Author: Emissions

Last updated on April 23rd, 2021

It is one to create awareness on a serious matter, levy taxes and spend billions, and another to be successful in the pursuit of emission reductions. Since the cat was let out the bag regarding the effect our planet is having on the ozone and the environment, in general, the world has gone into emission reduction overdrive. For the first time in the history of the planet, the entire world was in shock and started thinking that we may not have this beautiful planet forever.

Suddenly started changing, people started picketing outside factories and the gas guzzlers were slowly being changed to hybrids and bicycles. This was not enough and the world was shocked to hear the biggest contributors to CO2 were, in fact, livestock, particularly cows. Either we needed to let the steak go or more drastic measures were needed to reduce the pressure. The taxes soon followed and legislation was being passed to ensure the new engines would be more fuel efficient and there would be lower emissions. Science projects regarding alternative energy sources were funded and a few alternatives were found.

Through this phase, however, individuals started coming forward that and said that they designed alternative energy years before the effect on the ozone was even just a thought, however, was paid off and threatened as this would have cost big business too much money in terms of the conversion that needed to take place. The sad reality was the energy alternatives that existed in other parts of the world were also treated in this manner, as it would reduce the demand for oil, which is after a slowly depleting. The effect on our planet was devastated, and whether we are in time to reverse the effects of the diminishing ozone remains to be seen, as the changes in the weather patterns and the melting ice caps should be at the forefront of decision making. The dollar won’t matter when the entire world floods or the ozone is virtually nonexistent and even the tiniest solar flare is the end of humanity.

There is hope

Studies have shown that since to implement the Kyoto Protocol, there have been significant reductions in the emissions in the UK and US. This is to reduce the effects of global warming. The protocol was put in place to first acknowledge that global warming exists and that man’s CO2 emissions caused it. For this to have been successful, it was important for all governments accept not only responsibility but also ownership of the problem which was, and still is, global warming. The UK and the US seem to be heading in the right direction, and only time will tell whether it is in time to repair the damage that has been done. In order for a government to be successful, it is crucial that the individual is successful as the power of reducing emissions is in the hands of everyone.

Last updated on April 23rd, 2021

Following extensive testing of Google’s self-driving cars in California, Florida, and Nevada, test models are now being driven (or, more accurately, driving themselves) across cities in the UK.

The advent of driver fewer vehicles is an idea that brings up many talking points; the safety of entrusting a machine with our lives, whether the joy of driving will be lost, the implications on traffic and congestion, and their cost efficiency. Interestingly, experts are also predicting that the automated vehicles will have a positive effect on the levels of emissions produced by road transport.

The idea

Whilst the integration of ‘intelligent’ technologies in automobiles has become increasingly commonplace, for example with cruise control and parking assist systems, it is only in the last decade that the somewhat science-fictional idea of a vehicle that is fully automated has become a possible reality. Google has predicted that their self-driving cars could be released in as few as two years time.
Implementation and environmental effects

With such a potentially revolutionary change in our transportation methods, it is important to consider the effects on the environment. Official statistics from the EPA show that over a quarter of greenhouse gases in the USA in 2012 were from transportation; more than were emitted across the whole industry sector. If the new vehicles prove to be popular, our driving patterns could change; experts of both the car industry and environmental issues, agree that the effects could be extremely positive. The main selling point, some claim, is that the cars could be electric as standard.

Electric dreams

High hopes have been pinned on the lower emissions and running costs promised with electric vehicles. Compared to traditional combustion engines, the battery-powered motors are far more efficient to run, wasting much less fuel and appearing to produce far fewer emissions.

This, however, depends on the efficiency of the production of electricity, which varies wildly from country to country; in countries such as India and South Africa, the emissions from producing the electricity used to power the vehicles is taken largely from unsustainable, carbon-heavy sources. So while the vehicle may take less power to run than a combustion engine, the costly carbon emissions may be hidden in energy production. Also worth considering is the impact of manufacturing the vehicles themselves. These often ignored factors lead to an inconsistent view of the emissions produced by electric cars.

Changing habits

On the other hand, the smaller size of the engine in electric cars, and the development of lighter battery packs mean that emissions could be reduced by using more of these compact vehicles. The drawback of this has been hailed as having a shorter drive time before running out of juice, but there are a few arguments to the contrary.

Self-driving cars are far more accessible to people who can’t drive, or even those who are not car owners; current car sharing schemes, often combined with phone apps, allow people to find an available hire car near them to use for a single trip, and drop off in numerous possible locations. Were driverless vehicles to be used in this manner, they would be mostly used for short cross-city trips, and therefore their shorter drive time would not be as impeding.

