Driving Tips for Wet Roads

Wet pavement contributes to over 1 million crashes each year! Here are AAA's tips if you're caught driving in the rain. www.aaa.com/safety

SpaceKap Features: High Quality Automotive Gelcoat

The SpaceKap is covered with an automotive Gelcoat providing one of the highest UV protection on the market. After years of usage, the Spacekap is still as white as when it was delivered. Each Spacekap has the option to be equipped with a backup camera.

Get the Spacekap perfect for your business at FleetWest.net

SpaceKap - Inside the Kap: Wild

Inside the SpaceKap Wild. The best alternative to cargo vans.

Get the Spacekap perfect for your business at FleetWest.net

FleetWest - The Transferables

Fleetwest Transferable Truck Bodies - The Transferables - Pickup truck tool box that can be transferred from one truck to another fully loaded in a matter of minutes. Universal fit - Chevy, Ford, GMC, Dodge, RAM. Secure @Fleetwest1, #TheTransferables,

SpaceKap - Inside the Kap: Compak

Inside the SpaceKap Compak.  Versatility at its best!

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NEW STUDY FINDS GREATER GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS FOR PICKUP TRUCK ELECTRIFICATION THAN FOR OTHER LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLES

•  A University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company study evaluates the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions relative to gasoline-powered pickup trucks as part of the decarbonization of the transportation industry.
• Sedan, SUV, and pickup truck battery-electric vehicles have approximately 64% lower cradle-to-grave life cycle greenhouse gas emissions than internal-combustion-engine vehicles on average across the United States.
• Replacing an internal-combustion-engine pickup with a battery-electric pickup results in a reduction of 74 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over the lifetime of the vehicle on average.
• While battery-electric vehicles currently have larger greenhouse gas emissions in their manufacturing than internal-combustion-engine vehicles, due to battery production, this impact is offset by savings in their operation.

Major automotive manufacturers are ramping up the production of electric trucks as a key strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their fleets. Light-duty vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, and pickup trucks, are currently responsible for 58% of U.S. transportation sector emissions. Pickup trucks accounted for 14% of light-duty vehicle sales in the United States in 2020, and the market share of both pickups and SUVs has grown in recent years.

But what does pickup truck electrification mean for the decarbonization of the transportation industry?

University of Michigan and Ford Motor Company researchers addressed this question in a new study and evaluated the savings in greenhouse gas emissions relative to gasoline-powered pickup trucks.

Researchers found that light-duty, battery-electric vehicles have approximately 64% lower cradle-to-grave life cycle greenhouse gas emissions than internal-combustion-engine vehicles on average across the United States.

“This is an important study to inform and encourage climate action. Our research clearly shows substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions that can be achieved from transitioning to electrified powertrains across all vehicle classes,” said study senior author Greg Keoleian, a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability and director of the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems.

“This study can help us to understand the potential impact of electrification from an emissions-reduction perspective, particularly as we introduce new electric vehicles, and how we can continue to accelerate our progress towards carbon neutrality. We’re proud to partner with U-M in this critical work,” said Cynthia Williams, global director of sustainability, homologation and compliance at Ford.

In the study, researchers conducted a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of pickup trucks and compared the implications of pickup truck electrification to those of sedan and SUV electrification.

With a focus on evaluating greenhouse gas emissions, researchers looked at three different model year 2020 powertrain options—internal-combustion-engine vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles, and battery-electric vehicles—for midsize sedans, midsize SUVs, and full-size pickup trucks, accounting for differences in fuel economy, annual mileage, vehicle production, and vehicle lifetime across vehicle classes.

“This study expands upon previous studies that have focused on comparing battery-electric vehicle sedans to their internal-combustion-engine or hybrid counterparts,” said Keoleian. “We report emissions for vehicle production, use, and end-of-life stages on a per-mile basis and over the total vehicle lifetime. In addition, we analyzed the regional variation in emissions considering differences in electricity grid mixes and ambient temperatures, and we also explored the effects of the rate of grid decarbonization on emission reduction.” 

