Recall Alert: These Recreational Generators Could Catch Fire

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If 2020 was the year of the camper, 2021 is shaping up to be the year of the recall. With so many components that make up the interior and exterior of an RV, some things might fail. They include refrigerators, stoves, AC units, and, in this case, recreational generators. Because electricity is a luxury when camping, recreational generators are among the most prized RV accessories.

However, most campers don’t come with generators. Though used models might already have one installed, buyers of new rigs have the opportunity to take their pick. If you invested in a recreational generator recently, check the label. If it’s an Echo model, read on.

What are recreational generators, and who needs them?

The affected Echo inverter generators are similar to these portable units | Michele Eve Sandberg/Corbis via Getty Images

A recreational generator is what stands between you and roughing it in the woods. Though this machine will not power a home’s hardwired appliances, it can run your RV’s AC, TV set, and Wi-Fi. Although most RV parks now offer electrical hookups on a first-come, first-served basis, they limit your ability to travel deeper into the woods. There, you most likely will not have any hookup.

A good-quality recreational generator produces between 1,600 and 2,000 watts, Consumer Reports says. But some now run 3,500 watts, Outdoorsy reports. This appliance sits in an outside-facing compartment. From there, it connects to a 120-volt fuse that lets you power all the creature comforts that require electricity.

It also connects to a converter that turns AC to DC, which lets you operate your RV’s lights and water pump. Depending on your camper’s setup, you likely have a one- or two-battery system that supports these functions. It lets you run a scaled-down set of appliances when you don’t want to turn on the generator.

It’s interesting to note that some manufacturers are trying to give you more flexibility by letting you plug in an external solar port like the Airstream Basecamp travel trailer.

Echo recalls 3,700 models for fire risk

The $850 Echo EGi-2300 is a popular 2,300-watt recreational generator that can power midsize or larger RVs. However, Consumer Reports warns that some models can overheat. That creates a fire hazard and puts consumers at risk of suffering burn injuries. So far, there are four reports of these Echo generators overheating or catching fire.

Although there have been no reports of injuries as of this writing, Echo issued the recall in an abundance of caution. It affects appliances you might have bought on the Home Depot online store or at independent retailers. Possible dates of purchase are February 2020 through June 2021.

If you have an Echo recreational generator, check the model number on the label near the bottom left edge of the side panel. The model is EGi-2300. If you have one, check the serial number. The possible defect appears in machines with serials numbers from EU19483D010001 to EU21021N010180.

Consumer Reports tested the model, but technicians were not able to recreate the failure.

If this recall affects you, the company urges you to stop using the recreational generator right away. Moreover, call Echo at 800-432-3246 or visit echo-usa.com to connect with a support technician. A representative will assist you in getting a free repair of your unit.

Portable generator safety rules

You probably already know that portable generators must remain outside. Because carbon monoxide poisoning is possible, add CO detectors to your smoke alarms. In fact, many newer generators have built-in sensors. Most important, double-check that the appliance’s exhaust faces away from your location and any windows and vents.  

RELATED: What Are the Best Generators for Your RV?

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Both Car Prices and Gas Prices Are Rising, and Fast

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many factors go into the decision of which vehicle to buy. One of the most important of those is fuel economy. Other factors may include performance, comfort, and aesthetics, among other things. When choosing a vehicle to buy, it’s important to stay up with current trends affecting overall vehicle cost. Recent trends are showing that both car and gas prices are rising fast.

Car and gas prices have been low

Gas Pump | Getty Images

For a while, fuel prices had been low. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gas prices were a low $1.87 per gallon in February 2016. While the prices did not stay that low for long, they did not increase by too much either. Between February 2016 and April 2020, gas prices never eclipsed $3.00 per gallon and typically stayed in the mid $2.00 range.

Cars have seen a similar trend in pricing. CarGurus used car price trends tool shows that the average cost of a used car in February 2016 was $21,854. Over the next 4 years, the average used car price trends slowly downward. In June 2020, used car prices saw their lowest average cost at $20,306.

Gas prices did not stay low forever, however. According to Jalopnik, gas prices have risen from an average of $2.18 per gallon in July 2020 to a staggering $3.13 per gallon one year later in 2021. Gas prices are likely to continue rising by up to 20 cents in August 2021. The last time gas prices have been this high was back in October 2014, when the national average was a high of $3.25 per gallon.