Contrary to this, if driving became much more easy and accessible, and the vehicles themselves more comfortable and social to use, without the need for forward-facing seats, it is foreseeable that fewer people would prefer to use public transport. It is even more important, therefore, that the sustainability of electricity and vehicle production is optimized at every stage.

The drive of your life

There are several bonuses of a self-driving vehicle, however, that appear to be solely beneficial in terms of emissions. Firstly, the vehicles would be designed to drive in a fuel-efficient manner; gentler acceleration and braking and optimum gear selection are all features that would be automated with efficiency in mind.

Traffic gridlock could also be a thing of the past; vehicles will be able to communicate with one another, to detect congestion and plan the best route moment by moment, avoiding queues and selecting roads with less traffic. Less time spent idling in traffic unquestionably means lower emissions.

These connected vehicles also use sensors to monitor their surroundings constantly and update their behavior accordingly. For example, one feature that can be implemented is to interact with infrastructure such as traffic lights, and adjust speed accordingly so that the light is always green at the point when the vehicle reaches it. This is very efficient, as the most load is placed on an engine when stopping and starting, meaning less fuel will be used the gently and less frequently this process occurs.

Thinking points

Although somewhat a novelty, self-driving vehicles seem set to be hitting our roads within the foreseeable future. Their potential is huge, and they are likely to be accepted into society with great effect, even if many remain skeptical of the idea of removing human control. Removing a human driver can actually be seen to have a positive forecast for carbon emissions, as the automated vehicles will be able to compute data that we perhaps are not aware of in terms of upcoming traffic. Factors such as impatience and road rage, which may incur unnecessary engine revs, will be removed, as well!

Considering the likelihood that these cars will be electric-powered, the more popular they become, the fewer vehicles with combustion engines we can expect to see. The important step to take next is to ensure that the emissions are reduced at every stage from production to use and that this information is available to customers, so they can weigh up the options for themselves before handing the steering wheel over to this new idea.

Last updated on September 21st, 2023

They are most certainly not! The idea of a battery powered car is an old notion, but as technology advances our knowledge does as well. An old idea is blossoming in the new age era. During these times we currently have the technology, labor, and financial backing to make innovative and forward-thinking ideas like this come alive.

Thoughts and designs of battery-powered cars were constructed in the early 2000’s, but our dot-com driven minds played a huge role in not too much action being done about it. After the internet hype died down and we began to adopt the change, the battery-powered car came back on the scene. What made this such a concern? Many words can be the answer to that question but the main concern was the environment and how this affected the Earth. Our planet does a fantastic job keeping our well-being and provides us with everything that we need to function. So, since the planet scratches our backs and puts food in our mouths, we are humans decided it was time to frame something to preserve the earth. As we moved forward and environmentalists began talking to politicians, the push for environmentally friendly vehicles arose.  Not only did the idea of cars powered by sources other than gasoline begin to surface again, but the idea of how sustaining those vehicles would play in our future society.

Hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, lead the race and have emerged as a pioneer in this market. To save on gas consumption and optimized gas efficiency the Prius is equipped with an EV button which is the ECO button. This one moderates the driver’s commands before sending them to the various powertrain elements. The ECO mode essentially applies a slow filter to everything, smoothing responses to avoid the sudden transient reactions that cause increased fuel consumption. For those times when you need just a bit more get up and go such as merging onto a crowded freeway, to the right of the ECO switch sits the Power button. But as you can imagine the Power button is not one you want to toy with. Although the Eco and Power buttons are certainly revolutions in how we drive our vehicles, it’s not uncommon for Toyota’s twin-step sibling Honda.

Capitalism would not be at its finest if Toyota and Honda didn’t compete. The original Honda Insight was remarkably fuel-efficient, it lastly lacked the practicality found both in “real cars” and Toyota’s four-door Prius. Years later, Honda revived the Insight name, determined to correct the original Insight’s shortcomings. The current-generation model combines a small gas engine with an electric motor that’s powered by a battery pack. The current powertrain falls short of its predecessor’s impressive 60-plus-mpg potential on the highway, but the second-generation Insight is a superior car in all other respects. Its convenient four-door hatchback design provides decent cargo space and a tight but usable rear seat, and it still returns around 40 mpg combined.

Although the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight are only two of the world’s hybrid vehicles, there are many more to follow in its footsteps. Volkswagen, Audi, and even BMW are a couple of manufacturers that are also joining the race.

