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  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

I currently drive a 50mpg TDI, which I do love and will keep for a few hundred more thousand.

 

This video is slighty conspiracy-theory, slightly true. I worked for the Ford diesel design team for a few months back in 2005, when they were trying to put a diesel in the F150. That would have been sweet. Anyway, a few things I remember from the program that were actually facts:

 

1. Americans have historically demanded big cars. Ford and GM's marketing teams have well-established this. There are brief periods where small cars are the rage, but this is a very fickle need, based entirely on a spike in gas prices.

 

2. California sets the nation's emission standards. Because so many cars are sold there, the auto-industry simply develops all the cars in all states to this standard.

 

3. There are 3 main types of emissions: Nitrous Oxides (NOx), Hydrocarbons (HC), and Carbon Monoxide. As NOx is a main contributor to smog, California hit NOx very hard in 2009, reducing the allowable NOx PPM by 10x. Naturally, this killed the small-engine diesel industry, since diesels create a ton of NOx. Europe did not make these same policies. Rather, they have hit hard on HC's, which are produced more from unleaded engines. Thus, directing US policy away from diesels and EU policy toward diesels.

 

4. It is possible to continue making diesels with very low emissions through the use of NOx traps (a cat for NOx, basically) or through Urea injection (spraying ammonia into the exhaust stream), but they are quite expensive ... $2-3k additional equipment on a vehicle that already has low demand in America. Not likely.

 

Overall, conspiracy or not, I am thankful that our country doesn't look like this yet (album: http://imgur.com/a/CnXGL):

 

9udFNl8.jpg

Posted

It makes me wonder; where are we headed?

 

This is a great question!

 

1. If you had the free time to think about other things besides running your business, what do you think those running government think about doing to those of us in private industry?

 

2. If you were running government, would you welcome people in private industry telling you what to do?

 

3. Do you think those running government really care about the true individual welfare of each of us to the extent that it does not benefit them?

 

4. Who is really behind the drafting of government policies, and for whose benefit?

 

It is really scary to want to peek behind the curtain and seeing what truly goes behind the scenes.

  • Like 1
Posted

Some things just don't make sense. All these government regulations for which car is allowed into the states and the way the political side of things writes a law and then can't see the fault in the interpretations of that said law. Gee... do ya think all this bad air from all those pollutants knows where the borders are? They must know... or... the politicians haven't found a way to tax air yet.

  • Like 1
Posted

They must know... or... the politicians haven't found a way to tax air yet.

 

Yes, they have. It is just taking a little long to implement. It is called Carbon Credits. Don't worry, soon you will know all about your "Carbon Footprint." And how expensive it will be to breathe, no joke. Read up on how they are doing it in Australia http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/19/report-australian-carbon-tax-contributes-to-record-number-of-businesses-insolvencies/

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.


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