Obama * USA - Pitches highway infrastructure spending

“With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels, and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 ... ”

(Photo Credit:The White House)

Washington,DC,USA -Fleet Owner, by David Cullen  -Jan 26, 2011: -- In his State of the Union address last night, President Obama laid out an expansive blueprint for how the United States can “outbuild” other nations and so expand-- and strengthen-- its economy well beyond the ongoing recovery from the Great Recession... The biggest take-aways for trucking were bold proposals on R&D and infrastructure investments: “We’ll put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges. We’ll make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment, and pick projects based [on] what’s best for the economy, not politicians” ...

* Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge

Washington,DC,USA -U.S. Department of Transportation -26 Jan 2011: -- New wireless technology enables connectivity for vehicles of all kinds—cars, trains and even bicycles. Vehicles can “talk” to each other, traffic signals, and mobile devices. What should they say? ... The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is undertaking a new program to develop new applications, devices, products, business solutions, and a range of services that improve transportation’s role in safety and quality of life. The DOT believes that there are new approaches, partnerships and devices for using DSRC that innovators among the broader public can and will devise, if they are called to participate. This is that invitation...  America’s transportation system is among the best in the world, but Americans face crash risks, congestion, environmental impacts, and other detriments that erode our quality of life. Smart ideas on how to apply advanced wireless technology can make the transportation system safer, more efficient and even “greener” ... An advanced open source wireless technology called Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) allows vehicles of all kinds, whether traveling slowly or even over 60 mph, to communicate with each other, stationary roadside equipment, and mobile devices. Thus far, the majority of applications have been aimed toward crash avoidance...