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Ford Increases Passenger Safety with Inflatable Seatbelts

Brandy S — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:40:07 -0800

It's a fact that seatbelts and airbags have a proven record of saving lives in automobile crashes. Ford has now combined the two technologies to create a new kind of inflatable seatbelt that will better protect rear seat occupants, especially more vulnerable young children and elderly passengers who can be more susceptible to head, chest, and neck injuries. But, in everyday use, these belts would operate like conventional seat belts, making them safe and compatible with infant and child safety and booster seats.

Vehicle safety sensors determine the severity of a frontal or side collision in the blink of an eye to deploy the inflatable belts' airbags. The inflatable belt is inflated by cold compressed gas, which flows through a specially designed buckle from a cylinder housed below the seat. Upon inflation, it unfolds like an accordian, and its increased diameter more effectively holds the occupant in the appropriate seating position, helping to reduce the risk of injury. The shape of the seat belt also spreads crash forces over five times more area of the body than conventional seat belts to help reduce pressure on the chest and better control head and neck motion for rear seat passengers.

Additionally, using cold compressed gas instead of a heat-generating chemical reaction means the inflated belts feel no warmer on the wearer's body than the ambient temperature, and eliminate concerns of inflation burns typical in traditional airbag systems.

In Ford's research, more than 90 percent of those who tested the inflatable seat belts found them to be similar to or more comfortable than a conventional belt because they feel padded and softer. Ford believes that comfort factor could help improve the 61 percent rear-belt-usage rate in the U.S., which compares to 82 percent usage by front-seat passengers, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

"Ford's rear inflatable seat belt technology will enhance safety for rear-seat passengers of all ages, especially for young children who are more vulnerable in crashes," said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environmental and Safety Engineering (pictured, right). "This is another unique family technology that builds on our safety leadership, including the most top safety ratings of any automaker."

Ford plans to introduce these inflatable rear seat belts on the next-generation Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, which goes into production next year, and eventually intends to offer the inflatable seat belt technology in vehicles globally.

By Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty.com Editor

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AskPatty Attends the 2009 SEMA Show!

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:05:08 -0800

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is one of the biggest events of the automotive industry each year. Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, it is attended by more than 100,000 industry leaders from around the world who amass to participate in educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, and networking opportunities. Traditionally held during the first week of November, the SEMA show overlaps with the Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo (AAPEX) held at the Sands Expo, which also draws more than 50,000 attendees, making this the largest convention held in Las Vegas each year. If you're an enthusiast of the automotive aftermarket, this is your Nirvana.

I am currently in Vegas this week, participating in both events with the help of my editor, Brandy Schaffels, and our new Director of Business Development, Patricia J Roberts. It's been a crazy week, full of back-to-back meetings and miles and MILES of walking, but also a fun opportunity for us car gals to get some time together, immersed in our automotive environment!

If you're unfamiliar with the 46-year-old organization, SEMA members make, buy, sell, and use all kinds of specialty parts and accessories to make vehicles more attractive, more unique, more convenient, faster, safer, more fun and even like-new again. There's something at SEMA for everyone, whether you're looking for a fancy chrome paint job or customized vinyl wrap, a luxurious leather interior, personal mobile electronics, wheels and tires, convenient products for car care, or even windshield wiper blades made by a woman-owned company that donates to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Manufacturers use this show to allow aftermarket companies to transform their vehicles into rolling works of art, whether they're creating electric race cars, eye-popping show cars. Ford is here with a giant collection of customized cars; they're also been giving driving demos of its highly anticipated Fiesta. General Motors used the show to debut an entire line of modified Camaro concepts, including a fuel-efficient twin-turbo version customized by comedian Jay Leno. Suzuki presented a collection of Kizashi and Equator build projects and Scion showcased three project vehicles for its xB Tuner Challenge. And Progressive Insurance had an entire display of super-efficient entrants into its Automotive XPrize competition.

While we've been here, I've been nurturing new relationships with women industry leaders and am making new connections to certify additional female friendly automotive retailers! We've also gathered lots of great information about events, products, and vehicles that will be developed into larger stories later, so keep your eyes peeled for more from the SEMA show in future blogs!