A lot of factors could have been attributed to the spike in gas pricing. “Robust gasoline demand and more expensive crude oil prices are pushing gas prices higher,” says NewsRoom. In addition, Tropical Storm Elsa is on the watch for potential interruptions to the Gulf Coast crude and gasoline production. Demand is high during the summer, especially around major travel holidays like Independence Day and the upcoming Labor Day. Supply has not been able to meet demand.

Like gas, car prices have also increased by an astonishing amount. If you’ve taken a look at new cars in the last several months, you will mind that many dealers are selling their vehicles for higher than MSRP. In addition, the used car market is being affected by the lack of new car buyers, which is driving prices up.

According to Jalopnik, demand for new cars is at an all-time high, and there is little supply to meet it. One major factor contributing to this is the global semiconductor shortage that affects many industries worldwide. “A global semiconductor shortage has been hurting the auto industry in the worst way, as even those semiconductor chips that are getting made are going to tech companies.”

How to keep your vehicle budget under control

Despite the increase in gas and vehicle prices, there are ways to keep the cost reasonable. Practicing fuel-saving methods such as intermittent use of the air conditioner, keeping your vehicle at a consistent speed, and keeping your windows up are just some of the ways to help preserve gas.

Choosing a vehicle with a good fuel economy can help tremendously. The better the fuel economy on a vehicle, the cheaper it will be to keep it running. Avoiding luxury vehicles can also help keep costs down. Not only do luxury vehicles cost a lot themselves, but many of them also require premium fuels, which are pricier than standard fuels. 

While gas and car prices continue to increase, deploying smart automotive financial practices like these will counteract some of the steep prices we are currently seeing. Once prices inevitably come down, continuing to utilize these methods will save you even more money.

RELATED: How Much Does Using Your Car’s AC Affect The Fuel Economy?

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What Is the Chevy Logo Supposed to Be?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Chevrolet logo is the symbol for one of the most successful automotive brands. Adorning the grilles of Chevy cars and trucks since 1913, this highly recognizable emblem’s origins are a mystery. Over the years, there have been plenty of theories about where the Chevy logo originated. But no one knows for sure how the iconic badge came to be. 

The Chevy logo | Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Chevrolet originally adorned its vehicles with a hard-to-read script of the company name. Today’s logo debuted at the 1914 New York Auto Show on the H series Royal Mail and Baby Grand models.

Chevrolet cofounder William Durant created the iconic emblem, but no one truly knows where he came up with the idea. Some suggest he got the inspiration for the logo from the hotel wallpaper he saw while traveling in France.

In a 1929 book written by Durant’s daughter, she recalled that her “father crafted the logo on a napkin during a family dinner.”

She wrote, “I think it was between the soup and the fried chicken one night that he sketched out the design that is used on the Chevrolet car to this day,” Miami Lakes Auto Mall reports.

Some say the inspiration for the Chevy logo came from the Swiss flag. This would make sense because the automotive giant got its name from Louis Chevrolet, a racer born in Switzerland.

Others claim Durant’s wife said her husband got the idea for the logo during a 1912 vacation in Hot Springs, Virginia. She said he commented about a newspaper advertisement that would make a great logo. It’s believed Durant was looking at a Coalettes ad from Southern Compressed Coal Company. It had a logo that bears a striking resemblance to the Chevrolet badge.

Is the Chevy logo a bow tie?

Despite not knowing how the logo came to be, the emblem is known worldwide as the Chevy bow tie.

On the 100th anniversary of the iconic logo, Chevrolet admitted:

“While the bowtie has been present for 100 years, the details surrounding its origin are still uncertain.”

Adorning more than 215 million vehicles, the Chevy bow tie “is recognized around the world and has become synonymous with American ingenuity,” Chevrolet’s chief marketing offer, Tim Mahoney, said.

Gold vs. black bow tie

Chevrolet’s parent company, General Motors, explains, “Many variations in coloring and detail of the Chevrolet bowtie have come and gone over the decades since its introduction in late 1913, but the essential shape has never changed.”

Called “one of the most recognized car emblems in the world” by 1000 Logos, the gold faceplate debuted in 2004. Chevy designed it to reflect “the brand as powerful and confident.”

