Category Archives: Transportation

Ridesharing shifts into a new gear with RelayRides

by Stefania Revelli
WHAT’S HAPPENING

Think of it as community car sharing. RelayRides is a person-to-person car-sharing-service enabling users to rent their underused vehicles to others who need a ride (Springwise.com 1.28.10).
Car owners simply need to register online and arrange for a keyless system to be installed in the automobile. Owners determine [...]

Millennials drive the move to smaller cars

by Cree McCree
WHAT’S HAPPENING

Think small. That’s the Millennial mantra when it come to cars. Half of today’s young adults are buying compacts or subcompacts, while only one in five are choosing a midsize model (New York Times 11.19.09).
With Millennials poised to become the largest car-buying cohort, Ford is betting its future on small cars; it’s [...]

Florida turnpike will no longer accept cash

by Hans Eisenbeis
WHAT’S HAPPENING

It’s a trend we’ve been watching: Some businesses are no longer accepting bills and coins, only plastic. First the airlines discontinued cash for onboard service, then a restaurant in Manhattan. By 2011, a section of the Florida Turnpike will have its tollbooths torn down and replaced with EZ-Pass-style readers and surveillance cameras [...]

AirManager makes plane air pure air

by Sarah Barker
WHAT’S HAPPENING

For those who fear deplaning with bugs they originally didn’t board with, global defense and aerospace company BAE Systems and Quest International have joined to develop a filtration system that removes viruses, bacteria and pollutants from cabin air (TimesOnline.co.uk 9.15.09).
AirManager, which can be retrofit to existing airline air conditioning systems, zaps particles [...]

Muffler shop monos: From marketing tools to works of art

by Rocio Zamora Arzola
WHAT’S HAPPENING

Popular in Mexico and in Latino barrios of L.A., makeshift tin men called monos, made of old car parts, are being used by muffler shops, junkyards and auto repair garages as a way of promoting their business and appealing to their Latino clientele.
The funky aesthetic behind these marketing tools have some [...]

Triple-digit MPG claims have drivers turning their heads

by Stefania Revelli
WHAT’S HAPPENING

At 48 miles per gallon, the Toyota Prius is currently the gold standard in fuel efficiency (FuelEconomy.gov 9.09).  But it may not be for long.
General Motors announced that its Chevy Colt EV, scheduled to be released in 2011, will get 230 city miles per gallon. Using the same (blurry at best) methodology [...]

Automotive philanthropy takes a social media spin

by Rob van Alstyne
WHAT’S HAPPENING

Cash for Clunkers may grab all the headlines, but Free Charity Cars has the gratis whips. After donating more than 4,000 cars to consumers since 1996, the service is now expanding its operations into the social media sphere with FreeChartiyCars.org.
In order to get in on the free auto action, users must [...]

JetLev gives you wings to fly (really)

by Rob van Alstyne
WHAT’S HAPPENING

Far-fetched flying fantasies will soon become boutique thrill realities thanks to JetLev, a personal jet pack company whose motto says it all: “Stop dreaming! Start flying!”
Superman needn’t look over his shoulder just yet; JetLev can get consumers airborne, but flying heights max out at 30 feet and any aerial maneuvers must [...]

OnStar freezes hot cars with Remote Ignition Block

by Sarah Barker
WHAT’S HAPPENING

OnStar has revved up their driver services with Remote Ignition Block, which prevents a subscriber’s stolen car from starting (Autoblog.com 7.21.09).
Together with OnStar’s existing Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, the GPS-guided crime-stopping features prevent dangerous high-speed chases and increase the likelihood the car will be abandoned and recovered.
OnStar estimates their services have helped in [...]

The Bike Path to Hell … is Paved With Good Intentions

by Hans Eisenbeis
The Cash for Clunkers program is a classic government joint: well intentioned, a great merit badge come mid-term elections, with parameters so well defined that it can’t help but benefit the narrowest possible cohort: new automobile dealerships. Billed as free money to a nation in pain, the fact that it’s been a raging [...]

Israeli teen helps autos go green

by Rob van Alstyne
WHAT’S HAPPENING

18-year-old Zion Badash has created a tiny device with huge carbon-footprint impact: a wheel-shaped auto add-on dubbed the Z5 that improves air flow to engines and increases combustion efficiency (The Jerusalem Post 3.15.09).
Made of a special alloy and with a suggested retail price of $208, the Z5 has no moving parts [...]

The painful birth of a new GM

Consumer strategist Rob Tregenza analyzes General Motors’ painful bankruptcy process and future governmental restructuring.
Download the podcast here:
The painful birth of a new GM
4 min., 33 sec.

Harley-Davidson revs it up online for Latino riders

by Abelardo de la Peña Jr.
WHAT’S HAPPENING

What’s a Harlista? A Harley-Davidson-riding Latino who’s proud of being both. The motorcycle company is celebrating the dedication of its Latino riders by launching a section on its website telling true stories of Harlistas.
The interactive, English-language section features photos and personal accounts of Latino Harley riders. “Ivan” of Washington, [...]

What’s next for Chrysler?

Consumer strategist Rob Tregenza breaks down Chrysler’s “surgical” bankruptcy and looks ahead to the future.
Download the podcast here:
What’s next for Chrysler?
6 min., 22 sec.

Love in the time of recession

by Stefania Revelli
Call me a hopeless romantic and you’d be right. I’ll admit I’m a total sucker for storybook romances — from Austen’s timeless Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy to Meyer’s supernatural Edward and Bella. I guess I’m generally hooked on compelling relationship stories, especially the ones that endure through uncertain times.
Clearly, Cupid’s got his work [...]