White House releases statement about Steve Bannon's testi…

CNBC's Eamon Javers reports on a statement from the White House regarding Steve Bannon's testimony to the House Intelligence Committee.

Commentary: Truck Parts Suppliers Step Up Online Presence

Denise Rondini

More than ever, fleets are focusing on maximizing vehicle uptime. Having the right parts on hand for a repair is one key component to achieving this goal. Recognizing this need, truck and component manufacturers are stepping up and making changes to their online parts catalogs.

Cummins recently launched www.parts.cummins.com, which it calls “an innovative approach to its online parts catalog.” Users can search the site for parts information using any serial or part number available on their Cummins engine or components, including Holset turbos, Onan generators, aftertreatment solutions and Fleetguard filtration solutions. Cummins says customers no longer have to go to multiple sites to research Cummins-associated parts.

“Parts.cummins.com was built to empower our customers' success by finding the right part the first time, every time,” says Mike Champlin, director of aftermarket information management for Cummins.

Katherine Stevens, Cummins' aftermarket information program manager, explains that the development and release of the site was motivated by functional, strategic and technical factors. “Functionally, 75% of all the traffic on our existing service website [QuickServe Online] visited the parts catalog. Seeing this as the largest content draw for our engine customers, we strategically tried to improve our overall parts catalog experience with our global customers.”

She adds, “With features like a part number search, individual part graphics and future part catalog language translations [coming in Q2-2018], users feel confident that the part they see on the website is the correct part to keep them up and running.”

Parts pages include part dimensions, alternative parts options, and applicable part-related kits “to ensure customers get all the parts they need the first time,” the company said in a recent press release.

Once the fleet finds the correct part, it can create a pick list on the website and then export, print or email that list to its local parts ...Read the rest of this story

The Future of Electrical Systems on Heavy Duty Trucks

Alternators like this one will probably disappear from the front of engines, replaced by a starter generator built into the transmission. Photo: Jim Park

Within a decade's time we will probably have very different electrical systems on trucks than those in use today. Electrical demands on today's highway trucks have pushed systems to their capacity. Current electrical demand on a typical on-highway truck is about 3-5 kW, but that is projected to increase to 40 kW by 2030. Development of advanced powertrain technology is stalled because of capacity constraints. There's much more we could be doing with electricity if the systems were up to it.

In short, we need to upgrade our electrical systems. But do we migrate up to 24 volts or 48?

“I don't think the industry has converged on 24 or 48 volts at this point,” says Craig Jacobs, Eaton's director of engineering and program management for Controls & Protection, Transportation, Military and Aerospace Division. “There are a couple of different camps on this. The 24-volt supporters point to Europe where 24-volt systems are used, so there's already some standardization and components are readily available. The 48-volt camp says if we're going to make a change, let's go all the way.”

Jacobs says 24 volts might take us out 10 or 15 years, but then we'd be at capacity again, with very limited potential for expansion. “Going right to 48 volts would last longer before having to upgrade again. It also gives OEMs a lot more flexibility in how they design vehicles.”

The Australian trucking industry uses both 12- and 24-volt electrical systems because they use both European and North American equipment. Mathew Jenkins, global engineering and sales director for lighting system supplier, Optronics International, is based in Australia, and has some first-hand experience using both systems.

“Australia leans to the ...Read the rest of this story

Qualcomm raises profit forecast, may buy back stock if bid for NXP fails

It was the first time Qualcomm raised the buyback as an alternative to buying NXP, as the deal faces strong opposition from NXP shareholders. "With tax reform, we are well positioned to complete a large stock buyback that will deliver essentially the same level of accretion to Qualcomm stockholders as if we had closed NXP," Qualcomm Chief Financial Offer George Davis said in a webcast. This has prompted companies such as Qualcomm to think about tapping overseas cash in new ways.

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All-New Ram 1500 Improves Payload and Towing for 2019-MY

Photo courtesy of FCA.

The new 2019 Ram 1500 is 225 pounds lighter the previous model year, features increased payload and towing capabilities, and is offered with three new, longer frame lengths.

Towing capacity for the 2019-MY Ram 1500 has been increased to 12,750 pounds and it also offers 2,300 pounds of payload, according to FCA. The three frame lengths for 2019-MU includes a 144.5-inch wheelbase on crew cab short beds, a 153.5-inch wheelbase on crew cab long beds, and 140.5 for the quad cab long bed. The frame is made of 98% high-strength steel.

The new Ram 1500 offers an eTorque system that improves fuel efficiency for the 3.6-liter, 305-horsepower V-6 and the 5.7-liter, 395-horsepower Hemi V-8 engines, according to the automaker. The system also adds up to 90 lb.-ft. of torque to the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and up to 130 lb.-ft. to the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8. eTorque uses a belt-drive motor generator unit with a battery pack to enable a start-stop function, torque-assist and brake-energy regeneration. Those engines are mated with an eight-speed transmission.

Also available as an option is FCA's 12-inch fully configurable touch screen, which includes tailor-made graphics for various Ram models. This screen, and the available 8.4-inch screen, is offered with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay that enable link via Uconnect.

The new full-size pickup truck also includes 12 different storage configurations; this includes lockable bed storage compartments, space in the center console, room for laptops and tablets, and hidden storage under the rear seats.

The 2019 Ram 1500 includes more than 100 safety and security features, this includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, trailer-sway damping control, lane-departure warning and parking assist. Across all trim levels, the 2019 Ram has a push-button starter, an electronic parking brake and a redesigned rotary e-shifter dial. Outside, the vehicle has all-new LED adaptive lighting ...Read the rest of this story

Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies tumble on government crackdown worries

LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin slid as much as 18 percent on Tuesday to a four-week low, as worries about a regulatory crackdown on the market spread after reports suggested it was still possible that South Korea could ban trading in cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin's slide triggered a selloff across the broader cryptocurrency market, with biggest rival Ethereum down 23 percent on the day at one point, according to trade website Coinmarketcap, and the next biggest, Ripple, plunging by as much as a third. Bitcoin traded as low as $11,191.59 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange.