Forvia's higher pressure tanks lower costs and add range to hydrogen Class 8 trucks
Forvia’s new manufacturing system for high-pressure hydrogen fuel tanks dramatically cuts production time and lowers cost.
Even as they compete, automakers increasingly share resources for open-source software
More software, higher development costs and software challenges are forcing the industry into a more collaborative approach.
Ancient trees from India thrive in Florida where citrus once flourished
An ancient tree from India is now thriving in groves where citrus trees once flourished in Florida, and could help provide the nation with renewable energy.
As large parts of the Sunshine State’s once-famous citrus industry have all but dried up over the past two decades due to two fatal diseases, greening and citrus canker, some farmers are turning to the pongamia tree, a climate-resilient tree with the potential to produce plant-based proteins and a sustainable biofuel.
For years, pongamia has been used for shade trees, producing legumes — little brown beans — that are so bitter wild hogs won’t even eat them.
But unlike the orange and grapefruit trees that long occupied these rural Florida groves northwest of West Palm Beach, pongamia trees don’t need much attention.
Pongamia trees also don’t need fertilizer or pesticides. They flourish in drought or rainy conditions. And they don’t require teams of workers to pick the beans. A machine simply shakes the tiny beans from the branches when they’re ready to harvest.
We’re halfway through 2024. It’s a good time to check your credit
By Lauren Schwahn | NerdWallet
We’ve reached the midpoint of 2024. As you reflect on the first six months of the year, you may be wondering how you’re doing financially. Checking up on your credit health is a good starting point.
“People’s insurance rates, the fact that they can get approved for an apartment or even be employed by certain entities is being determined in part by credit scores and their credit reports,” says Michelle Smoley, an accredited financial counselor in Elma, Iowa. “It’s really, really important for people to keep on top of their credit report and their credit scores because they’re used for more than just consumer lending purposes.”
Here’s how to figure out where your credit stands and what you can do to protect it over the next six months.
Inspect your credit reports
Pull your credit reports from the three main credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can use AnnualCreditReport.com to get free copies as often as once per week. Checking your reports yourself doesn’t directly affect your credit score, but it can help shed light on details that may be damaging your credit.
Michigan dealership group takes branding to the skies with hot air balloon
A hot air balloon emblazoned with the name of the Kalamazoo, Mich., dealership group dances through Midwest skies every summer.