The Weird Reason Why RVs Are More Expensive Right Now

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The average vehicle uses between 50 and 200 microchips to manage everything from infotainment systems, fuel management, advanced driver safety features, and much more. Feature-packed luxury models likely use two times as many chips. It’s no surprise that the automotive industry is one of the worst affected by the global semiconductor shortage, with potentially $110 billion in lost revenue this year alone. The RV industry hasn’t gone unscathed either, with buyers paying higher prices for camper vans and experiencing delivery delays.

The semiconductor shortage is disrupting the entire auto industry.

A couple entering a Mercedes-Benz RV | Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images

The microchip crisis began brewing in 2018 when Trump imposed 25-percent tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports. In 2019, Trump exacerbated things further by banning the sales of American-made electronic components, such as semiconductors, to Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, one of the largest buyers of chips in the world.

Nationwide lockdowns began in late May 2020 and affected tens of millions of Americans. Numerous companies enacted remote work policies, with many electing to adopt telecommuting permanently. As a result, consumers and organizations began stocking up on electronics necessary to support a virtual workspace for the long term. The third wave involved smartphones, tablets, televisions, home entertainment systems, and game consoles flying off the shelves.

Countless companies, including chip manufacturers, were forced to halt operations for some time during the last half of 2020. During this time, consumer demand for products requiring semiconductors continued to grow unabated—including RVs and RV-related equipment, according to RV News. By the time 2021 rolled around, the chip crisis worsened while the number of RV buyers continued to multiply. If the microchip shortage wasn’t challenging enough for vehicle manufacturers and dealers, another material shortage is playing its part in complicating the supply chain.

A foam shortage is responsible for skyrocketing RV prices

It turns out that semiconductors are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to supply chain woes, as demonstrated in an article published by USA Today. Remember that devastating cold snap that hit North America in February? The auto industry is still experiencing significant setbacks due to a shortage of petroleum-based products, including plastic parts and seating foam. The sudden Arctic blast greatly affected Texas, a state that typically has mild winters.

Three severe winter storms swept across the United States between February 10 and 11 of 2021. The sudden Arctic blast greatly affected Texas, a state that typically has mild winters. Inadequately winterized natural gas equipment caused the state to suffer a significant power crisis, leaving numerous residences and businesses without electricity. Oil production requires a steady supply of electricity, typically provided by the power grid.

Adding to the crisis, some manufacturers are running out of critical petroleum-based products after the recent freezing weather in Texas led to shutdowns of crucial petrochemical plants. Industry analysts expect shortages of plastics and petroleum-based automotive products, particularly seating foam, as reported by RV Business.

Five petroleum companies affected by the power outages produce propylene oxide, the principal chemical required in foam production. Though propylene factories in the Gulf of Mexico were affected by the same winter storm, U.S. propylene production was utterly devastated.

RV sales have increased over 600 percent from last year

Fortunately, the Biden administration expects Congress to pass the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act later this year. President Biden hopes to offer domestic microchip manufacturers $52 billion in subsidies to incentivize supplying the American market.

The bill further states: “The goals of the directorate shall be, among other things, the strengthening of U.S. leadership in critical technologies through basic research in key technology focus areas, such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and advanced manufacturing, and the commercialization of those technologies to businesses in the United States.”

This bill couldn’t come at a better time as RV sales have increased over 600 percent from last year. As reported by us in a previous article, you might have a problem finding an RV or a campsite this summer due to increasing RV sales.

RELATED: Live Your Work Remote Dreams With This Home Office On Wheels

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Elon Musk Claims He’s Surprisingly Close to Solving ‘One of the Hardest Technical Problems That’s Ever Existed’

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Originally from South Africa, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is known by many as a founder of SpaceX and, subsequently, a co-founder of Tesla, previously known as Tesla Motors. Nevertheless, Musk started his entrepreneurial journey back in the late 1990s, co-founding and then selling a software company called Zip2 to Compaq Computer. Zip2 created, provided, and licensed online “city guide” software to newspaper companies — a little before Google made newspaper delivery obsolete, that is. It was at this point that Musk became a multimillionaire overnight.

Today, Elon Musk is mostly known as being the leader of the battery-electric vehicle revolution. Could he be the leader of the autonomous vehicle revolution next? Considering his claims on the subject, it seems Musk wouldn’t mind adding it to his repertoire.

Elon Musk: an entrepreneurial heavyweight

Elon Musk speaking during a press conference | VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Elon Musk is one of a shortlist of highly successful entrepreneurs who made their first million before reaching the age of 30, as he made his first million when he was 27. However, before becoming a millionaire, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from attending Queen’s University and the University of Pennsylvania.

After moving to the United States from Canada, he held dual internships in Silicon Valley in 1994: one at Palo Alto-based startup Rocket Science Games and the other at Pinnacle Research Institute. It seems Pinnacle Research Institute played a huge role in Elon Musk getting into EVs, as it was an energy storage startup in those days. It goes without saying, this particular internship ended up providing Musk with the knowledge and drive needed to found and run Tesla as we know it today. 

Will Elon Musk solve the autonomous car problem?

We’ve been waiting for our vehicles to drive us around autonomously for as long as they’ve been around. In 1939, Norman Bel Geddes introduced the first self-driving car at an exhibit sponsored by General Motors at the World’s Fair. Ironically, Geddes’s autonomous car was electrically powered, propelled by electromagnetic fields produced by circuits embedded within the road. It’s worth noting, nonetheless, that this supposed “autonomous” vehicle was about as self-driving as a remote-controlled toy car, being that it was driven by someone using radio control. Not only that, but the operator was hidden, giving attendees merely an illusion of autonomy.

While we’re far from riding in “self-driving” cars operated by remote control, today’s autonomous technology has yet to prove itself safe enough for us to trust it with the lives of our loved ones. However, according to the online business magazine Inc., Elon Musk stated in a recent video, “I’m extremely confident that level 5 [self-driving cars] or essentially complete autonomy will happen, and I think it will happen very quickly… I remain confident that we will have the basic functionality for level 5 autonomy complete this year.”

“What in the world are ‘level 5’ self-driving cars?” Well, essentially, a level five car possesses the ability to observe, process, and react to its surroundings in real-time  — similar to human drivers. As the Inc. article put it, level 5 autonomy removes “the need for even a steering wheel and driver’s seat.” FR24 News further explained that achieving level five autonomy is challenging from a behavioral science and psychology standpoint because the algorithms must be capable of intuitional awareness. Our intuitiveness is what allows us to make fast yet rational decisions at the drop of a dime.

In other words, “the algorithms behind self-driving cars need to be pre-trained for every possible situation they might encounter, distracted toddlers and all,” FR24 News added. However, this high level of automation has eluded Tesla so far, hence several cases of Tesla cars on autopilot coming across unusual situations and wrecking. For now, purposefully buying a “self-driving” car is like volunteering to participate in human pharmaceutical trials.

Two Tesla EVs are largely credited for ‘launching’ EVs into the mainstream

While there’s still a lot of work to be done concerning autonomous vehicles, Elon Musk’s work on EVs is very successful. The Tesla Model 3 made driving an EV not only cooler and more affordable, but it launched electric vehicles into the mainstream. Before the Model 3, drivers viewed EVs as slow, ugly, and lacking range. Additionally, consumers felt that EVs forced them to make too many compromises, something the Model 3 freed them of. With that said, the Tesla Roadster is considered by most as being the EV model that started the ball rolling.

Electrek reported at the start of 2021 that despite only 2,400 units being delivered during its 4-year production run between 2008 and 2012, “…it was successful for Tesla because it achieved its main objectives. The Roadster changed people’s perception of what electric cars can be, and it helped launch or accelerate several more electric vehicle programs.” In a nutshell, that is how Tesla revolutionized an industry that desperately needed a jump start — along with Musk’s brains and tenacity.

RELATED: Boring Company Drivers Forced to Say Elon Musk Is ‘Awesome’ and ‘a Great Leader’ to Visitors

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Chevy Bolt Owners Are Driving Around With Smoke Detectors Strapped To Their Cars

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Chevy Bolts are catching on fire, and people are freaking out. This is totally understandable; nobody wants their car to spontaneously go up in flames. And they certainly don’t want that happening while their car is parked in their garage. General Motors previous recalls didn’t fix the problem, and now all Bolts are recalled. While they wait for a fix that actually works, some Bolt owners are taking matters into their own hands. 

2022 Chevrolet Bolt | Chevrolet

Chevrolet Bolts have been catching on fire for a while now

Chevy Bolts have been catching on fire for a while now. Previously GM had recalled all 2017-2019 Bolts due to a fire risk. There had been reports of Chevrolet Bolts randomly catching on fire, without any provocation. Because the Bolt fires were happening without warning, GM’s previous recall included a warning that Bolt owners shouldn’t park their vehicles near a structure.

The problem with the Chevy Bolt is with its battery. GM investigated and found that there were defects in the batteries the Bolt uses. These batteries are made by battery manufacturer LG. Some had a “torn anode tab and folded separator.” When those two issues happen at the same time in the same battery, the risk of a fire increases. 

Perhaps most concerning is that neither LG nor GM know why this is happening. GM is investigating the issues, and is asking LG to provide it with data while it sorts through this mess. Until they do, GM is putting a hold on Bolt production.

GM has issued a set of safety guidelines that Bolt owners should follow 

GM has issued a recall of every Bolt every made. Both GM and the NHTSA have also given safety guidelines to Bolt owners. These apply even if they’d had their Bolt recalled and repaired already. Since previous recalls and repairs were ineffective (some repaired Bolts caught fire anyway), if you own a Bolt, you need to be careful. 

