Mercedes Recalls Cars For Steering Problem

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mercedes c-classMercedes-Benz is recalling 85,000 2010 C-Class and 2010-2011 E-Class automobiles for problems with the steering. According to Mercedes, a fitting on the high pressure power steering line may have not been tightened enough which could lead to a leak. As a result, the driver may not be able to control the vehicle under circumstances that require maximum power steering.

Mercedes-Benz says Daimler AG will notify affected customers if their vehicle is recalled. The company says its dealers will check and properly tighten the connection between the line and the pump. The recall is expected to begin this month.

Google Develops Self Driving Car

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According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million lives are lost every year in traffic accidents. Many of these could have been avoided, as often they were caused by distracted drivers or by driver error. The scientists at Google feel that if cars were able to drive themselves, the amount of accidents could be greatly reduced, and that’s just what they set out to do.

Google has developed a self driving car which uses video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder to see other traffic. The car is programmed with detailed maps and traffic information and uses Google’s data centers to process the information allowing it to navigate the roads safely. Google feels this technology will not only reduce traffic accident, but will increase the number of people being transported by allowing more cars on the road and transforming car sharing businesses. Because the cars will be safer, safety features could be removed from cars making them lighter and more efficient. The car can also be programed to drive at the optimal fuel efficiency.

These automated cars, manned by trained operators, drove from Google’s Mountain View campus to their Santa Monica office and on to Hollywood Boulevard. They’ve driven down Lombard Street, crossed the Golden Gate bridge, navigated the Pacific Coast Highway, and even made it all the way around Lake Tahoe. In total, the self-driving cars have logged over 140,000 miles.

According to Google, “We’ve always been optimistic about technology’s ability to advance society, which is why we have pushed so hard to improve the capabilities of self-driving cars beyond where they are today.” While this project is very much in the experimental stage, it provides a glimpse of what transportation might look like in the future thanks to advanced computer science.

Tesla Recalls Roadster

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Tesla has announced that it will be recalling all Roadster 2.0 vehicles built between July 2009-June 2010 as well as all Roadster 2.5 models built between July 2010-September 2010. This comes after a complaint from a customer who reported a fire behind the right front corner of the vehicle. The problem is being blamed on a low voltage auxiliary cable chafing against a panel causing a short. This issue is limited to the 12V low voltage auxiliary cable and does not involve the main battery pack or main power system.

In the recall, Tesla technicians will check the routing of the cable and install a protective sleeve to prevent further chaffing. Tesla has started notifying customers via email and has initiated a mailing campaign. The repair will be done at the customers’ homes or offices and will take approximately one hour.

The Emerging Automobile Industry In China

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Since the end of 2009, China has become one of the largest auto manufacturers and markets in the world. The number of registered vehicles on the road in China reached 62 million in 2009, and is expected to exceed 200 million by 2020. Almost half of the cars manufactured and sold in China are Chinese vehicles, the rest are being produced by joint ventures with foreign car makers such as Volkswagen, General Motors, Hyundai, Nissan, Honda, Toyota,… etc.

The negative impact of cars in Chinese cities is already obvious. Congested roads, car accidents, fuel shortages, air pollution, parking difficulties,…etc, have already become issues. Government officials warn that overcapacity of the market will lead to negative market competitiveness, a loss in enterprise efficiency, factory stoppages and other problems. Analysts feel that the development of green energy vehicles is the best way for China to reduce the environmental impact the exploding auto industry will have on their country.

The green industry in China may seem like a good market to get into, but the hope that American workers will see their products exported to this rich foreign market are not good. China will only do business with companies who share their intellectual property and who manufacture in their country. A foreign company must enter a joint venture with a Chinese firm, and that the firm has to have substantial ownership of the intellectual property, otherwise, there will be a duty on making the car in China.

The White House has already got a jump start on electric technologies by encouraging construction of plants that make electric cars, batteries and parts that go into them. According to the Obama administration, the United States is on track to produce 40 percent of the world’s battery technology by 2015. The industry expects the American market to gobble up most of that supply. In order to keep jobs here, U.S. demand for EV components must rise, otherwise the risk of exporting yet another industry away from U.S. soil will be the result.

Stars On Cars – Rating Vehicle Safety

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The U.S. Transportation Department has announced their new 5 star safety rating system that will be used to rate the new 2011 automobile models. The safety rating program was first introduced in 1979, but changes were needed since almost 90% of vehicles tested under the old system received a five star rating. According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, “Through new tests, better crash data and higher standards, we are making the safety ratings tougher and more meaningful for consumers.” “The new rating system will encourage auto makers to install crash avoidance technologies and will help shoppers buy a safer vehicle.”

The ‘Stars on Cars’ system uses an overall score rating. Different size test dummies are used and crash prevention technologies are included in the score. A new test that simulates a car striking a pole or a tree has also been added. The overall score combines the results of front, side and rollover tests and compares those results with average risk of injury and the potential for vehicle rollover. So far, of the 34 vehicles tested under the new program only two have received the top grade of five stars. BMW AG’s 2011 5 Series and a version of the 2011 Sonata from Hyundai Motor Co.

There will be a bit of confusion for consumers, when trying to compare safety of a 2010 model with a 2011 model, but automobile manufacturers expect consumers will embrace the new changes. The window sticker attached to vehicles in dealership lots will need to be redesigned and won’t include the overall score until the 2012 model year. Vehicles that haven’t been tested will be listed as “not rated”.

Here Come The Electric Vehicles

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As states across the country brace for the wave of electric plug in vehicles to hit the streets, utility companies warn that there could be glitches. A smarter electrical grid has been developed to accommodate the surge in power usage, and utility companies have been working with the automakers to ensure a smooth transition, but too many drivers trying to charge their vehicles at the same time, could lead to low voltage situations.

Executive vice president and chief operating officer of Novi-based ITC Holdings Corp., said that as plug-in use grows and more public charging stations are installed, substations or lines may need to be upgraded. Experts, however, don’t believe electric vehicles will be widespread until 2020, giving utilities at least a decade to figure out ways to handle new loads and educate consumers about scaling electricity during peak times.

For now, utilities are installing smart meters in homes and businesses to help consumers better manage electricity use. The meters allow utilities to charge rates based on peak and off-peak use and track that data. This will encourage drivers to charge in off peak hours as well as give information on where upgrades need to be made. As technology advances, cars plugged in for recharges could actually help the grid, said Scott Miller, director of Coulomb Technologies’ ChargePoint America. “These can act as remote storage units, transferring some of the energy from the cars back to the electrical grid in times of need.”

BMW and Rolls-Royce Recall For Brake Problem

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BMW has announced a world wide recall on almost 350,000 BMW 5, 6, and 7 series models built since 2002. The German car maker announced that some high mileage vehicles with 8 or 12 cylinder engines may experience brake fluid leakage into the hydraulics, preventing pressure from building up. The brakes will continue to work, but the driver will notice that more pressure is required on the brake pedal. A spokesman for BMW’s luxury brand Rolls-Royce said that they have not had any complaints regarding their Phantom models, but will ask Phantom customers to bring in their vehicles for inspection as well.

Honda Fit Investigated For Headlight Failure

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After eight complaints, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened an investigation into Honda’s Fit for low beam headlights that stop working. Many of the drivers who have complained of the problem say that they had wiring harnesses, connectors and headlight switches replaced as a repair. If the investigation should lead to a recall, over 130,000 2007-2008 Honda Fit cars could be affected. There have been no reported traffic accidents because of the problem.