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Coulomb Technologies, a company that builds electric vehicle charging stations in urban areas, announced a new method of locating charging stations through TomTom navigation systems.  When accessing the locations through TomTom, drivers can also pull up the connection type, speed of charging and the cost to recharge a vehicle.  This application is being shown off at the Plug-In 2011 conference in Raleigh, N.C., but Coulomb representatives didn’t specify a date when the addition to TomTom GPS would be added.  Electric vehicle owners can already access information on the Web though Coulomb’s site as well as applications on smartphones.

Also announced at the Plug-In 2011 conference, AAA added mobile charging via roadside assistance if a motorist runs out of power during a drive.  Launching a pilot program in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Knoxville and Tampa this summer, the charging truck helps powerless drivers to get to a charging station or home.  These trucks are outfitted with Level 2 and 3 chargers which have a much faster charging speed than a normal household outlet.  Drivers can expect to get 3 to 15 miles out of a 10 to 15 minutes recharge from one of the trucks.

AAA is testing different types of charging trucks as well.  Some of the trucks use generators to create the electricity while others come equipped with mobile lithium ion battery packs.  This is the first attempt at rolling out an electric vehicle charging service in the United States.  AAA expects to broaden the initial test and eventually offer the charging service nationwide.  The six urban areas were chosen initially due to the high level of electric vehicle ownership and the investment in public charging stations for citizens.

Both of these efforts from AAA and Coulomb Technologies are designed to reduce the amount of public fear concerning running out of power while driving.

To: AUTO, SCIENCE AND STATE EDITORS

Contact: Chris McManes, IEEE-USA Public Relations Manager, +1-202-530-8356, c.mcmanes@ieee.org

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – IEEE International Electric Vehicle Conference (IEVC) organizers are seeking technical papers on the technology, standards and engineering of electric vehicles.

Accepted papers will be presented during the inaugural conference, 4-8 March 2012, at TD Convention Center in Greenville, S.C. They will also be published in conference proceedings and available through the digital library IEEE Xplore. The deadline for extended abstract submissions is 15 October.

For more on the specific types of papers being sought, as well as paper submission guidelines, see http://electricvehicle.ieee.org/cfp.html.

IEVC (http://electricvehicle.ieee.org/) is expected to draw electric vehicle engineers, manufacturers, utility experts, corporate executives, researchers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, legislators and regulators, among others, to discuss the impact the electrification of transportation is having, and will have, on society and the electric grid. Smart Grid planners are interested in EVs because of the increased demand they are expected to have on the electricity delivery system.

Greenville has become a major hub of electric vehicle research because of the nearby presence of major auto manufacturers and the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, a public-private partnership advancing automotive safety, testing and design.

For sponsorship opportunities and more information on the conference, contact Lee Stogner at l.stogner@ieee.org.

IEEE Electric Vehicle Committee Chair and former IEEE-USA President Russ Lefevre is one of the event organizers. IEEE-USA is a financial cosponsor.

IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of 210,000 engineering, computing and technology professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE. http://www.ieeeusa.org

SOURCE IEEE-USA

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By John North,

Better Business Bureau

12:35 PM Saturday, July 16, 2011

An extended vehicle warranty can be a smart investment if you’re planning to keep your vehicle beyond the life of the factory warranty. While there are many reputable companies selling extended warranties, others use misleading solicitations and high-pressure sales tactics to promote shoddy vehicle warranties. Once paid for, people discover contracts promising to cover a variety of repairs aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

The principals of US Fidelis, formerly the largest retailer of vehicle service contracts, were indicted on 27 criminal counts centering on deception and fraud in contract marketing. In some cases, people were under the impression they were getting warranties sanctioned by auto manufacturers, but didn’t receive what they thought they purchased.

Prior to purchasing a vehicle service contract, your BBB advises you check companies out with your BBB. Visit www.bbb.org or call (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301. You should also read your manufacturer’s warranty and contact your dealer or manufacturer to ensure you’re not purchasing duplicate coverage.

Also, consider the following questions:

• Does the contract cost exceed the vehicle’s value? If so, consider putting money in an emergency savings account.

• Is the warranty being offered by the manufacturer or a third party? A dealer may offer both types of extended warranties, so understand what you’re buying.

• What’s covered? Review the contract carefully before purchasing and pay close attention to clauses concerning the vehicle’s maintenance.

• How are claims handled? Determine if there are restrictions, including using specific repair facilities, waiting for authorization before repairs can be made or paying upfront and submitting paperwork for reimbursement.

Don’t be pressured into making an immediate decision. Legitimate companies will allow you to make an informed decision. Also, know claims of total or bumper to bumper coverage don’t necessarily mean every problem with your car will be covered.

A vehicle warranty can offer a sense of added protection. Do your research to ensure it’s worth the investment.

ProconGPS, Inc., a global leader in mobile resource management solutions, has announced the acquisition of the patents governing the repossession of automobiles in the Vehicle Finance Industry from CalAmp Corp. (Oxnard, CA).

Knoxville, TN. (PRWEB) July 15, 2011

ProconGPS, Inc., a global leader in mobile resource management solutions, has announced the acquisition of the patents governing the repossession of automobiles in the Vehicle Finance Industry from CalAmp Corp. (Oxnard, CA).

The intellectual property relates to methods and systems that apply Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology, cellular networks, and information systems in order to monitor loan status for a default condition on a vehicle and enable tracking in order to aid the confiscation and repossession process for dealers and finance companies.

“ProconGPS, Inc. is continuing to invest in its portfolio of intellectual properties and solutions for Vehicle Finance, Fleet Management, New Auto Dealers and overall asset tracking,” stated Brian Boling, CEO of ProconGPS, Inc. ” As the world’s largest subprime vehicle finance asset tracking company, we recognized the need to add these patents to our existing intellectual property specific to financial services and the repossession process our customers use on a daily basis. The method patents involved are all about our core deliverable; risk mitigation. As we continue to witness the significant costs and efficiency advantages our customers gain using our services, ProconGPS, Inc. is committed to continuing the growth of this exciting Vehicle Finance GPS Tracking industry.”

About ProconGPS, Inc.

ProconGPS, Inc. is a leading service provider of GPS tracking solutions, and is one of the fastest growing automotive tracking companies in the USA, marketing under the brands LoanPlus, GoldStar GPS and EnfoTrace. ProconGPS, Inc.’s mission is to provide innovative, low cost GPS tracking solutions to its business customers on a one-stop-shopping basis. ProconGPS, Inc. has expertise in integrating products, content, communication networks, map databases, and service technologies. The company specializes in developing strong business relationships with leading companies worldwide enabling it to offer world-class risk mitigation and location based services to its customers. ProconGPS, Inc.’s specialized array of GPS products, call center systems, commercial tracking platforms, web tracking platforms, telephony solutions and customer service systems offer a fully integrated solution to its partners. For additional information, please visit ProconGPS, Inc.’s website at http://www.procongps.com.

Media contact: David Meyer, 1 865 694 2704

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David Meyer
Procon GPS, Inc.
865-694-2704
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