand Marquis. :)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
SAE Congress Tidbit: DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) Issues in US
Listening to an SAE Congress panel discussion about future powertrains.
A question to the panel, regarding transmission, elicits an interesting comment on DCT (dual clutch or automated manual transmissions)
In the U.S., DCTs (e.g. Ford Focus) are not well liked because they have a less smooth low-speed and stop/start/creep performance compared to a traditional hydraulic torque converter equipped automatic. In the U.S., customers are used to the very smooth performance of automatics, having mostly abandoned manual transmissions, so the jerky feel from DCTs is a big minus. In Europe, most customers are coming from automatics, and are used to some clunkiness.
The industry hopes that customer acceptance in the US will increase as consumers become used to the feel of DCTs... but there is a real danger here to the technology, judging by the poor acceptance and near-demise of the CVT in the NA market.
Personally, I would nave no problem trading some clunkiness of a DCT for its advantages: fast shifts, full manual control, and no fluid to deal with.
A question to the panel, regarding transmission, elicits an interesting comment on DCT (dual clutch or automated manual transmissions)
In the U.S., DCTs (e.g. Ford Focus) are not well liked because they have a less smooth low-speed and stop/start/creep performance compared to a traditional hydraulic torque converter equipped automatic. In the U.S., customers are used to the very smooth performance of automatics, having mostly abandoned manual transmissions, so the jerky feel from DCTs is a big minus. In Europe, most customers are coming from automatics, and are used to some clunkiness.
The industry hopes that customer acceptance in the US will increase as consumers become used to the feel of DCTs... but there is a real danger here to the technology, judging by the poor acceptance and near-demise of the CVT in the NA market.
Personally, I would nave no problem trading some clunkiness of a DCT for its advantages: fast shifts, full manual control, and no fluid to deal with.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
The 2014 Impala
GM has unveiled the 2014 Chevrolet Impala at the NY Auto Show. You can see nice photos here.
I like the exterior design, it is a big improvement over the current, ancient Impala.
The interior is also a big upgrade, but to me seems a bit busy.
GM says that it will come with a choice of 2.5L I4, 2.4L eAssist (mild hybrid), and 3.6L V6 powertrains. It should get pretty good fuel economy, but with the I4 engines pushing about 200HP, it is not going to feel very quick unless the weight is substantially reduced over the current model. Looking at the photos, I'd be surprised if it is less than 3750#.
I like the exterior design, it is a big improvement over the current, ancient Impala.
The interior is also a big upgrade, but to me seems a bit busy.
GM says that it will come with a choice of 2.5L I4, 2.4L eAssist (mild hybrid), and 3.6L V6 powertrains. It should get pretty good fuel economy, but with the I4 engines pushing about 200HP, it is not going to feel very quick unless the weight is substantially reduced over the current model. Looking at the photos, I'd be surprised if it is less than 3750#.
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Ford's 5 "Myths", Aren't
Ford has a post on their web site listing 5 "myths" about electric vehicles.
I think these need a rebuttal.
Myth 1: "The technology isn't ready."
Ford: "Ford has been putting reliable, efficient hybrid electric vehicles on the road for over 10 years."
Rebuttal: Sneaky Ford is combining hybrid electric vehicles into the same bin as battery electric vehicles. Truth is, Ford is about to release its first modern mass market BEV. The electric Ranger of the late 1990's was a low volume fleet product. And high profile technical issues in the new crop of EVs show that, in fact, the technology is still in flux.
Myth 2: "Electric vehicles are too expensive."
Ford: "Ford has yet to determine pricing on its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and all-electric vehicles. Though the initial price of these vehicles may be higher than a conventional gas-powered vehicle, keep in mind that the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is being designed to deliver maximum fuel efficiency. So you may be able to save money on fuel costs. Tax credits may also be available. Check with your appropriate local, state and federal agencies for more information."
