kscarbel2

For larger retail, electric utilities, the economics are unresolvable. These customers have very demanding use cases for an electric vehicle. They tow, they go off-road, they take long road trips. These vehicles have worse aerodynamics, and they’re very heavy, which means very large and expensive batteries. Retail customers have shown that they will not pay any premium for these large EVs, making them a really tough business case. Profitability for the large family haulers will instead come from PHEVs, hybrids and EREVs that on “one tank of gas can get over 700 miles of range, but still drive most miles electric. Ford will focus on small to medium-sized electric vehicles that present a stronger economic case. Jim Farley In 2022, Farley said if you’re pulling 10,000 pounds, an electric truck is not the right solution. And 95 percent of Ford's US customers tow more than 10,000 pounds. This is an important segment, and it will probably go hydrogen fuel cell before it goes pure electric.

Ford is getting into battery energy storage. Using its battery plants in Kentucky and Michigan, Ford will build large-scale LFP-based storage systems for data centers, utilities, and industrial customers. Production is set to start in 2027, with up to 20 GWh of annual capacity by the end of that year. Ford is putting about $2 billion into this, using extra EV battery capacity to tap into a new line of business. To address previous reports of a split between Ford and SK On, the companies have entered into a joint venture disposition agreement. The result is that a Ford subsidiary will own and operate the Kentucky battery plants independently. SK On, on the other hand, will fully own and operate the Tennessee battery plant.

That a shame. The Ranger Super-Duty is a looker. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a69713756/ford-ranger-phev-super-duty-not-coming-to-america/

I get why some people buy hybrids. The latest Prius actually looks good. But I'd never buy a Bronco nor a Jeep with a hybrid powertrain because I feel it's an unsuitable application. Jim Farley said the Super-Duty would never be a hybrid. Rather, he said Ford was considering a fuel cell. I wonder if that has all changed.

Salesmen told me they were giving away the Mustang Mach-E's.

Ford terminates pure-electric Lightning F-150. It will become a plug-in hybrid. Also, the Econoline is presumably dead as a new, affordable commercial van will launch with gas and hybrid models at Ohio Assembly Plant (OAP/Avon Lake) where it is produced. It will be interesting how the RV industry which relies on E-Series cutaways is effected. A "new, affordable commercial van". Like the paid for many times over E-Series wasn't affordable? I wonder what Ford is planning that is cheaper to build than the Kansas City-built Transit. No mention on the future of Ford F-650/750 medium producton at OAP. The operating reality has changed, and we are redeploying capital into higher-return growth opportunities: Ford Pro, our market-leading trucks and vans, hybrids, and high-margin opportunities like our new battery energy storage business. Ford will convert its Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center into the Tennessee Truck Plant, where it will build new gas-powered Ford truck models in 2029. Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant will become a “central hub” for Ford Pro, assembling a new gas and hybrid commercial van in 2029 (replacing a planned EV van), and Super Duty truck chassis cabs. https://www.autonews.com/ford/an-ford-ev-pivot-lightning-death-1215/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a69732327/ford-ev-hybrid-large-vehicles-strategy/ https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a69731971/ford-f-150-lightning-gains-gas-engine/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15385559/FBI-arrests-five-radical-pro-Palestine-New-Years-Eve-bombings-LA.html

When you called Watt's Mack and asked for a 62QS33 door latch (right-hand) and a 34RC156 tumbler lock set, what did they say ?

"There is no risk-free path for policy as we navigate this tension between our employment and inflation goals. The decision to lower rates was a close call. I can make a case for either side. A reasonable base case is that the effects of tariffs on inflation will be relatively short-lived, effectively a one-time shift in the price level. Our obligation is to make sure that a one-time increase in the price level does not become an ongoing inflation problem, but with downside risks to employment having risen in recent months, the balance of risks has shifted." Fed Chair Powell Powell downplayed dissenting votes against Wednesday’s decision to lower interest rates again, but a slew of finer details from the meeting revealed just how divided the central bank has become. He pushed through the quarter percentage point cut not only over the objection of a few voters. A much larger group of regional Fed bank presidents who participated in the debate but weren’t among this year’s voting roster also opposed the cut.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/10/china-will-destroy-us-military-fight-over-taiwan/

The consensus is that the central bank will likely go ahead with a 25 basis point cut on Wednesday — even if it's a split decision. This is a hard call. But it’s more likely they cut than not… It wouldn’t surprise if this is a hawkish cut. That is to say, a rate cut this week could come with a caution to markets not to expect the Fed to keep cutting meeting after meeting. Blinder said he also thinks there could be dissenters on both sides of the interest rate decision, given existing divisions within the committee.

I say yes, because these Volvo GM Heavy Truck Corp. models including the WG had the White cab.

Yes. So only the last year of production for the Chevrolet Titan 90, MY1980, has the composite doors. But the GMC Astro 95 had composite doors from 1980 thru 1987.

FYI The GM plastic outer door handles, 2044072 and 20440073 are NLA. However, the Volvo metal 3080801 and 3080802 can be used in their place. Know that the Volvo LH works on the GM right side, and the Volvo RH works on the GM left side. I learned all this and sourced from Raney's Truck Parts in Ocala. They sell quite a few of these Volvo handles for the GM heavy truck application.

Always interesting to hear Elon’s thoughts. The president has made it clear he loves tariffs. I’ve tried to dissuade him from this point of view, but unsuccessfully. Would you want tariffs between you and everyone else at an individual level? That would make life very difficult. Would you want tariffs between each city? No, that would be very annoying. Would you want tariffs between each state within the United States? No, that would be disastrous for the economy. So then, why do you want tariffs between countries? Elon Musk

https://apnews.com/article/commercial-drivers-license-trucking-california-pennsylvania-96fee86df4f9bfb0ef65af20da878a57

I just met with the President. I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies. Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom - not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS. WE DON'T WANT THEM. NOT ONE. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-navy-cant-workers-build-011500521.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/deere-outlook-falls-short-farm-111244105.html

Correct.

Plate type replacement. Used in pairs back-to-back. Sometimes a single one at the rear of an R-model (A DM would use 9QL4551M8's and then an I-beam crossmember at the rear).