Kenworth has updated its Predictive Cruise Control functionality for T680 and T880 trucks equipped with the 2017 Paccar MX-11, MX-13, and Cummins X15 engines to improve fuel economy and overall MPG. The update was made with the launch of 2017 emission engines and provides up to a 1% improvement in fuel economy over the current versions with Predictive Cruise Control, according to Patrick Dean, Kenworth chief engineer. Kenworth’s Predictive Cruise…
Read MoreBYD Supplies 20 Electric Buses to UC Irvine
BYD California’s truck and bus facility isn’t much to look at – an elderly concrete tilt-up in a mostly still unbuilt industrial center in Lancaster, a high-desert community about 70 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. But things are changing for the electric vehicle maker, a unit of China’s giant BYD Co. BYD has started a factory expansion on a 200,000-square-foot lot in front of the former recreational vehicle assembly…
Read MoreDOT Report on Tesla Trailer AutoPilot Crash
A report issued this month by the Department of Transportation regarding the high-profile 2016 crash involving a Tesla Model S and a tractor-trailer reached the conclusion — again — that the inattention of the Tesla’s driver was to blame for the crash. NHTSA says the car’s operator, who died in the collision, was leaning too heavily on the car’s driver assist systems, which failed to brake when a tractor-trailer crossed…
Read MoreFord Launches Commercial Vehicle Program
Ford is launching the Commercial Vehicle Center dealer program that will replace the Business Preferred Network (BPN) and offer improved service, better parts availability and a new loyalty program, Ford announced. The program is rolling out at 650 of Ford’s more than 3,000 dealers in the U.S. and replaces a program that was heavily used by smaller fleets to set up work trucks and vans. Much like a BPN dealer, a Commercial…
Read MoreNavistar To Pay $9.1M For EGR Diesel Engines
Navistar International Corp. is close to completing a settlement with shareholders over allegations that it made false and misleading statements about the benefits of a diesel engine technology (EGR) that turned out to be a disaster for the company. Shareholders on Wednesday asked Illinois U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah to give final approval to the lawsuit settlement over Navistar’s so-called reduced-emissions Advanced EGR engine for the heavy-duty truck market.…
Read MoreMack, Volvo Discontinue 16 Liter Diesel Engine
Volvo Trucks North America announced to its dealers on Jan. 20 that effective immediately, the OEM would discontinue production and distribution of its 16.1-liter D16 diesel engine. Aftermarket service and support for all D16s currently in the field will continue unimpeded. The decision to cease 16-liter engine production will also affect Mack Trucks, a sister company under the Volvo Group. Therefore, Mack will stop offering its MP10 16.1-liter diesel, which shares…
Read MoreMIT Engineers Turn Yeast into Diesel
MIT engineers have genetically reprogrammed a strain of yeast so that it converts sugars to fats much more efficiently, an advance that could make possible the renewable production of high-energy fuels such as diesel. The researchers, led by Gregory Stephanopoulos, the Willard Henry Dow Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at MIT, modified the metabolic pathways of yeast that naturally produce large quantities of lipids, to make them about 30…
Read MorePenske Rental Trucks with Collision Avoidance
Penske Truck Rental is making collision avoidance systems and air disc brakes its standard spec on commercial tractors within its rental fleet. “These added vehicle features underscore our commitment to over-the-road safety for our commercial truck rental customers and their drivers,” said Don Mikes, senior vice president of rental at Penske. “These systems can help commercial drivers avoid collisions and the braking system provides additional stopping power when needed.” Penske has…
Read MoreEPA Says Chrysler Cheated Diesel Emissions
The US Environmental Protection Agency has accused a second major car company, Fiat Chrysler, of cheating on its diesel emissions testing by using secret software applications in multiple models. The company’s Jeep Cherokee and Dodge Ram vehicles used “management software” that “increases air pollution” from nitrous oxide for three years, the EPA alleged in a notice of violation issued Thursday. Fiat Chrysler said it was “disappointed” in the citation, and…
Read MoreNavistar & Dana Offer Extended Warranties
Navistar and Dana concurrently launched several extended warranty packages for Navistar’s Durastar medium-duty truck program and its school bus platform. Spicer S140 Series and Spicer 060 Series axles, Spicer E-Series steer axles, and Spicer driveshafts are all available components covered under the International Durastar Powertrain Warranty program. Dana will remain the standard-position driveshaft supplier across all Navistar truck models, and Navistar will have access to all of Dana’s current driveline…
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