Rebuttal: Ford has yet to determine? They already announced an MSRP of $40,000 for the Focus BEV, and current HEVs, I don't expect the final prices to go down by much--batteries are still expensive. Truth is, BEVs are prohibitive for most people to buy, until battery costs are reduced dramatically. HEVs do have a faster payoff, yet even with $4/gal gas, they are not exactly flying off of the dealer lots.
Myth 3: "I'm afraid I'm going to get stranded when the battery runs out."
Ford: "A Ford hybrid electric vehicle has a gasoline engine, so you're in no more danger of getting stuck than you would be if you were driving a traditional gasoline engine- powered vehicle. The battery of the hybrid electric is also continuously charged while you drive. As for the all-electric vehicle now in development, Ford is working with the public and private sectors to help create the infrastructure that will enable you to recharge your all-electric vehicle in a variety of locations other than your home."
Rebuttal: Ford again combines HEV and BEV into the same answer. If you have a Focus BEV, chances are you will only get about 75 miles (according to EPA) on average. That's a mere one hour of driving at Michigan speeds. Anyone driving a BEV must be careful about range, because recharging takes at least 4 hours for a full charge.
Myth 4: "My commute is too long for an electric vehicle."
Ford: "Because a hybrid electric vehicle has a gas engine as well as an electric motor, no commute is too long for a hybrid. The Ford all-electric vehicle, currently in development, is targeted to go up to 100 miles on a single charge."
Rebuttal: The average daily commute is about 40 miles, so a 75 mile average range should cover it. But if you are driving in the winter, and using the heater, you probably won't have much range left for the grocery run after work, or the detour to pick up the dry cleaning.
Myth 5: "They don't make electric vehicles in the style I want."
Ford: "Ford offers hybrid electric vehicles in the responsive, fun-to-drive Fusion as well as the Escape small SUV. Other Ford vehicles are currently in development."
Rebuttal: Escape HEV is about to be killed. Transit BEV is in limbo along with Azure's future. Which leaves two styles of vehicle--compact hatch and mid-size car.
I think these need a rebuttal.
Myth 1: "The technology isn't ready."
Ford: "Ford has been putting reliable, efficient hybrid electric vehicles on the road for over 10 years."
Rebuttal: Sneaky Ford is combining hybrid electric vehicles into the same bin as battery electric vehicles. Truth is, Ford is about to release its first modern mass market BEV. The electric Ranger of the late 1990's was a low volume fleet product. And high profile technical issues in the new crop of EVs show that, in fact, the technology is still in flux.
Myth 2: "Electric vehicles are too expensive."
Ford: "Ford has yet to determine pricing on its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and all-electric vehicles. Though the initial price of these vehicles may be higher than a conventional gas-powered vehicle, keep in mind that the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is being designed to deliver maximum fuel efficiency. So you may be able to save money on fuel costs. Tax credits may also be available. Check with your appropriate local, state and federal agencies for more information."
Rebuttal: Ford has yet to determine? They already announced an MSRP of $40,000 for the Focus BEV, and current HEVs, I don't expect the final prices to go down by much--batteries are still expensive. Truth is, BEVs are prohibitive for most people to buy, until battery costs are reduced dramatically. HEVs do have a faster payoff, yet even with $4/gal gas, they are not exactly flying off of the dealer lots.
Myth 3: "I'm afraid I'm going to get stranded when the battery runs out."
Ford: "A Ford hybrid electric vehicle has a gasoline engine, so you're in no more danger of getting stuck than you would be if you were driving a traditional gasoline engine- powered vehicle. The battery of the hybrid electric is also continuously charged while you drive. As for the all-electric vehicle now in development, Ford is working with the public and private sectors to help create the infrastructure that will enable you to recharge your all-electric vehicle in a variety of locations other than your home."
Rebuttal: Ford again combines HEV and BEV into the same answer. If you have a Focus BEV, chances are you will only get about 75 miles (according to EPA) on average. That's a mere one hour of driving at Michigan speeds. Anyone driving a BEV must be careful about range, because recharging takes at least 4 hours for a full charge.
Myth 4: "My commute is too long for an electric vehicle."
Ford: "Because a hybrid electric vehicle has a gas engine as well as an electric motor, no commute is too long for a hybrid. The Ford all-electric vehicle, currently in development, is targeted to go up to 100 miles on a single charge."
Rebuttal: The average daily commute is about 40 miles, so a 75 mile average range should cover it. But if you are driving in the winter, and using the heater, you probably won't have much range left for the grocery run after work, or the detour to pick up the dry cleaning.
Myth 5: "They don't make electric vehicles in the style I want."
Ford: "Ford offers hybrid electric vehicles in the responsive, fun-to-drive Fusion as well as the Escape small SUV. Other Ford vehicles are currently in development."
Rebuttal: Escape HEV is about to be killed. Transit BEV is in limbo along with Azure's future. Which leaves two styles of vehicle--compact hatch and mid-size car.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Republicans Buy American, Democrats Don't
According to a new study by Strategic Vision, these are the top 5 vehicles most popular with Democrats:
Here are the top 5 vehicles most popular with Republicans:
- Honda Civic Hybrid
- Volvo C30
- Nissan Leaf
- Acura TSX Wagon
- Ford Fiesta Sedan
Here are the top 5 vehicles most popular with Republicans:
- Ford Mustang Convertible
- Audi A8
- Mercedes GL
- Ford Expedition
- Ford F150
Now, there is a very interesting trend here. Only one of the Democrat picks is built by an American automaker, and NONE of them are built in UAW plants (the Fiesta is built in Mexico).
On the Republican side, 3/5 are Fords, and all 3 are built by UAW run plants in MIchigan-Flat Rock MI, Rouge MI, and Wayne MI.
I think some re-evaluation of stereotypes may be in order here. Democrats will fight tooth and nail to increase union power--but don't necessarily buy the products they produce.
Another one bites the dust...
Another EV maker down. Azure Dynamics is filing for creditor protection after Canada's investment regulatory agency denied their request to issue new shares, which Azure needed to do to generate operating capital.
That's because Azure wasn't selling many electric vehicles, not enough to support operations.
I am somewhat disappointing, because Azure is a relatively mature player, and wasn't going after exotic 3-wheel cars or anything fancy, they are in what should be a solid business: retrofitting existing designs with electric powertrains.
The problem remains, that the EV conversions are so expensive (batteries!) that few businesses can afford to buy them in lean times, even though they do save a lot of money in the long run, in fuel savings.
I hope Azure survives, but the future for small EV players looks dim.
That's because Azure wasn't selling many electric vehicles, not enough to support operations.
I am somewhat disappointing, because Azure is a relatively mature player, and wasn't going after exotic 3-wheel cars or anything fancy, they are in what should be a solid business: retrofitting existing designs with electric powertrains.
The problem remains, that the EV conversions are so expensive (batteries!) that few businesses can afford to buy them in lean times, even though they do save a lot of money in the long run, in fuel savings.
I hope Azure survives, but the future for small EV players looks dim.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
H1-B Posting At Work
At work today, the company posted a notice in the coffee room that it was pursuing an H1-B sponsorship.
I have not seen an H1-B notice in a while.
The engineering market is definitely tightening up again, in Michigan.
I have not seen an H1-B notice in a while.
The engineering market is definitely tightening up again, in Michigan.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The Dutch Birdman Is Faking
In the pre-launch frame, there is a large black dot on the left wing, but no matching dot on the right.
In the post-launch frame, there are large dots on both wings.
That's because the post-launch stuff is CGI.
So why the fakery? Is Smeets just fooling around, or is this project one of those elaborate marketing devices?
The Truth About Obama's Energy Policy
However, this cart from the American Petroleum Institute tells an interesting detail.
Production is up on private lands. On Federally controlled lands, production is in fact down. And much of that is due to Obama's policies and regulations.
Production may be up, but it isn't as large as it could be.
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