The study offers key findings. Researchers, for instance, found that switching an internal-combustion-engine vehicle to a battery-electric vehicle results in greater total tonnage of emissions reductions as the vehicle size increases, due to the greater fuel consumption of larger vehicles. “Though the percentage savings is approximately the same across vehicle classes, on average replacing an internal-combustion-engine sedan with a battery-electric sedan saves 45 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, replacing an internal-combustion-engine SUV with a battery-electric SUV saves 56 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and replacing an internal-combustion-engine pickup with a battery-electric pickup saves 74 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent over the lifetime of the vehicles,” said study first author and Center for Sustainable Systems Research Specialist Max Woody. 

The researchers also found that battery-electric vehicles have larger greenhouse gas emissions in their manufacturing than internal-combustion-engine vehicles, due to battery production, but this impact is offset by savings in their operation. For battery-electric vehicles and internal-combustion-engine vehicles, the breakeven time is 1.2 to 1.3 years for sedans, 1.4 to 1.6 years for SUVs, and 1.3 years for pickup trucks, based on the average U.S. grid and vehicle miles traveled.

Vehicle emissions vary across the country, as different temperatures and different drive cycles affect a vehicle’s fuel economy. For electric vehicles, the emissions intensity of the local electricity grid is also an important factor. The study developed maps to show the lifetime grams of carbon dioxide equivalent/mile for each powertrain (internal-combustion-engine vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and battery-electric vehicles) and vehicle type (sedan, SUV, and pickup truck) by county across the United States. Researchers found that concerns about battery-electric vehicles having higher emissions than internal-combustion-engine vehicles or hybrids are largely unfounded, as battery-electric vehicles outperform hybrids in 95% to 96% of counties, while battery-electric vehicles outperform internal-combustion-engine vehicles in 98% to 99% of counties, even assuming only modest progress towards grid decarbonization.

Charging strategies can further reduce battery-electric vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. The study found that charging during the hours of the day with the lowest grid emissions intensity can reduce emissions by 11% on average. “Deployment of electric vehicles and expansion of renewable energy resources like solar and wind should be done at the same time; the benefit of each is increased by the development of the other,” said Woody.

The study, “The role of pickup truck electrification in the decarbonization of light-duty vehicles,” was published online March 1 in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

The other authors of the study are Parth Vaishnav of the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability and Center for Sustainable Systems and Robert De Kleine, Hyung Chul Kim, James E. Anderson, and Timothy J. Wallington of Ford Motor Company’s Research and Innovation Center.

This study was supported by Ford Motor Company through a Ford-University of Michigan Alliance Project Award.

 

Click here for more information.

 

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.  The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers.  Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of connected, increasingly electrified passenger and commercial vehicles:  Ford trucks, utility vehicles, vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles.  The company is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, connected vehicle services and mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  Ford employs about 183,000 people worldwide.  More information about the company, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company is available at corporate.ford.com.

Building the Optimal Work Truck

 When you’re building a work truck, there are numerous specs that need to be factored correctly to avoid costly oversights. Make sure you consider a vehicle’s operating guidelines and payload requirements. A smart fleet manager should talk with the people in the field to understand what type of service the vehicle is expected to perform and how it needs to be used. During that discussion with the technicians, you may discover problems that they have encountered in their everyday use that may have been over looked.

It’s not uncommon to uncover issues with insufficient tool storage or lack of bins, limited visibility, loading height restrictions and poor payload distribution. It is essential to understand how a vehicle will be loaded and unloaded. Do they need lifts, ramps or even slide out trays? The more you understand the vehicle or upfit deficiencies the more efficient your next build will be. Not to mention your technician’s performance and satisfaction will be.

