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.
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. Read more of this post
Professors Peter Newman and Jeff Kenworthy have come up with an interesting concept that they call “automobile dependency” to explain the situation in the major cities of the world, mostly of the major cities in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The idea is that the predominant use of automobiles in these cities severely restricts the freedom of people to move around in their own city. There is a culture of automobiles that has been developed leading to the extreme of an addiction to them. The number of automobiles is exponentially increases due to the increasing demand for them. It is almost as if people in these cities have become dependent on automobiles as a basic necessity of life. People with the financial resources are indulging in the luxury of acquiring more and more cars, resulting in diminishing returns that they derive out of each vehicle. Read more of this post
When times get tough, the tough get going. Here’s a list of the top ten unusual but creative incentives compiled by All About Cars Online.
10. It’s Raining Free Cars – Weld County Garage promised free cars if it rained on Memorial Day for all purchases during specified period. It rained allright – .59 inches.
9. The Free Car Giveaway – Fuccillo Dealership gave away nine cars in one promotion to one winner (four Hyundai Elantras and five Kia Spectras). What happened to the kitchen sink?
8. 2-For-1 Deal – Customer purchases a high end vehicle and receives a lower end vehicle for free. Does this deal come with fries?
7. Free GM Stocks – Frank Kent Motors gave 50 GM shares to the first 100 customers purchasing new vehicle to celebrate GM’s 100 year anniversary. Too bad promotion was pre bankruptcy.
6. Free Gas for a Year – Consumer purchases a vehicle and receives a debit card with a specific dollar based on the amount of gas required to drive the car 12,000 miles, based on EPA combined ratings and average gas price per gallon. Promo gives new meaning to the all dressed up and nowhere to go cliche.
5. Frequent Flier Miles – Dealerships purchase packages from Dealer Miles and pass on frequent flier miles to customers as sales and service incentives. Do the auto execs at the big three know about this deal?
4. Lose Your Job, No Problem – Consumers can return their new Hyundais if employment is lost within one year of purchase. Are there any reporting requirements with EDD?
3. Drive for Charity – Townsend Automotive Group’s Land Rover-Jaguar dealerships in Southern California gave away 50% of all proceeds from its new car sales to charity for a specified time period. Was Sacramento on that list of charities?
2. Sex Sells – humor and sex is always a winning combination:
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE…… AND THE NUMBER ONE AUTO DEALER PROMOTION GOES TO…
1. Free Firearm – Buy a truck and receive an AK-47 at Max Motors.
Listen up President Obama – the Gun for Clunker program might have legs!
How many times have you driven by a 
All About Cars Online 