Impact the automobile industry/trucking industry
Question 1: Select a new technology mentioned in Chapter 14 and describe how you think it will impact the automobile industry/trucking industry over the next 5-10 years. How will it impact the environment and freight transportation?
Question 2: One of the goals of automobile makers involves reducing CO2 emissions. Baseline plants, load-following plants, and peaking plants are fossil-fired generating asset type resources that provide electricity. However, none of those plants are carbon-free. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is an operation being used in other countries. Describe how this operation functions in other countries, such as Italy, Germany, and Poland. Discuss if this kind of operation will work in the U.S. Why or why not?
Sample Solution
The Trucking Industry is a cyclical sector comprised of companies that provide shipping services, using tractor-trailers, to customers, which are usually commercial businesses. Most trucking outfits own and operate the vehicles in their fleets, though some do rely on leasing. The vast majority of revenue is generated domestically, since overseas shipments require either air- or sea-based transportation. Thus, these companies have little exposure to foreign currency fluctuations. The industry tends to be a leading indicator for the overall economy. During the early stages of an economic upswing, customers begin to ship more goods in anticipation of stronger business conditions. Conversely, a decrease in trucking demand may signal the beginning of an economic slump.
