What is the future in energy efficient vehicles?
Answer:
The Future = Less personal vehicles and more sustainable mass transit.
But before you write this off as a pessimistic proposal, consider the following. We have energy/fuel problems.
#1- Currently, E85 (ethanol) won't be a long term solution since it is produced by corn or other crops that require vast amounts of energy (electronic and oil) to grow, produce pesticides, harvest and transport. Also, Texas (the oil state) is now controlling the Ethanol production- so expect prices to remain high despite any ecological benefit. Secondly, corn is a staple in many countries (like mexico) so a use of corn for fuel means increasing prices for staple foods for millions.
#2- Hybrid Techonology is "half" a solution (thus the word "hybrid"). Sure it reduces the amount of fuel, and it is a step in the right direction. However, consider this: We had hybrid capabilities long before now (I'm talking elements of it back in the Henry Ford days)- steam was also popular. However, two things happened, companies like GM and FORD bought out the patents to alternatives to the combustion engine, and there is nothing quite as efficient to obtain and transport as oil- thus why worry back then when fossil fuels didn't have known limits to their reserves. Hybrids at best can only "reduce" the amount of fuel needed, but it will never eliminate the need for oil.
#3- Electric cars (and fuel cell technology- which are simply hydrogen batteries) sound great, and some sports cars that are electric have superb horsepower. The possibilities are limitless with electricity. However, where does that electricity come from? What really happens is we displace energy production from the cars to power plants. Sure this reduces the pollution we see on our streets, yet, power industries are by far the worst polluters of post-industrial countries. Until we find sustainable ways to produce enough electricity to power all our cars, we're stuck with the same problems, just further from our homes.
FUTURE: Unfortunately, to really obtain energy efficient vehicles will mean ditching personal vehicles (which only seems to increase despite our troubles) and using sustainable/electric forms of mass transit such as buses, light rails, subways and trains.
Depends on the oil companies, if the keep raising prices, we will buy more efficent autos, but they keep letting the price dip a few cents so we think keeping our gas guzzlers is ok.
Plug-in hybrids and electric cars will be the future in energy-efficient vehicles. Battery technology continues to improve with lithium-ion batteries, and there are several excellent electric cars in or on their way to production, like the Zap-X and Tesla Roadster:
http://news.com.com/zap+teams+with+lotus...
http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php...
Toyota is also working on a plug-in version of the Prius. Current plug-in modifications get around 100 mpg. Eventually hydrogen-powered cars may comprise some of the transportation sector, but the technology is much further off with obstacles that need to be overcome.
GM has a new type of hybrid coming out. I believe it's called the Volt. Uses a new type of battery power than what the Toyotas and Hondas are using. Instead of running on gas power when the battery dies, it runs the gas engine to recharge the battery. If you are doing your regular daily commuting, you won't use the gas engine at all.
However, right now it will cost you upwards of $10,000 more to buy a Toyota or Honda hybrid. Even with government rebates and the money you will save in fuel, it will take you 10-14 years of driving that car before you start to save any money.
Compressed air, solar supplemented electric, hydrogen combustion or fuel cell ... and prices so high that you will be taking public transit. Rail is still 5X more fuel efficient PER SEAT than a car or airplane.
For the foreseeable future, look for increasing competition between rival systems, including flex-fuel, hybrid electrics, and electric vehicles. In the long-term, hydrogen powered cars appear to be quite promising.
energy effiency
The answers post by the user, for information only, FunQA.com does not guarantee the right.
More Questions and Answers: