Fuel-Free Cars Coming Soon? Lithium-Ion Batteries May Help Make Roadways Greener

By: Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer

There’s been a lot in the press lately about lithium-ion batteries. Conference panelists, energy researchers, car manufacturers and, of course, environmentalists are discussing the possibility of running vehicles entirely on battery power.

Most of us are more familiar with lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics – laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, digital cameras, rechargeable battery kits…But, uh, what exactly are they again? Straight lithium batteries are little packets of extractable power which use lithium in its pure metallic form. Straight lithium batteries are considered a “primary battery,” or a battery that cannot be recharged. Secondary batteries or cells can be recharged.

Fuel-Free Cars Coming Soon? Lithium-Ion Batteries May Help Make Roadways Greener

By: Mike Trudel

There’s been a lot in the press lately about lithium-ion batteries. Conference panelists, energy researchers, car manufacturers and, of course, environmentalists are discussing the possibility of running vehicles entirely on battery power.

Increase Dealership Sales – The Importance of Automotive Sales Training

By Lisa Yumi Mitchell

How many times have you driven by a car dealership to find salespeople huddled or lined up by the showroom door like vultures waiting to pounce on the next customer?

In today’s market, spending has significantly decreased, and dealerships must be more proactive in creating a maximized sales environment and managing sales activity if they want to sell more cars and generate profit.

On top of this current problem affecting auto sales, in-store traffic is at an all time low, as many that need to purchase a vehicle do the majority of their research and kicking of the tires online to determine what they want and can afford, and then call the dealership, rather than browse the showroom like the good old days.

Evolution of Modern Automobile Industry

By Brenda Williams

Automobile production has grown from an industry of small companies that made simple carriages to the international corporations that now mass-produce advanced and reliable automobiles across the globe. Innovations and changes in any industry take time to hold ground, require the participation of the consumers, and have to deal with the government regulations. New technologies can be applied to one area at a time and the practical implementation requires many processes. As regards the auto industry, any part or a new component for its full development may take a long time. Processing may involve years to incorporate new concepts into a practical use-able model. Time is required for multiple reasons such as, for designing, building and even for installation of production tools and then testing the new systems using mock ups. In preproduction vehicles to see what happens to overall performance, it takes additional time to monitor the pros and cons of the product.

Automobile companies and corporations are focusing and responding to the many sectors of this industry in quite an effective manner. The emerging fuel-consumption and air-quality demands are on the rise and need innovations. Diesel engines, catalytic converters, electronic fuel injection, turbochargers, high-strength steels, aerodynamic bodies, front-wheel drive, and other technologies are introduced to cut and maintain operating costs. Industry developments of the late 1990’s focused on joint international ventures among the strongest companies and global expansion into new markets. Globalization has made it increasingly difficult to identify an automobile as the product of one company or country. At the beginning of the 21st century, the trends of global manufacturing changed with new technological methods. Computerized auto designs are producing splendid results and the search for alternative fuels and more efficient automobile designs is a subject of hot pursuit.

In the auto industry, researchers analyze market trends, consumer surveys, and buying patterns to determine what consumers want, and then suggest what kinds of cars to make. Before a new car is built, it must be researched, designed, and developed into a workable product. The designers work to shape new ideas into tangible parts or products. Engineers adapt existing parts for the new model and draw up new plans for a custom-built working example of a new design and so manufacturers build a few prototypes before they set up a factory to build the new car. Product planners monitor the process along the way and make sure that an approved new car program finishes on time and more over within its permissible budget. However, technology is still moving at a great pace and microelectronics seems fully incorporated in the future automobiles and may become as commonplace as radios once were. On-board systems are becoming available that enable drivers to find destinations through voice-activated navigation or make cellular calls using the computer. These computers can access the Global Positioning System or GPS and display maps to help drivers avoid congested freeways and find better routes to destinations.

In the future vehicles will be made of different materials such as improved plastics or composites that will reduce car weight, provide fuel economy, allow smoother surfaces and shapes that are more complex, better management, easy controls and safety in cases of crash.

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There’s A New Boss In Town

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Steven Rattner, President Obama’s Czar for the Task Force on Autos has resigned from his post of six months after overseeing the Chrysler and GM bankruptcies. Rattner is being replaced by Ron Bloom the number two man on the Auto Task Force. Bloom is also a United Steelworkers union adviser and former investment banker. Bloom has a history of representing various unions. (Source: Reuters)

According to the Wall Street Journal, it was Bloom’s strategy of pressing creditors, reaching concessions with unions and finding new funding sources that has pushed Chrysler and GM through bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Bloom plans on “monitoring this vital industry and protecting the substantial investment the American taxpayers have made” in the companies.” (Source: Wall Street Journal)

Thus far the federal government has committed over 180 billion dollars to the auto industry (Source: CNN Money). In addition, the feds “invested” an additional 50 billion to GM during its bankruptcy re-organization, resulting in 60% ownership of the new GM.

Mr. Bloom is scheduled to appear before a House of Representatives committee as part of an examination of the Chrysler and GM bankruptcies.

According to a Gallup poll in June, 55% of Americans disapprove of the government investing in GM and becoming the main shareholder. The same poll also showed that only 20% were planning on purchasing a new vehicle from an auto dealer and 49% reported to be less likely to purchase a vehicle from a manufacturer that has declared bankruptcy. (Source: Gallup)

The above public attitudes are not good news for the already struggling auto dealerships and auto industry in general. It is hoped that the new “cash for clunkers” law will buffer some of these negative viewpoints. There are predictions that the law may increase sales by 10%. So far, sales are down approximately 35% when compared to 2008. However, it is expected that auto dealerships will have an increase in foot traffic. (Source: Bloomberg News)

Recession Woes or Glows?

In 2007, General Motors reported having the second best year in its 100 year history. The biggest news for the auto industry in 2007 however was Toyota overtaking Ford as the second largest auto manufacturer after General Motors. While sales were down overall for domestics, sales of imports were up.

Stephen Girsky advisor to General Motors made it clear that of the 15,000 auto dealers selling domestics, two-thirds of them needed to close in order to compete with Toyota and Honda. While dealers selling domestics outnumbered import dealers by 5-1, automakers prefer smaller number of profitable dealers over larger numbers of marginally profitable dealers (Detroit News, 2/3/07).

By the end of 2008, as the economic crisis was in full swing, more then 5,000 of the approximately 20,000 new and used dealers were forced to close.  It is predicted that 1,200 dealers will close in 2009 and countless used car lots.  Part of the restructuring plan by the three U.S. automakers includes further downsizing of dealers. GM plans on downsizing 25% of its total dealership network (Wall Street Journal, 4/10/09).

Assuming that GM, Ford and Chrysler survive the “great recession”  the result may leave the three auto manufacturers in a much more advantageous position to compete.  Despite the fact that the popular news media have focused their Detroit coverage mainly on union concessions, auto dealer closures are seen as victims of the recession rather then part of a deliberate effort by the U.S. auto makers. However the media covers the reconstruction of the three automakers, it is clear that the American automakers view auto dealer closures as essential to their survival.

In February 2009 the California New Car Dealers Association wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Geithner asking him to take action to help struggling auto dealers. In March 2009, the National Automobile Dealers Association, American International Automobile Dealers and National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers wrote a letter to President Obama urging him to fix their ability to finance inventory due to the credit freeze, and to take other specific steps to save the auto dealer industry.

Although President Obama has introduced plans to help the auto industry with various programs such as the “cash for clunkers” rebates, motivating auto buyers to buy environmental friendly vehicles in exchange for older gas guzzlers, there appears to be a contradiction in messages being sent to auto dealers. The administration has made it clear that the auto makers must downsize and restructure their organizations. But part of the downsizing includes the elimination of auto dealers.

Consider these statistics from the National Association of Automobile Dealers:

• Auto dealerships account for approximately 18% of total retail sales
• Total number of new vehicle dealership employees in 2007 numbered 1,114,500
• Average sales of a new vehicle dealership in 2007 was 33.4 million contributing significant tax revenues
• In 2007 there were approximately 20,770 new vehicle auto dealerships

While the auto makers will be in a position of strength once the economy recovers, can the same be said for local communities in which auto dealerships contribute to employment, tax revenues, sponsorships and the overall vibrancy of  local economies?

To find great information about the car related industry, businesses and services that is updated regularly, go to All About Cars Online – you car connection made easy!

Average Joe Takes On Detroit

What would happen if Average Joe took on Detroit? Here’s a list of the top ten Average Joe solutions to get the American auto industry out of the red and into the green. Listen up Detroit, Average Joe is in the house.

