On the Road to a Greener World
These days, it seems every car is advertising ‘environmentally safe’ features. Of course, in a perfect world people would give up their fancy cars and start walking, but we all know that’s never going to happen. Fortunately, breakthroughs in environmentally safe transportation technology provide realistic alternatives to help reduce pollution.Hybrid CarsAll the best automotive manufacturers have latched on to this green motor option. Hybrid vehicles combine two or more power sources (usually an internal combustion engine and an electric motor) to power the vehicle. Because of this, hybrids typically produce lower emissions and use far less fuel than conventional ICEVs (internal combustion engine vehicles). In addition to the obvious benefits, Hybrids also typically shut down the engine at traffic stops or while coasting, have improved aerodynamics which reduces engine stress, use special tires that help reduce fuel consumption, and use electrical power for the AC, power steering, and other auxiliary pumps to reduce mechanical losses. The three most popular HybridsHonda Civic, Honda Insight, and Toyota Priushave managed to reduce emissions to 3.5 tons, that’s 2 tons less than the set recommended level by the EPA. These vehicles can reduce smog-forming pollutants by 90 and cut CO2 emissions in half. The only problemthe hybrid car battery is not yet recyclable and has negative environmental implications.BiofuelsBiofuels (the most common of which is Ethanol Fuel), are made from biological components such as plant feedstock and are a green alternative to traditional gasoline. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the positive effects of biofuels. Pushing these doubts aside, it appears biofuels can help economically by decreasing the demand on the worlds diminishing oil supply. Environmentally, biofuels are much cleaner than traditional fuels and consume carbon dioxide as they are grown, offsetting the CO2 produced when burnt as fuel. Additionally, these fuels are renewable and politically favored as a ‘greener’ way of transport.