How much easier will it be as you go to work with your car driving for you? Will it be safer, can you get more done? However, you may need to wait for this automotive dream to become a reality.

As more than 800 engineers, software developers, transportation experts and other technical folks met last week in this Detroit suburb to discuss the risks and benefits of autonomous and connected vehicles, they were raising more questions than finding answers.

Here are six unsolved challenges that stand between the technologies’ potential and reality:

1. Cybersecurity and privacy protection. Maybe this can’t be solved until there are thousands of pilot vehicles on our roads, but last week Wired magazine writer Andy Greenberg wrote about two cybersecurity experts who accessed a newer Jeep Cherokee’s computer brain through its Uconnect infotainment system and rewrote the firmware to plant their malicious code. The result: hip-hop began blasting through the stereo system, the AC turned to maximum force. Then the hacker’s code killed the transmission and brakes. We know autonomous cars will have even more software coding. One major attack and consumer confidence in the technology could be severely damaged.

2. How much will these vehicles cost? Established automakers are introducing progressively more advanced autonomous features in their most expensive models. Ride-hailing or other fleet-based services such as Uber or Lyft will try to deliver their service at a lower price than competing options.

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Investments change everyday, and the trends of how people can invest change as well. From silver, to housing, to own a business they are all very different. Today there is a new type of investment, by purchasing a new car to rent out to other people.

Car manufacturers are desperately seeking new ways to increase sales, maximize financial returns and address the changing needs of new generations like the millennial, but urging people to rent our their own brand new cars stretches credulity and will fall on stony ground.

News this week that BMW’s Mini will offer buyers of its cars the chance to offset the purchase price by renting out their vehicles surely won’t find any takers. BMW itself has a similar scheme called Drive Now, which board member Peter Schwarzenbauer has said is based on the idea from accommodation sharing web site Airbnb. Ford and GM have also joined in.

Schemes that allow people who don’t own cars to rent by the hour make much sense. This allows the young, who either can’t afford to own a new car, or don’t need one very often, to get wheels for specific jobs. It also allows makers of electric cars which nobody wants to buy, to get them off dealer lots and earn some money.

If it was a scheme that allowed, say, students to rent out their old clunkers to generate enough cash to pay for running costs and then some, it might make some sense. But is there anyone in the history of the world who bought a brand new car – whether it’s a little runabout or an expensive limousine, that would ever let a stranger drive off in it? The fact that they could afford a new car in the first place means the financial incentive just isn’t there.

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We all build that connection with our car, but sometimes it causes more troubles than its uses. At that point in time you might have to get a new car.

Perhaps it’s because of the cost and the sacrifices we make to own and operate them, or because they represent independence and mobility. But regardless, all this emotion can cloud our decision-making process when it comes to parting with our beloved daily driver. Many automakers invest as much time and energy in creating and developing an emotional bond between their products and their customers as they do in designing and building the vehicles themselves. If you doubt this, consider the amount carmakers spend on advertising each year compared to what they spend on R&D. While every auto manufacturer will supply an endless list of reasons why you should buy their particular product, few will help you decide when, and if, it’s time to leave your wheels by the curb and buy or lease something new. Here, then, is some advice to help make that decision easier.

Time and distance

Of all the auto executives I’ve met over almost four decades, only one ever admitted to the lifespan for which they design and build their vehicles to survive. While no auto company will admit it, the useful life for the majority of mainstream, non-luxury vehicles is about 10 years and/or 250,000 kilometers. While many cars, light trucks and SUVs may exceed that mark without exceptional repair or maintenance, a good percentage are relegated to the boneyard much sooner. A vehicle’s reliability takes a decidedly marked downturn once these milestones are passed. Does this mean we need to rush to the nearest dealership when the odometer clicks past that fateful mark? No, but it means it’s time create a succession plan. No matter the many variables when it comes to our relationships with cars, there’s one constant you can rely on: when you are forced to make a rushed decision on purchasing or leasing a vehicle (because your present chariot is dead in the driveway) it will cost you more than if you planned ahead.

Major repair estimate

Everyone dreads this call. They’ve had the family car towed into their repair provider because it failed to start/move/stop, and they get the estimate to overhaul/repair/replace something big. A good rule of thumb in these circumstances is to review your options of repairing or replacing your vehicle if a single-repair estimate approaches or exceeds its wholesale value. A quick internet tour of just about any used vehicle sales website can pinpoint this value. Just take the average asking price for the same vehicle in your area (with identical equipment and mileage) and subtract around $1,500 from a retailer’s asking price to come up with a wholesale value. Vehicles, unless it’s a collector classic, are a depreciating asset. Spending its entire value in one repair won’t double its worth.

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Super cool green Camero and signed by the Hulk himself! An organization that helps the needy in the area is getting some celebrity help with its latest fundraiser.

Retired wrestler Hulk Hogan and radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge are promoting a drawing for a 2011 Special Edition Chevrolet Camaro 1SS. The proceeds go to Unity in the Community.

This is the second year that Hogan and Bubba, along with Stingray Chevrolet, have teamed to give a helping hand to Unity. The car, autographed by Hogan, is worth $44,000.

