Alternative Fuel Vehicles You Can Buy Today :: Automobiles Environmental Gas Economics Essays

Alternative Fuel Vehicles You Can Buy TodayFrom the earliest days of the automotive industry alternative fuels train always competed with oil colour for powering vehicles. Nicholas Cugnot made the first self-powered thoroughf be vehicle in 1769 with a steam clean engine, and the first gun automobile didnt appear until over 100 days later from Karl Benz. Through the late 19th and early 20th blow steam and electric power remained strong contenders. The invention of the self-starter for gasoline engines by Cadillac eventually proved the undoing of the early steam cars, which required heat up. Electric cars continued to be amazed for a while longer, but the expanding road network gradually made their short mold of 8-15 miles between charges excessively inconvenient for many uses. Today we understand that the wholesale burning of fossil oil cant continue forever. As the new century opens alternative fuel vehicles atomic number 18 becoming more and more common. Major manufac turers such(prenominal) as Ford, Daimler/Chrysler, and club offer dual fuel cars and trucks now. These vehicles allow you to choose between gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG) for cleaner emissions. Other large manufacturers such as General Motors, Toyota, and Honda are concentrating on electric vehicles. These global automakers are slowly moving from conventional to alternative power as the engine room is developed and refined. Current battery applied science allows a maximum range of about 125 miles per charge. The leading edge of electric vehicle technology is occupied by much smaller companies. Bombardier, Pivco AS, and S-LEM AG have intentional small, lightweight city cars intended for daily use in sullen urban environments. Corbin-Pacific and Zebra Motors have chosen to concentrate on performance. Both companies produce creditable sports cars that just happen to be electrically powered. Do you have an idea that you think will work for an alternatively powered vehicl e concept? The U.S. Department of Energy invites small businesses (500 employees or less) to submit buckle under applications on hybrid electric vehicle technology. Applicants may receive up to $75,000 US for a Phase I grant to develop the feasibility of the idea.Hydrogen VehiclesFuel DescriptionHydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, but is rarely prime in its uncombined form on the earth. When combusted (oxidized) it creates only water dehydration as a by-product (4H + O2 = 2 H20). When burned in an congenital combustion engine, however, combustion also produces small amounts of nitrogen oxides and small amounts of unburned hydro ascorbic acids and carbon monoxide because of engine lubricants.