Headlines & Coming Up – Week of 1.22.18 Trucks and SUVs are the biggest headlines coming out of The Detroit Auto Show. The Trump Administration is expected to propose loosening fuel economy standards for automakers. And the agenda of a career politician in California seems to be crystal clear – hear the game Diane Feinstein is playing with massive companies that call her state home. ***Transcript*** Recording date – January 22, 2018 Tom Smith: Welcome to iDriveSoCal the podcast all about mobility from the automotive capital of the United States – Southern California. I’m Tom Smith. Here’s what’s happening in mobility news: The North American International Auto Show – aka The Detroit Auto Show is half-complete. Trucks and SUVs are headlining the show for many automakers. And that’s partially thanks to a busy construction industry. But there’s lots of luxury versions within those segments too and brisk sales nationwide can be chalked up to continued tolerable fuel prices. And speaking of fuel, the Trump administration is expected to propose loosening the fuel economy standards at the end of March. This would make it easier for factories to keep selling larger vehicles including SUVs and trucks which carry fatter profits. Nevertheless manufacturers are expected to continue investing in battery and fuel cell technology in an effort to lessen the industry’s dependence on the internal combustion engine. California Senator Diane Feinstein appears to be a barrier blocking the road to autonomous driving progress. While other lawmakers want to put more self-driving vehicles on the roads for testing, Feinstein is a key figure tapping the brakes. Last week she told the website Recode that she agrees more testing of autonomous vehicles is needed. But, as a driver herself, she questions if that testing should be done on busy California highways at speeds of 65-and-75-miles-per-hour. Ironically, tech giants in the autonomous driving space headquartered in her home state of California include: Google, Tesla, and Uber. And as the 84-year-old who’s held elected offices in California since 1970 including her senatorial seat since 1992 readies to campaign for re-election this year… I’m sure there’s zero agenda behind her position and absolutely nothing could change her mind… Except maybe significant contributions and support for her re-election campaign – just maybe. And that’s what’s happening in mobility news. Coming up this week on iDriveSoCal. Interested in an electric vehicle and e-lifestyle makeover? A Santa Monica based start-up might have just what you’re looking for. David Eagle: We are the world's first electric vehicle plug-in hybrid and hybrid licensed auto broker/concierge service. We go far beyond just dealing with cars with our clients the HOV stickers, the Clean Air Vehicle rebate that California provides to any type of a plug-in vehicle whether it's a plug-in hybrid or an all-electric. We also provide chargers and the installation of chargers if they want that in their garage or in their office. We're charging several electric cars day and night. I'm running a 3800 square foot house, and I don't pay anything for electricity. In the summer, it's negative. It's in the negative numbers. In the winter, the bill ends up being in the positive numbers but because I built up the credits, I don't pay for it. That's why we call that the total EV lifestyle experience. It's a great thing. I mean never having to put gas in your car, charging it using the sun, no pollution whatsoever. And if you’re looking to go even greener with your...
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