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Recharge Wrap-up: Innova EV Car Share, Mercedes to use CO2 A/C

Innova UEV will launch its carsharing program at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2015 Conference & Expo. Called Innova EV Car Share, the program is designed for college campuses, and uses the Innova Dash neighborhood electric vehicle and solar charging stations. "The Innova UEV team is excited to introduce this innovative sustainability program to universities across the country as a way to reduce CO2 output as well as decrease congestion," says Innova UEV Founder and CEO Roman Kuropas. "Visionary schools that make this level of commitment to the environment are sure to add to their sustainability prestige as leaders in higher education." Read more in the press release from Innova UEV. Microsoft and ABB are launching a new EV fast-charging services platform. ABB chargers will connect to the Microsoft Azure cloud, allowing for smarter charging as infrastructure expands. "Platform performance and stability are critical differentiators for the successful operation of a modern, data-dependent EV charging station," says ABB's Pekka Tiitinen. "By partnering with Microsoft, ABB will be able to offer best-in-class operations as well as innovative advanced services - what we call the Internet of Things, Services and People." Perhaps we'll hear more specific details following the platform's launch at eCarTec in Germany. Read more from Microsoft. Honda is testing solar-powered EV charging in the Marshall Islands. The AC charging stations, called the Honda Power Chargers, will help power a fleet of Fit EVs on the remote islands as part of a pilot test. The Marshall Islands must import most of their energy supplies, so solar-powered mobility would help provide some self-sufficiency and cost savings. Honda, the Marshall Islands government, and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will use the experiment to determine if it would be worthwhile to expand the solar-powered charging infrastructure. Read more at Green Car Reports. Mercedes-Benz will use CO2 air conditioning to help meet the EU's 2017 environmental requirements. The European offerings of the S-Class and E-Class will be the first to use a CO2-based air conditioning system. The use of CO2 requires a redesign of much of the system, as it requires a much higher pressure than other refrigerants. The automaker will use the HFO-1234yf refrigerant in its other vehicles.

Trucks, SUVs drive U.S. October new vehicle sales

DETROIT — Major automakers posted mixed U.S. new vehicle sales in October on Wednesday, though America's love affair with high-margin pickup trucks and SUVs remained in full bloom as larger, pricier vehicles fared better than passenger cars. Auto industry publication WardsAuto put the seasonally-adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for light vehicle sales in October at a robust level of 18 million units. But after a long boom cycle, carmakers are still ill-prepared for the slight decline in sales anticipated for full-year 2017 and have taken too few steps to trim production, said Doug Mehl, a partner in consultancy A.T. Kearney's automotive practice. "When you make a new vehicle, you have volume assumptions tagged to it, and who wants to be the guy who says, 'I'm going to make less of this really cool model'?" Mehl said. "But eventually the market is the reality, and it's going to force companies one way or other here." General Motors GM reported a sales drop of 2.2 percent for the month, with consumer sales down 6.6 percent. But sales of high-margin pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossovers all rose. GM also cut its inventory of unsold vehicles — a source of concern for the market — slightly. The automaker has worked to reduce its volume of excess inventory, including through significant production shutdowns in the third quarter. GM had said its inventory would rise in October. "We are heading into the fourth quarter with good momentum, thanks to a strong U.S. economy and very strong pickup and crossover sales," said Kurt McNeil, GM vice president for U.S. sales operations. GM slightly reduced consumer discounts as a percentage of average transaction prices to 13.5 percent, from 13.7 percent in the third quarter. Industry experts believe consumer discounts above 10 percent of the average transaction price are unhealthy as they erode resale values and are unsustainable in the long term. Consultants J.D. Power and LMC said last week that based on preliminary October sales numbers, discounts have exceeded 10 percent in 15 of the past 16 months. Ford The U.S. auto industry posted record sales of 17.55 million vehicles in 2016. New sales received a strong boost in September as consumers replaced vehicles damaged in southeast Texas by Hurricane Harvey the previous month. Full-year 2017 sales are expected to be slightly lower than 2016.

Honda Walking Assist Device begins US testing at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

For years, we've been wondering what implications Honda's Asimo robot could have in the real world, and now we're starting to get a sense of that. Honda announced that it will begin its first US clinical studies of the Walking Assist Device at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in an effort to provided improved mobility for people who have suffered a stroke. While the automotive tie-in here is pretty weak, this is the first time we've heard about this device since it was unveiled back in 2008.
Weighing in at six pounds, Honda's device is fitted to the waist and legs of patients to make it easier to walk, and the 22.2-volt lithium-ion battery provides enough electricity for more than an hour of operation. According to Honda's press release, which is posted below, up to 80 percent of the almost 800,000 stroke victims each year (in the US alone) are afflicted with limited mobility, so a medical aid like this could have a big impact in the real world.