Last updated on September 21st, 2023

Several manufacturers are working on ultra-low emission cars. Many of them have released at least one model already. This is great news for those who are looking to go green. Plus, you can get some huge benefits from driving them. If you live in the UK, you can expect as much as £5,000 taken off the purchase price. These low emission cars can have ranges up to 700 miles before needing a top up. It can also cost as low as 2p a mile to run them. Thanks to government initiatives in the UK, manufacturers are working harder than ever. Here are some of your best choices if you want to go for low emissions.

The Volkswagen Golf has been a family favorite amongst many drivers. Now they have also released the Golf GTE, a plug-in hybrid. It has a range of 580 miles. If you want to go all-electric, it can run for 31 miles. That means no tailpipe emissions and a very low running cost. It is therefore perfect for people who live within 15 miles of their workplace.

The Nissan Leaf is very popular at the moment. With a great price after government help, it can be cheaper than their lower range models. It has become a real emblem of the electric car movement. Even the name evokes the idea of driving green. It has a range of up to 124 miles on just one single charge. This makes it very effective and low cost. If you work within 60 miles of your home, you can easily charge just once a day. They have now even developed a people carrier with seven seats. This is the eNV200 Combi. It has a range of 106 miles and can also come in a van format.

Renault had also come up with their own option, the Zoe. It is designed for families with great styling. There is enough space for a group to travel daily. If you don’t need the space, they have you covered with a smaller sibling. The Twizy has just two seats. It is fully electric and starts from just under £7,000. It is a fantastic solution for short trips or those who only need to take themselves around. It is great for urban areas too, thanks to the small size.

The Toyota Prius is perhaps the most famous green car. Their flagship model is a plug-in with some great features. It can run on petrol or electric power with a hybrid engine. When used just in electric mode, you can travel 15.5 miles after charging for 90 minutes. However, with hybrid mode engaged, you can go for 700 miles on a full tank. This gives a huge amount of scope.

BMW may be a little more expensive, but this is to be expected. The higher-end car range delivers both a hybrid and an all-electric car. These are the i8 and the i3. The i3 has a range of up to 100 miles. It can also do 186 miles if you add the petrol range extender.

Last updated on March 21st, 2018

According to Volkswagen, the hovercraft is the car of the future. They recently revealed the winner of their car of the future design.

This would be a multi-terrain vehicle which will include sand, water, ice, and snow. Zhang Yuhan, the 21-year-old designer of the Volkswagen Aqua craft left no stone unturned. The car of the future will incorporate design aspects that will enhance the driveability, as well as the journey. A panoramic view is part of the design. The vehicle will be able to negotiate the various terrains with the help of high-powered fans. The vehicle also uses airbags that inflate to achieve lift.

The entrance to the car is a hatch in the back. The design currently only allows enough space for two, however, the design challenge is on to create a family prototype as well. The Aqua has a sporty design and features two motors. The motors are powered by hydrogen fuel cells which perform different functions. One cell assists with the inflation of the airbag to achieve lift, and the other is responsible for the actual movement and steering. The fuel cells have zero carbon emissions.

The hovercraft is no new concept. It is the brainchild of Christopher Cockerell. This impressive invention has been around since the late 1950’s. The idea was to create a way for the friction between the boat and the water to be less. The hovercraft did not stay in or on the water. The transition to mud, snow, and ice has meant easier access to and from desolate places previously thought inaccessible. The fuel efficiency is somewhat dubious, however, with the introduction of hydrogen fuel cells, this should change. Hydrogen fuel cells are not limited to hovercrafts and will make an invaluable contribution to the fight against high emissions.

Hydrogen fuel cells are being developed for all types of vehicles after the successful implementation of other applications. The first commercially available vehicles that use hydrogen fuel cells are the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai ix35 FCEV. They have the ability to reduce carbon emissions by up to 45% when compared to ordinary motors. Critics are however not as upbeat over the fuel cells, as these cars are much more expensive. The Toyota Mirai has a starting price of $ 57,500, therefore making it quite pricey and unattainable for the general public. The technology world has to improve substantially in order for the price to drop. Those in the know predict that this would not feasible until 2020. The cost to produce these vehicles are still too high and could leave the manufacturers out of pocket.

With the entire world focusing their attention on the advancement of harnessing all hydrogen fuel cells have to offer, it may well come to fruition before anticipated. Car manufacturers like Honda and Mercedes-Benz have introduced demonstration cars that will hopefully go into large-scale production soon. Whether they will be affordable in terms of production and purchase remains to be seen.