Durant’s original logo was light blue with gold and white lettering and “Chevrolet” emblazoned on its horizontal line.

Many Chevy owners aren’t fond of the gold logo. So they’ve taken it upon themselves to blackout the emblem and post DIY videos on YouTube. Noticing the trend, Chevrolet made a black bow tie logo available several years ago, “making its way across the Chevy lineup,” GM Authority reports.

In fact, the traditional gold bow tie won’t appear on the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV or EUV, GM Authority reports. The design team confirmed it “will be the very first time any Chevy model will be sold as standard with the black bowtie emblem.”

Though phasing out the gold bow tie might seem like “the end of an era,” it’s important to note it’s just part of the evolution of the iconic emblem.

RELATED:  When Was the Last Time Ford Changed Its Logo?

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Most Satisfying 2021 Honda Models According to Consumer Reports

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Honda is an automotive icon hailing from Japan. Over the decades, the automotive manufacturer has earned a reputation in the U.S. for well-performing reliable vehicles. However, in owner surveys, some Honda vehicles get more praise than others. These are the most satisfying 2021 Honda models according to Consumer Reports. 

2021 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E | American Honda Motor Co., Inc

Cars like the 2021 Honda Civic and 2021 Honda Accord get high consumer satisfaction ratings

a sliver 2021 Honda Accord driving at speed in the city
2021 Honda Accord | Honda

The most satisfying 2021 Honda models according to Consumer Reports get either a 4/5 or 5/5 for predicted owner satisfaction. They also receive high marks in surveys that ask owners if they would buy the vehicle again, given the opportunity. 

Three of Honda’s cars earned 4/5 predicted owner satisfaction ratings. Honda is one of the few automakers that still produces and sells a decent amount of cars. The U.S. has trended hard in the direction of the subcompact, compact, and midsize crossover SUV, and pickup truck as its primary vehicle choices. Still Honda puts out cars that continue to make owners happy. 

A Honda Civic on display at an indoor auto show is one of the most satisfying 2021 Honda models according to Consumer Reports
Honda Civic | Michael Debets/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

The 2021 Honda Civic and the 2021 Honda Accord are two of the most popular cars in America. Each one has a loyal fan base for different reasons. The sporty 2021 Honda Civic is recommended by Consumer Reports. The stately 2021 Honda Accord sedan also earned the recommendation. Plus, 71% and 72% of owners said they would rebuy the Civic and Accord, respectively.

There’s a hybrid car that’s also pleasing buyers

Honda Clarity fuel cell car stopping for hydrogen
Honda Clarity Fuel Cell | Honda

Consumer Reports data shows that the 2021 Honda Clarity also has some of the best consumer satisfaction ratings in Honda’s lineup. The Japanese car company offers the 2021 Honda Clarity as both a fuel-cell model that runs on hydrogen and a plug-in hybrid.

While the 2021 Honda Clarity didn’t perform fantastic in road tests, it still earned Consumer Reports’ recommendation. With a 4/5 predicted owner satisfaction score, this is one of the most satisfying 2021 Honda models according to Consumer Reports. In addition, the 2021 Honda Clarity also has a 5/5 predicted reliability rating. 

Which Honda has the best consumer satisfaction ratings? 

a 2021 Honda Ridgeline HPD parked off-road
2021 Honda Ridgeline | Honda Newsroom

Perhaps surprisingly, as Honda is more well-known for models like the Civic, Accord, or even the Odyssey minivan, its pickup truck has the best consumer satisfaction ratings. The 2021 Honda Ridgeline is among the best Honda models in the lineup, in terms of Consumer Reports ratings. Plus, it is the only pickup truck that Consumer Reports actually recommends. 

With a 5/5 predicted owner satisfaction rating, Consumer Reports predicts that the 2021 Honda Ridgeline will please its owners. Plus, a whopping 82% of owners say they would buy another Ridgeline, given the chance. While a pickup truck may not be the right choice for everyone, this one toes the line between comfortable passenger car and truckish utility. 

With a unibody construction and standard all-wheel drive, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is an ideal companion for city drivers that need a truck sometimes. It’s no heavy hauling Chevy Silverado or rock crawling Toyota Tacoma. But Consumer Reports touts it as “the most civilized pickup truck we’ve ever tested.”

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