With a Fleetwest service body we have the innovative solutions to create the ideal work truck so you can work smarter, not harder! The Load’N’Go by Fleetwest not only can help with organization and make you more efficient, but it can also make for a safer work environment. The Load’N’Go can be equipped with a list of option such as:

• Slides make accessing supplies easy and painless
• Cabinets/shelving with side access provide organized storage to keep track of inventory
• Dividers and storage bins in various sizes to help with proper tool storage
• LED lighting for convenience and safety
• Ladder/material racks for easy accessibility
• Jacks

Call a Fleetwest representative and start building your optimal work truck today!

Toll-free in the U.S. (866) 497-7200

www.fleetwest.net

Request your quote today at: https://www.fleetwest.net/get-a-quote/

Four Different Load 'N' Go Transferable Truck Bodies

Open Top

Powerbody

Sportsman

Fixed Top

Fleetwest has slip-on truck bodies that can be transferred to other trucks while loaded. You can even take off your truck body and leave it at a job site with our optional jacks. This will allow your tools to stay locked and safe. Protecting your valuable cargo in a slip-on truck body makes so much financial sense. Our double locking doors and side compartments provide the security you need to prevent theft.

 We have 4 different Load’N’Go models to choose from: 

•  Fixed Top
•  Open Bed
•  Sportsman
•  Powerbody 

They all fit most standard long-bed and short-bed models. You can transfer them in minutes with our no-holes drilled installation. Transferable truck bodies are just as the name suggests, transferable service bodies that are not bolted into the pick-up truck bed but rather clamped to the bed rails. A rubber mat is placed on the bed of the pick-up to prevent the service body from moving in the bed. Transferability changes everything!

Visit our website at: https://www.fleetwest.net/ . Or you call 480-736-8800 for more information. 

Also, you can request a quote at: https://www.fleetwest.net/get-a-quote/ 

Testimonial: How the Spacekap Wild improved his daily service operation at National Bank of Arizona

Listen to Luis Quiroga on how the Spacekap has changed the way he works and operates during his daily service calls at the National Bank of Arizona.

Get the Spacekap perfect for your business at FleetWest.net

Cargo Van Shortage Solution | Spacekap

Spacekap, a unique solution to the supply chain chip shortage that affects truck fleets.

Get the Spacekap perfect for your business at FleetWest.net

LOAD'N'GO: PROTECTION For Your Tools And Equipment

Technicians rely on their tools and equipment daily for their jobs. It doesn't matter what field of work or whether or not you are a huge corporation or a small independent company, work-truck theft is an unexpected and costly hassle. Not only do these crimes delay and/or extend jobs and increase the bottom line, but they can also cause financial hardships. There are preventative measures Fleet managers and independent contractors can try to implement to reduce theft and secure work vehicles, such as:

• Securing vehicle at all times, locking doors and closing windows
• Using heavy-duty locking tool boxes
• Installing custom tamper resistant door handles
• Installing extra lighting and/or motion-censored lights where vehicles are parked
• Installing an alarm system
• Photograph, document and record serial numbers of your equipment and tools
• Engraving tools with company name or federal tax ID number

One would say that the easiest way to ensure the safety of cargo is with a secure service body. Most vehicles are equipped with heavy-duty locking mechanisms, and service bodies should not be an exception. The Load'N'Go service bodies by Fleetwest are equipped with stainless steel, double locking T-handles, and made to protect expensive cargo from theft.

The FIXED TOP is the newest Load’N’Go by Fleetwest; is fully transferable on-and off the bed of a pickup truck in minutes with optional four-corner lifting jacks, a crane, or a forklift via the built-in forklift tunnels. The FIXED TOP is a universal fit for all the major makes of full-size pickup trucks such as Chevy/GMC, Dodge, Ford, Toyota and Nissan. Some of the features available on the FIXED TOP include a barn door configuration with double panel doors, a durable spray-in bed liner, and for additional security a solid fixed top.

FIXED TOP w/optional lifting jacks by Fleetwest

Click to GET A QUOTE on the Load'N'Go FIXED TOP, or call Fleetwest at 480-736-8800.