10. The United States Treasury was not there to bailout Average Joe when he took his Fantasy Football picks to Vegas. Average Joe’s only legal solace was to file for bankruptcy. If bankruptcy is good enough for Average Joe, it is good enough for Detroit.

9. President Obama earns $400,000 with approximately $170,000 in additional perks. If the President of the United States who governs 305 million people of one of the most powerful countries in the world can get by on a salary of $560,000, then a salary and bonus reduction for executive directors is good enough for Detroit. Last time Average Joe voted he saw no shortage of presidential candidates. They can all keep their private jets.

8. Average Joe earns about $16 dollars per hour. If approximately $33,000 a year is good enough for Average Joe, then it is good enough for the average unionized auto industry worker.

7. Average Joe earns extra money on the side with an occasional garage sale. If Average Joe can part with his classic rock 8-tracks, then Detroit can surely downsize some of their makes and models. McDonalds the giant of efficiency as much as they tried to repackage the McRib; BicMac is still the king of burgers. Detroit, can you say “two beef patties, iceberg lettuce, American cheese, pickles, onion and special sauce served on a sesame seed bun?” Market branding does have its advantages.

6. Average Joe may not understand the intricacies of government regulation but one thing’s for certain; he knows the rules of the game and sometimes the rules suck. But one can only kick Detroit dirt at Uncle Sam so long before getting yanked out of the game. As much as Average Joe loves the ballgame sometimes even he wonders; does LA really deserve and need a football team? Average Joes says: reorganization. How about some of that tasty Canadian… uhhh… that’s Detroitian maple syrup for our executive saps?

5. When Average Joe got laid off he was told to go to community college to get retrained. (He now knows how to say “Can I help you?” and “Would you like fries with that?” in Spanish and Chinese, but that’s another story for another time). If government subsidized education is good enough for Average Joe, then let’s keep those research and development grants and that corporate welfare coming, Washington! Average Joe wants to know, did Detroit ever get its 25 billion for R&D as promised by Bush?

4. But seriously, folks. While Average Joe loves his Chevy Tahoe, he asks what came first the chicken or the egg? Put bluntly, does life imitate art or does art imitate life? Philosophical Average Joe is also a realist. A phone call from Detroit to Hollywood is what’s needed here. Put Jolie, Clooney and Hanks to work with Spielberg, mix in a soundtrack by Springsteen and we’ll soon have Detroit selling refrigerators to Eskimos… or is that hybrids to the Saudis? If Spielberg is busy… ear to the ground has it that Obama Girl is looking for a gig.

3. While Detroit was busy on Wall Street with corporate mergers, acquisitions, globalization, market shares, and golden parachutes, a funny thing happened on the way to Main Street. Social networking. Average Joe is bullish on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and diggit. Detroit meet Silicon Valley. Now go play and share your toys. Detroit meet aerospace. Detroit did you ever have drinks with T. Boone Pickens? Profit sharing anyone?

2. Now you can say what you will about Average Joe but no matter what you may think, you’ll probably agree that Average Joe is a patriot. True blue, meat and potatoes, NASCAR loving, American pride, all the way. That’s just how Average Joe rolls. Now the other Joe might think that paying taxes is patriotic, except that Average Joe is more likely to get a tax refund from Uncle Sam rather than a patriotic grand ole’ American tax increase. Tea anyone?

But that’s beside the point. Average Joe enjoys watching those WWWII reruns on the History Channel every now and then. If U.S. government bonds funded WWWII, then by gone it, let’s sell some of those red, white, and blue patriot stocks in GM, Ford and Chrysler. Are Americans going to sit by and watch the American Chevelle, Mustang, and Barracuda muscle shrivel to Minis, Smarts and calorie counting Tatas? NO! Average Joe says take your average $13 dollar a week stimulus and buy yourself some American auto stocks. If it worked to get us out of the depression era then it will work to get us out of the consumption era.

1.And finally if none of the above work, there’s always Plan Z, which in this CASE means “copy and steal everything.” This method works best for the Chinese who in a few years just might own Detroit. (See #5)

This of course is a satirical look at the American auto industry in no way meant to undercut the seriousness of the current economic issue. No offense was meant to you Average Joe, whoever you might be and wherever you may roll.

To find great information about the car related industry, businesses and services that is updated regularly, go to All About Cars Online – you car connection made easy!