Tesla Inc. plans to unveil an electric semi-truck in September, Elon Musk, the electric car company’s chief executive, said Thursday. Musk said last year that the company was working on an electric truck but has provided few details except to say it would have self-driving capabilities like other new Tesla models. On Twitter Thursday morning the tech entrepreneur said, “Tesla Semi truck unveil set for September. Team has done an…
Read MoreLA Shuttle Service Converts Fleet to Electric
Sixteen zero-emission utility shuttle buses will be used to service offsite parking at Los Angeles International Airport for shuttling service WallyPark, making it the first all-electric airport parking depot fleet in the country. Phoenix Motorcars, based in Ontario, Calif., manufactured the fully-electric buses for WallyPark, a subsidiary of parking facility operator L&R, which is headquartered in Los Angeles. Each vehicle carries up to 14 passengers and their luggage between the…
Read More2016 Sprinter Drive Shaft Support Recall
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The bracket for the center support bearing of the drive shaft may not have been properly welded. CONSEQUENCE: If the event of a crash, the bracket may detach and the drive shaft may damage the fuel system, increasing the risk of a fire. REMEDY: DVUSA will notify owners…
Read MoreREV Fleetwood Motorhome Fuel Pump Recall
REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling certain 2015 Fleetwood Bounder Classic motorhomes, 2015-2016 Fleetwood Terra motorhomes, 2016-2017 Fleetwood Storm, Holiday Rambler Admiral XE and Fleetwood Flair motorhomes, and 2017 Holiday Rambler Vacationer XE motorhomes. The affected vehicles, equipped with an Onan 5.5 Kilowatt Generator, have an external fuel pump and in-line fuel filter that may be improperly secured to the chassis. CONSEQUENCE: If the fuel pump or filter detach or…
Read MoreVolvo’s Alternative Powertrain Hybrid Trucks
Volvo Trucks has looked into the future of long-haul big rigs and sees a hybrid. The Swedish manufacturer, which owns the Mack brand in the U.S., is testing its first hybrid alternative powertrain truck to see how much fuel it will save on long-haul deliveries. The vehicle is expected to produce 30 percent less CO2 emissions than a comparable diesel powered traditional truck. The hybrid is part of a growing movement within the trucking industry to design more fuel efficient and…
Read MoreIsuzu Issues Recall Involving 21,000 Trucks
Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2015-2017 NPR HD, NPR XD, NQR and NRR trucks. During manufacturing, the stamping equipment may have created burrs on the frame crossmember that the transmission is mounted to. These burrs may cause the transmission mounting studs to break. CONSEQUENCE: If the studs break, the transmission may not be properly supported, preventing it from shifting correctly and increasing the risk of…
Read MoreMack Wrightspeed New Electric Garbage Truck
Humans generate a lot of trash. Refuse trucks circulate through our cities and neighborhoods collecting that trash, typically starting and stopping every few yards. For trucks that can weigh up to 33 tons, all of the slowing down and speeding up uses a lot of fuel and generates a lot of emissions. At this week’s WasteExpo in Las Vegas, Mack Trucks and Wrightspeed are teaming up to demonstrate a plug-in…
Read MorePG&E Plug-In Electric Class 6 Hybrid Truck
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Efficient Drivetrains Incorporated (EDI) unveiled the utility industry’s first plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) Class 6 truck featuring technology that has the potential to fundamentally change how the utility manages planned and unplanned outages. The vehicle, developed by EDI in partnership with PG&E, features a plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain that combines up to 50 miles of all-electric driving with 300 more miles of driving…
Read MoreElectric Buses Now Cheaper than Diesel/CNG
Transit vehicles today are mostly powered by gasoline, diesel, and CNG, while electric batteries only represent about 1% of the market. It is currently a small part of the industry, but it’s also the fastest growing fuel source in the sector and it’s starting to become highly competitive and cheaper. Electric bus maker Proterra is ramping up production and currently claims to be cheaper than diesel and CNG. It leads CEO…
Read MoreForest River RV Power Steering Hose Recall
Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Berkshire and Charleston recreational vehicles built on Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) RV chassis. In these vehicles, the power steering hose may be improperly routed causing inadequate clearance between the hose and power stud. As a result, the hose can rub the power stud causing arcing and a power steering fluid leak. CONSEQUENCE: Arcing in the presence of power steering fluid…
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