Jody DeVere
President and CEO
http://www.askpatty.com
http://www.carblabber.com

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Coskata Powers Vehicles with Fuel Made From Trash

Brandy S — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:12:00 -0800

With gas prices continually in flux, interest in domestically produced bio-fuels like ethanol (E85) is on the rise. These flex fuels have been gaining popularity not only for their lower cost, but also their lessened impact on the environment. Flex Fuel vehicles that can run on gas, E85 or a combination of both, are already available from Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, and GMC.

Helping to lessen the impact on the environment even more, Coskata Inc., a leading developer of alternative bio-fuels, has just announced the successful start-up of "Project Lighthouse" its semi-commercial flex-ethanol facility. We first heard of Coskata when General Motors announced their partnership with the energy company at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. It's an especially suitable partnership, since General Motors has built 5 million of these Flex Fuel vehicles to date, and has committed to making 50 percent of its fleet Flex Fuel compatible by 2012.

Unlike other technologies and facilities that often rely on one primary source of feedstock, the company's flexible ethanol facility will be producing ethanol from numerous sources, including wood biomass, agricultural waste, construction waste, and even household garbage. They expect to produce about 100 gallons of ethanol per dry ton of biomass material. That's energy out of trash, people!

In addition, Coskata says their patented microorganisms and bioreactor designs will produce ethanol for the same as, and in some cases less than, the cost of producing a gallon of gasoline. In the future, these refineries could be built where people need them, and use locally gathered materials to produce fuel for that area, reducing transportation costs as well. This new technology also reduces CO2 emissions by as much as 96 percent compared to gasoline.

For more on how this new facility turns trash into gas, click to watch the video below, or visit mediaseed.tv

By Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty.com Editor
(using materials provided by Medialink on behalf of General Motors)

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Automotive Association To Honor Outstanding Women Industry Achievers

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0800

The Women's Automotive Association International (WAAI) will present its prestigious Professional Achievement Award to three automotive industry women during its annual awards dinner. This year's honorees are Robin Pisz, national interactive marketing manager for Lexus, a division of Toyota Motor Sales; Theresa Haven, manager of the marketing communications campaign management division, Honda Motor Co.; and Anna Zornosa, general manager for Dealix.com, a division of Cobalt.

We are so pleased to present these women with the Professional Achievement Award and congratulate them on this much-deserved honor!

Presented annually since 1997, the Professional Achievement Award pays tribute to professional women in recognition of their commitment, professionalism and success in the automotive industry. "These women embody qualities well worthy of recognition, and we are privileged to honor their achievements," said Lorraine Schulz, WAAI founder and CEO. "Not only are they successful and accomplished in their careers, they are also leaders in business and their communities, and serve as role models."

Founded in 1995, WAAI centers its efforts on recognizing the achievements of women in the automotive industry, providing networking and relationship-building opportunities, and encouraging growth through mentoring, educational endeavors and scholarships.

The 12th annual WAAI reception and dinner will be held in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on December 2, 2009.

Jody DeVere
President and CEO
http://www.askpatty.com
http://www.carblabber.com

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All Aboard for Safe Crossing Week, November 1-7, 2009

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:30:00 -0800

Did you know that a train traveling at 55 mph can take a mile or more to stop? That's about 20 football fields. It might look like it's traveling slowly, but believe it or not, a train can arrive at its crossing within 20 seconds of when the signal lights begin to flash!

In 2008, 744 people were killed and 1,372 were injured in incidents involving trains in the United States. These incidents involved either trains and people or trains and motor vehicle occupants. In 2008, a total of 22 children ages 14 and under were killed and 122 were injured in incidents involving trains.

It's because of these statistics that Safe Kids USA and CN, one of the largest railroads in North America, are working together again on Safe Crossing Week 2009 to encourage parents, teachers, and caregivers to teach elementary school children how to safely cross railroad tracks.