Stingray Manager Steve Hurley and Bubba’s BTLS Foundation have purchased the car. Tickets for the drawing are $5.

Unity founder Joyce Jordan said last year’s drawing generated more than $70,000.

Among other works, Unity in May will present 30 $1,000 scholarships to needy high school students who are graduating. Other charities that have received money from Unity have included the United Food Bank of Plant City and Meals on Wheels.

The winning ticket will be drawn at 5 p.m. March 13 at the Florida Strawberry Festival. The winner need not be present to win.

Tickets will be available at Stingray Chevrolet until 6 p.m. March 11 and at the festival from Thursday until 4:30 p.m. March 13.

Tickets also will be available online at stingraychevrolet.com until 6 p.m. March 11; limit 20 tickets per person.  Great idea and I love the HULK!

Just like this Q & A from the LA Times (below) says, many if not most charity car programs take fees that drastically reduce the amount of funds being passed on to your favorite charity.  At www.CharityCar.us we don’t have to take any fees because the cars themselves are going directly to auto recyclers across North America.

Please be careful next time you donate your car, make sure to find out if there are fees being charged and what percentage goes to the charity of your choice.

Toronto, ON (CharityCar) March 5, 2010 — CharityCar (www.CharityCar.us and www.CharityCar.ca), green vehicle disposal (www.greenvehicledisposal.com) and charity car donation company, today announced that its total donations processed for 2009 exceeds $91,000 USD. Over the course of the year, 50% of customers traded their vehicles in for cash while the other 50% donated the money to charity. This trend is expected to continue in 2010.

CharityCar would like to thank its many generous donors across North America who, despite the economic downturn, contributed to its success; more importantly, the success of its supported charities and the betterment of the environment.

David Gold from Standard Auto Wreckers (www.standardautowreckers.com) and the founder of the program said: “We originally started this program to give back to our local community in Toronto, Ontario and when friends in the business heard about what we were doing they all wanted to join in. Now, three years later, we have over 150 partner charities and more than 70 member recyclers in both Canada and the USA participating! It really is heartwarming to see.”

About CharityCar
CharityCar (CharityCar.us and CharityCar.ca) accepts the donation of old vehicles on behalf of charities and non-profit organizations across North America. CharityCar utilizes its partner Green Vehicle Disposal’s eco-friendly recycling technology, offers ‘free pickup’, does not take any fees for processing or handling charity vehicles and donates 100% of the recyclers value to the customers’ chosen charity in the United States or Canada. CharityCar’s purpose is to provide its customers with an eco-friendly solution for the disposal of old vehicles. All vehicles donated through CharityCar are disposed of in an eco-friendly manner which meets and exceed all recycling rules. For more information, visit: www.CharityCar.us or www.CharityCar.ca.

They are proud to practice environmentally sound processes when dismantling and recycling our vehicles. This is achieved by properly draining all hazardous fluids from the vehicle thereby not having them drain into the ground. They remove Mercury switches and other dangerous substances from the vehicles and dispose of them in a safe way in accordance with local laws.

We just made it over the 1,000 follower mark yesterday and I wanted to take some time to thank all our loyal followers.

Kids Mobility Network, Inc. is a non-profit organization that is changing the lives of children with disabilities.

Greenopolis is about doing good.

Help Recycle is spreading the green word.

The Green Business Bureau is quickly becoming the standard for green business certification and accountability.

The Daily Green is for everyday average real eco-conscious people.

and a warm heart-felt thanks to everyone else that has followed us!

We are pleased to officially re-launch our new website redesign and to celebrate we are offering all new charity signs ups a chance to win an iPod Shuffle and other great prizes like CharityCar.us official merchandise!  All new sign ups and referrals to the program that meet our partnership criteria will be entered into a random draw that will take place on June 30, 2010 – winners will be contacted by phone and have their names posted on this blog.

If your charity or non-profit does not currently have a charity car donation program or you have one that is just too expensive, let us help!  We give one hundred percent of the recyclers valuation to your charity and take zero fees.  We do the work and all your charity or non-profit has to do is issue the tax receipts!  Fill out the charity registration form now and get started accepting charity cars with seven days!

I was browsing some tips over at Charity Navigator and I found this one that I thought was very important:

Find a Charity That Directly Accepts Car Donations
If at all possible, avoid the for-profit intermediary organizations that advertise so pervasively to handle your car donations. When you work with one of these organizations, they keep the vast majority of the dollars created from your donation. Even the most reputable of the agencies that handle these transactions keep nearly 50% of the car’s value for their troubles (other, less scrupulous entities keep 90%, or even more). If you can find a charity that handles the transaction themselves, they can keep 100% of their profits. It’s possible that the charities you already support have a car-donation program that you don’t know about. Check with them first.

If your charity wants someone to start a charity car program you should definitely use a company that give you 100% of the proceeds like ours does.

Thanks for visiting our blog at CharityCar.us – on this blog you will find news, commentary and information on everything charity car related and also from the wider world of charities in general.  We encourage participation through commenting and would love to hear whatever is on your mind.  If you want to donate your car to charity follow this link.