Heres

As prices top $4 a gallon, should you consider an electric vehicle? One consideration: They’re more expensive to insure and repair. Here’s why.

By Betty C. Morrow 4 months ago

Not only are electric-vehicle sticker prices higher on average than comparable cars and SUVs with traditional internal-combustion engines (ICE), the cost to insure an EV outruns its gasoline-guzzling cousins.

Is that because it’s challenging a 100-year-old auto market, and an even older insurance industry with specialized technology? Or because it’s the Roadster, whose speedometer tops out at 250 miles per hour?

The answer is, well, both.

That’s because insurance premiums are built on damage and repair histories, which for EVs is small, yet expanding. EVs are, in many ways, more simply built, with less components, than traditional cars.

But the experts allocated to fix them are still getting up to speed. And parts —semiconductor chips, for starters — can be hard to source, or are subject to trade conditions, even before COVID-19 supply-chain issues disrupted the flow of goods.

“There’s a lack of data or experience with insuring and

… Read More

Here’s How Black Designers At Stellantis Support Each Other and Mentor The Next Generation

By Betty C. Morrow 4 months ago

Without designers, there are no cars.

Automotive designers combine knowledge of mechanics, production and materials with artistic talent to improve the style, appearance and aerodynamics of automobiles.

Much like in other professions, Black designers have fought for representation in the auto industry.

General Motors hired Edward Welburn as their first Black designer in 1972. In 2003 Welburn became the first Black Vice President of Global Design in the industry.

Black designers like Michael Burton, Crystal Windham, Earl Lucas and Chris Young have each contributed impressive feats to automotive design, from the Ford Flex to the 2021 Ford Bronco.

In 2011 when the Hyundai Sonata shook up the car market due to its modern sweeping body style, designer Andre Hudson was to thank.

According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, Black employees make up 17.2 percent of workers in automotive manufacturing but the industry lacks diversity at the leadership level.

… Read More

Got your keys inside your car? Here’s what you should do

By Betty C. Morrow 4 months ago
Augusta Free Press

Published Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, 2:00 pm

Join AFP’s 100,000+ followers on Facebook

Purchase a subscription to AFP

Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Pandora

News, press releases, letters to the editor: [email protected]

Advertising inquiries: [email protected]

luxury car keys
(© Moose
– stock.adobe.com)

Drivers locking their keys inside their cars is not news. Millions of drivers accidentally lock their keys in their cars each year, and now, you are a part of that number. Newer cars have more safety features that protect the car from being opened. But, in case you find yourself looking at your car keys from outside your vehicle, then there are some things that you can do to retrieve your keys.

What should I do if I lock my keys in my car?

Recent car models already have safety features that prevent this type of accident. For example, newer models don’t automatically lock their doors

… Read More

Here’s How Nvidia Will Power Automotive Giants

By Betty C. Morrow 5 months ago

Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) is providing automotive companies with advanced solutions for hardware, software, and infrastructure so they can compete alongside Tesla when it comes to autonomous driving technology. In this Backstage Pass clip from “The AI/ML Show” recorded on Jan. 12, Motley Fool contributor Jose Najarro explains Nvidia’s role in supporting automobile giants as they develop self-driving vehicles. 

Jose Najarro: For those other automobile companies that don’t have the power like Tesla, they look to Nvidia for solutions. That’s where Nvidia is working, they’re creating solutions for the other automobile industries or automobile giants that don’t have maybe the type of talent or engineer that Tesla might have. I’m going to share, and we’re going to look at all the different solutions that they have and obviously, we’re going to talk about some of the chips.

First, they have solutions for the hardware, software, and infrastructure. Let’s start off with

… Read More