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Tag: Hertz

  • GM Scores Contract With Hertz for 175,000 Electric Vehicles

    GM Scores Contract With Hertz for 175,000 Electric Vehicles

    GM has scored a major contract with rental company Hertz, agreeing to provide the latter with 175,000 electric vehicles (EVs) over the next five years.

    Like most automakers, General Motors is racing to transition to EVs. The company has stated a “goal of 1 million units of EV capacity by the end of 2025.” It’s latest contract with Hertz is a major step in that direction, with a commitment to delivering 175,000 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC and BrightDrop EVs.

    “It’s exciting that two iconic American companies that have shaped the evolution of transportation for more than a century are coming together to redefine the future of mobility in the 21st century,” said Stephen Scherr, Hertz CEO. “We are thrilled to partner with GM on this initiative, which will dramatically expand our EV offering to Hertz customers, including leisure and business travelers, rideshare drivers and corporates.”

    “Our work with Hertz is a huge step forward for emissions reduction and EV adoption that will help create thousands of new EV customers for GM,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “With the vehicle choice, technology and driving range we’re delivering, I’m confident that each rental experience will further increase purchase consideration for our products and drive growth for our company.”

    Hertz’s wants to have the largest fleet of rental EVs in North America. Its deal with GM should help it achieve that goal.

  • Hertz Purchasing 100,000 Teslas for Its Fleet and Partnering With Tom Brady

    Hertz Purchasing 100,000 Teslas for Its Fleet and Partnering With Tom Brady

    Hertz is looking to leapfrog the competition following its bankruptcy, ordering 100,000 Teslas and partnering with Tom Brady for an ad campaign.

    Hertz has been through some difficult times in recent years, culminating in the company’s bankruptcy and reorganization. Coming out of that, the company clearly wants to get a leg up on its competitors and is tapping into consumer interest in electric vehicles (EVs) to do that.

    The company announced it is placing “an initial order of 100,000 Teslas by the end of 2022,” and plans to build out its own charging network. Customers who rent one of the Tesla Model 3’s will also have access to Tesla’s super-charging network in the US and Europe.

    “Electric vehicles are now mainstream, and we’ve only just begun to see rising global demand and interest,” said Hertz interim CEO Mark Fields. “The new Hertz is going to lead the way as a mobility company, starting with the largest EV rental fleet in North America and a commitment to grow our EV fleet and provide the best rental and recharging experience for leisure and business customers around the world.”

    Hertz is also partnering with Tom Brady for a “Hertz, Let’s Go!” ad campaign, one that will combine humor and Brady’s signature “Let’s Go” rallying cry.

    “Hertz is changing the game when it comes to the future of mobility and has come through for me time and time again,” said Tom Brady. “Although the company has been around for over 100 years, their constant evolution, especially now, is something that is amazing to be a part of. I’ve been driving an EV for years and knowing Hertz is leading the way with their electric fleet speaks to how the world is changing and the way companies are approaching being environmentally and socially conscious. I’ve always loved how easy and convenient Hertz makes it for me when I’m traveling to my favorite places like New York, LA and Tampa and can’t wait to see what they continue to have in store.”

  • Heinrich Hertz Doodle: Did Google Get It Wrong?

    I’m sure by now you’ve all seen today’s animated Google Doodle. The multi-colored never-ending wave pattern honors Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, who is best known for his studies on electromagnetic waves (and the fact that the unit of frequency, the Hertz, is named after him).

    Now there is talk on the interwebs that Google got it wrong, however.

    First spotted by Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Roundtable, the point has been brought up on Google’s Webmaster Central forum that the waves portrayed in the Doodle might not be correct to Hertz’s work. User Eric Hanson says,

    Hertz described sound frequencies which are strictly sinusoidal in nature, for a company that has so much to do with the sciences, I wonder why the wave for today’ Google Doodle is clearly erroneous as it relates to the type of waves that Hertz described.

    Another user, Zen Climber, elaborates:

    Google’s doodle is made out of ellipse halves. To re-create Google’s doodle requires an infinite number of sinusoidal wave combinations. Same as it would be possible to create a periodic square wave using an infinite number of sinusoidal waves. All periodic wave forms have a frequency, which is represented in Hz (1/s) or Hertz. If you stop thinking here, the Google doodle would be a fair tribute to mr. Heinrich Hertz. However, february 22nd is not the celebration of periodicy, it’s mr. Hertz birthday! Heinrich Hertz clarified and expanded Maxwell’s Laws which described a finite number of electro-magnetic waves. Thus, i would say, the Google doodle is wrong!

    From my terrible understanding of the science behind this, I’ll say that it appears they have a point. If they don’t both chastising me – I’ll just plead ignorance.

    For their part, Google knows they are “making waves” with this one, posting this to their Google+ account:

    We’re making waves with our doodle for Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, the German physicist who proved the existence of electromagnetic waves and whose research contributed to the invention of television and radio. For those of you who remember your high school physics, you’ll know he’s also the namesake of the unit hertz (Hz), which measures frequency. Visit the homepage to see it in action.

    And for reference, here’s the Doodle in action:

    Sound off! First, are the concerned science geeks right? Is Google’s Doodle wrong? And if so, do we care? I mean, the point is to honor the guy whose research paved to way for modern wireless communication. Plus, the logo has to look like the official Google logo (at least a little bit). And if you look closely enough, you can make out the letters (in their right colors) as the wave scrolls by.

    Let us know what you think in the comments.