Among the guidance GM is giving, Bolt owners should avoid parking their Bolt in a garage or near a structure. They also shouldn’t charge overnight. Additionally, Bolt owners should “Set their vehicle to the 90% state of charge limitation using Hilltop Reserve mode (2017 and 2018 model years) or Target Charge Level mode (2019-2022 model years). If owners are unable to set their vehicles to the 90% state of charge limitation mode, or if they feel uncomfortable making the change, GM is asking owners to visit a local dealer immediately to have the change made.”

If you own a Chevy Bolt, go to General Motors’ website or the NHTSA website for further information about your recall.

Until things are resolved, some Chevy Bolt owners are driving around with smoke detectors strapped to their cars

Networked smoke alarm in the back seat from BoltEV

As you might imagine, Bolt owners are feeling a little nervous about the idea that their car could become a flaming ball of metal. This is especially true if someone has to park in a garage for charging, or can’t escape parking near a structure. It must be incredibly nerve wracking to not know if you’re going to burn down your car, house, or something else, and have no idea until it’s too late. 

To prevent something like this from happening, some Chevy Bolt owners have gone to great lengths to be aware of a potential fire in their car. One reddit user who said they have to park their car in the garage put a smoke detector in the garage and another in the kitchen. Because the two smoke detectors work in conjunction with one another, if the one in the garage goes off, the one in the kitchen will as well. 

Still another user has strapped a smoke detector to the backseat of their car. This reddit user said that this smoke detector is also connected to smoke detectors in their house, alerting them more quickly to a potential fire. Many other Bolt owners applauded the idea, because of the opportunity to cut down on damage that it offers. 

Chevy Bolt owners are not in an enviable position right now. It makes sense that they are getting creative to keep themselves, their families, and their belongings safe. Now if GM and LG can figure out the problem and fix it quickly, hopefully Bolt owners will be able to ditch the smoke detectors soon.

RELATED: Tesla Owners Don’t Want the Full Self-Driving Update

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What Is the Cheapest Car in the U.S.?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Despite being a necessity for most people, vehicles are gradually costing more thanks to their advanced technology. But even though it’s harder to find an affordable new car, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Let’s take a look at the cheapest car right now: the Chevy Spark. It’s a great subcompact for new drivers and anyone who needs reliable transportation without breaking the bank.

The 201 Chevy Spark has a really low price for a brand-new car

2021 Chevy Spark | Chevrolet

When you’re looking for an affordable new car, the sticker price is the most obvious place to start. Thankfully, that’s one of the best things about the 2021 Chevy Spark. According to Cars.com, the MSRP for a brand-new Spark is only $13,600. (Chevrolet goes even lower at $13,400.)

Kelley Blue Book says the average price for a new small car in 2021 is about $20,000. That means the Chevy Spark would save you a good $6,000 over similar cars.

Even if you upgraded to the top-trim 2LT, it would still come in under $18,000. So, based on sticker price alone, the Spark really is the cheapest car you can buy new in America right now.

The Chevy Spark is a great value for the price

Beyond just the MSRP, the Chevy Spark offers plenty for the value. After all, what’s the use in saving on your purchase if the car you buy is a hunk of junk? 

First off, the 2021 model offers 10 exterior paint colors to choose from, including fun hues such as Cayenne Orange, Red Hot, Mystic Blue, and a light purple called Passion Fruit. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find some of the best bits about this car.

Though its 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes only 98 hp, this subcompact offers decent acceleration. Though Chevrolet didn’t build the Spark for speed, most people don’t plan to go drag racing in this little hatchback. More important is the excellent gas mileage — an EPA-estimated 38 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg in the city, per Chevrolet — potentially saving you plenty in fuel costs.

Though the base-model Spark is sparse on amenities, that doesn’t mean it’s barren. Sure, it comes with the mandated rear-view camera, but it also boasts 10 airbags. And it has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, plus a Wi-Fi hotspot. Several other performance and cosmetic enhancements are available with upgrades.

And thanks to its small stature, the 2021 Spark can zip in and out of cramped areas and parking spaces. It also offers relatively good cargo space with the rear seats folded — 27.2 cubic feet, Chevrolet claims.

It’s also 1 of the few new cars with a manual transmission

Depending upon how you like to drive, this next point might make or break the Chevy Spark for you. Even though most vehicles today come with only automatic transmissions, the cheapest car in America actually has a five-speed manual transmission option for every model. It’s one of the last of a dying breed.

If you’re already a fan of manuals, this probably makes your day. But if you aren’t fond of stick shifts or have never driven one before, you might be skeptical. But quash those feelings long enough to check out this hatchback. Regardless of your experience with manual transmissions, the Chevy Spark is a little car with big value.

RELATED: The 2020 Chevy Spark Struggled to Do Anything Well

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