Posted on 9/27/2019
Electric Vehicles Will Be Noisier at Low Speeds Sept. 2019 We all know that at low speeds hybrids and electric vehicles are very quiet. As a result, they are involved in disproportionately large number of accidents involving pedestrians. To fix the problem, European Union mandated that starting in 2021 new electric vehicles will have to have to be equipped with a “noise maker”, which is supposed to turn on any time the vehicle travels at less than 12mph. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a rule that could allow for different sound options for EVs. Nissan apparently hired a sound studio to design the sound for the Nissan electric vehicles. We will not include a link and thus save you a few seconds of your life – the EV sound created by the sound studio sounds... like a car engine. Still, it’s nice to know that soon we will have audible warning that a hybrid or EV is behind
Posted on 9/26/2019
Ford Recalls 483,325 Trucks and SUVs in the US Sept 2019 Ford just announced that it is recalling around half a million trucks and SUVs. Apparently the third pawl required for seat-back strength may be missing in some vehicles. In case of a crash, the recliner mechanism might be unable to restrain passenger adequately, so it increases the risk of injury. Ford spokesman said that Ford is not aware of any injuries at this point. The affected vehicles include not only 2018-2020 F-150, 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, but also 2018-2019 Ford Explorer and 2019-2020 Expedition vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. It also includes some of the latest 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator models vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. If you own one of these vehicles, you should be receiving a notification from Ford in the mail. If you do not, call you ... read more