Safe Crossing Week 2009 focuses on teaching Safety for life. Although parents are responsible for their kids' safety, children can be little ambassadors for a safer community. Children pass along what they learn to their families and set good examples as role models for one another. If we want to build a culture of safety, it starts with reaching children early so that safe practices and behaviors become second-nature as they grow and develop into safe teens and adults. And it means that parents must also teach their children to respect all signs and signals, and never drive around guard rails or try to beat the train. Click here to download a PDF to help you discuss railroad safety with your kids.

This year's in-school program provides grade level-specific railroad safety curriculum and activities. This year, some of the nation's leading children's hospitals and children's museums have come on board to hold special events to further broaden the reach of the program. Local Safe Kids safety experts, CN Police officers, and CN employee volunteers are teaching more than 50,000 students in hundreds of elementary schools and other locations across the United States, making it the largest and most widespread Safe Crossing Week in history. (Not sure if your community or school is participating in Safe Crossing Week? Click here to contact your local Safe Kids coalition.)

We all know how fascinated our little ones can be with those giant trains. Please take this opportunity to ensure they are carefully instructed to observe the best possible rail crossing safety!

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Green Car Buying on a Budget?

Brandy S — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:09:25 -0700

It seems that everyone we talk to is on a tighter budget these days, and most of them tell us watching their pennies has become more than just a hobby. It doesn't matter whether it's groceries, clothing, or gas, we're all looking for the best deal whenever possible.

So, what's the best way to shop for a car and ensure you're getting the best deal possible? Be an informed shopper! Get as much information as possible about the vehicle you are interested in, BEFORE you ever step foot onto a dealership! Be sure you know what features it has, so that you know what features you want and are willing to pay for. And read up on car reviews and blogs so you know what the pros -- and your peers -- are saying about it.

Thanks to the internet, it's much easier to get that kind of info without leaving your house or even making a phone call. All manufacturers provide "official" websites promoting their vehicles, with plenty of info and demonstrative photos that display the vehicle from every angle. And women can get plenty of car info from their peers by joining conversations in the AskPatty community at Carblabber.

But beyond those, shoppers should search for plenty of insider information as well. I'm currently in the market for a new car, and hope to make a purchase in about six months. I'm on a tiny budget, and I'm looking for a small, fuel efficient car (once upon a time, I would have called that an econobox, but these days we use the words "budget" and "green" instead) so I stopped by the Car Buyer's Guide at CarandDriver.com to see what's available for me. (By the way, if you happen to be shopping outside of my category, simply deselect the "Budget & Green" filter to see the other categories in the Car Buyer's Guide, which include "Luxury," "Sedans & Wagons," "Sporty & Fun," or "Trucks, SUVs & Vans.")

If you know what you're looking for, finding info on a specific car is as easy as selecting a make and model. But if you're just browsing, the easy-to-use Car and Driver Car Buyer's Guide site allows users to filter their selection based on a variety of choices: "Fuel Miser," "Price Range," "Most Researched," or "New This Month" to display a variety of selections. Clicking on "Editor's Choice" further reduces the list so that you're not overwhelmed by the number of options.

Clicking on any of the vehicles presented allows the user to view an informative capsule that shares a short overview, a photo, a base price range as well as star rating and an opportunity to read more about the car. Below that are additional news and reviews about the vehicle, as well as a more detailed list of features and specs, and a tab that will allow you to price the car with its options.

The site has plenty of information available to help shoppers, regardless of whether you're browsing around in a segment or want to dig deeper to find out more about a specific car. Check out CarandDriver.com to be sure you're well informed before you head off to shop at the car dealer's lot!

By Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty.com Editor

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Last Chance to Vote and Win Shell Gift Cards!

AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:25:05 -0700

In September Shell invited AskPatty readers to share their driving passion in an online photo contest. Well the photo finalists have been selected and only a few days remain for you to decide the winners! Simply check back BEFORE November 3, 2009 to vote on your favorite finalists!

Consumers who vote are automatically entered into a sweepstakes to win a $50 Shell Gift Card. Each day, four voters will be chosen to at random and the more you vote the more chances you have to win!

Visit shell.us/fuelmypassion to support the local finalists and to be entered for a chance to win!

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