General Motors recently announced a new and updated plan to eliminate carbon emissions from their vehicles and factories. GM's goal and promise is to reach carbon neutrality--meaning ZERO carbon emissions from their vehicles AND their assembly process--by 2040. GM also committed to the rollout of new, zero-emission light duty vehicles by 2035. 

The number of electric vehicles (EV's) on the road is continuing to rise from about 1 million at the end of 2018 to a projected 18.7 million by 2030. Concurrently, fleet management organizations are promoting the incorporation of EV's into their clients' fleets more than ever before. So what should you know about vehicles that run on electricity? 

We are living in a century of farewells to many reliable, traditional methods of living. The U.S. Postal Service is slowly becoming defunct as e-mail, text messaging and social media take its place with unsurpassed speed & convenience. Cinemas are suffering because of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime (Blockbuster & friends are already long-gone). In a more relevant occurrence, the American "sedan" is losing popularity and U.S. automakers are abandoning its production. Coming to take its place? Well, we'll get to that. 

With the new year has come a fresh line-up of vehicles and an increased, nation-wide focus on driver safety. At the NAFA (North American Fleet Association) conference that preceded the 2019 Milwaukee Auto Show, every manufacturer representative made sure to highlight the ways in which their organization has prioritized safety and explained the advanced safety features that come with their 2019 models. 

"My minivan sold for how much?" My client asked, flashing a look of delight, surprise and slight disbelief. We politely reassured her that, yes, her para-transit minivan was sold at the previous week's Manheim Auto Auction for twice the sale price we anticipated. The minivan was originally acquired for $40,000, and the Mannheim Auction's "Condition Report" came back with some minor maintenance issues. This put our expectations at somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000. At the end of the day, Fleet Services received an e-mail from Manheim stating that the proposed highest big was $14,600. Our client gladly accepted the offer. 

With more auto manufacturers producing cost-efficient electric-vehicles and a growing national investment in the EV industry, the addition of EV's into one's fleet is becoming an enticing opportunity.The question is becoming less, "Should I go electric?" and more "When and how do I incorporate electric vehicles into my fleet?" 

Automobiles are vital assets that inevitably depreciate over time. Our latest brief serves as a guide to help you determine the optimal point to replace any vehicle in your fleet. Knowing the replacement process will allow your organization to grow & prosper rather than suffer economic losses. Click on the link below to learn more!

The process of acquiring new vehicles can sometimes make you feel like the victim of high-way robbery (pun intended). Luckily, there are manufacturers who actually strive to help cut costs in many ways, especially if you operate a fleet. Many car companies offer volume incentives and VIP programs, which greatly reduce not only the acquisition cost but also the life-cycle cost of every vehicle in your fleet. 

There is nothing more embarrassing than failing to parallel park on a crowded street in the summer, when pedestrians stop to laugh and point while other drivers scorn you for taking up the road. Fear not, for those days are nearly behind us! Groundbreaking developments in car sensor technology has allowed manufacturers to offer Automatic Parallel Parking as a feature in a handful of newer model vehicles. However, like any other computerized mechanism, it will only work if you know how to use it. 

Hybrid and electric vehicles can both relieve the burden of hefty fuel costs and reduce your fleet's carbon "tire-mark" -- so to speak. However, perhaps the safest way to estimate the potential benefits of going electric is to watch the ones who are already doing it. Recent developments in Washington state and Colorado, for example, have shown that the trend towards electric and hybrid vehicles is growing in legislative and business-minded popularity.