A research group called TNO in the Netherlands have just opened a door to a bright future. They have successfully created a bike path with crystalline silicon Solar cells coated on the top of it, so not only is it a bike path, it is also a solar path. This path the Netherlands is 230 feet long, costing $3.7 million. The solar power produced by this path meets the needs of only three houses. Yes, this may not seem like a lot but once again they have opened a huge door to the future. Imagine if all the roadways in the world had these crystalline silicon solar cells coated on top of them. Now this would produce a lot more solar energy, without even using any natural resources. One downfall about these solar roadways is that …show more content…
It will cost lots of money to get all this finished. Do you know what accounts for 87% of global primary energy consumption? That would be a natural resources coal, natural gas, and oil. The weight of these energy sources keep shifting, natural gas increased share of energy from 23.8% to 23.9%. Coil Rose from 29.7% 29.9% an oil fell from 33.4% to 33.1%. It is protected by the international energy agency that by 2013 coil will replace oil as dominant primary energy source. The production of oil is high, US is producing record high levels of oil. Global natural gas production grew by 1.9%. The US produces 22.4% of the total and Russia produces 17.6%. The sad part is, that other countries art less than 5% the total. You know what the fastest growing fossil fuel globally is? That would be coil. You know what remains the most widely consumed fossil worldwide? Oil. In the future when oil runs out, coil will take its place in dominant primary energy source. China account for 45.5% of global coal production followed by the US with 13.4% and India with 6%. .
In case you have not notice, the fossil fuels on our are running out. There are many approaches that can be taken to help save these fossil fuels for future generations. One of the many great ways is Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars. These do come at a expense, but it surely will be worth it. With these hybrid cars, you can charge them at home any get great gas mileage.
Gasoline powered vehicles are better! No, hybrids are better! Have you heard these two points-of-view? This last election, the question of energy was a part of both party’s platforms. They talked about wind and solar versus coal and oil, and gasoline versus hybrid vehicles. So here we are, the election is over, but the battle between a gasoline powered vehicles versus a hybrid continues. You might know someone who owns a hybrid car. My uncle bought one in 2006 and for him it works great, but he usually just travels back and forth to work. However, my uncle’s needs are not the same as my dad who is a contractor. In the end, you need to weigh the pros and cons before deciding on which vehicle is best for you. After much research,
The world produces around 85 million barrels of oil each day. About a quarter of that percentage goes to the United States of America, which is used up mostly by means of transportations. Most people get around from place to place using a car, a car that is powered by fuel. Everywhere one goes driving, they will eventually run into a gas station but not a charging station for electric cars. Regular cars, burn off fuel that produce emissions (carbon, nitrogen, sulfur) that pollute and harm the environment. Although, there are some positives about switching there are also some problems that could appear but could be fixed. Electric cars have the potential to reduce the amount of pollution in the environment, boost the national economy and help
For many years, the only way to fuel a car has been through gasoline. Many people believe that it the best form of operation, but recently alternatives to gas have surfaced. Today we opt to purchase hybrid, solar, and electric cars instead of gas fueled. The problem lies in the difference of efficiency of gas fueled cars versus alternative fuel options. Do we need gas fueled cars? Is it worth the extra money for an electric or hybrid car? Do gas fueled cars really affect the environment? Will getting rid of gas fueled cars cause a loss of jobs ? People need to understand that the continuation of gas fueled cars are detrimental to the environment. The replacement of gas fueled vehicles is best for the natural world.
There has been lots of controversy on whether hybrid vehicles are environmentally better than gas vehicles. In this new age of technology and vast growth of human population, there would have to be ways to make driving environmentally healthy considering the fact that millions of people drive(Goffman, “Electric Car Batteries Could Provide Energy for the Smart Grid”). Hybrid cars use clean electric , while gas powered cars use harmful polluting fossil fuels. For the most part, to make sure that this world becomes cleaner, hybrid cars will definitely need to be used in the future. Hybrid cars are environmentally better than gas cars.
Hybrid cars are built on the advantages of both combustion engine cars and battery-powered electric motor cars, and the hybrid cars will be an alternative to combustion engine cars until next step technologies such as fully electric vehicles or fuel-cell powered vehicles will take over. This article supports the ideas shown in the main source through hybrid vehicle technology.
On Edmunds.com.” Edmunds. Hybrid cars have been saving the world little by little, first off hybrid cars have an excellent gas mileage because they are powered by an electric motor and slight gas, which can go much more farther than gas powered vehicles(“What Are Hybrid Cars and How Do They Work?). Also it will not produce smog , which is a good thing for the economy and the environment, the other reason why they are good in gas mileage is because the are light and there aerodynamics (“Hybrid Cars--Pros and Cons.” ). Hybrid cars are changing the economy by using much less has and less oil, they are more likely to save you money on the long
Before you consider a hybrid vehicle for economic reasons, such as leaving less of a carbon foot print, or not making as much carbon monoxide output as you would driving a normal gasoline powered car, realize this, to get the materials necessary for the hybrid motors it requires an extreme amount of mining and relocation of wildlife. Not to forget the enormous amount of tailings and hazards left behind as a byproduct of the materials needed. This causes more damage to the environment than the emissions from a normal gasoline powered
There are new technologies in automotives out there now. For example, there is the electric car. The only problem with this is that the car needs to be plugged in and can only run for four to six hours at a time, making it hard for long distance travel. Another example is a vehicle that uses a combination of a gasoline and electric engines. They call it a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). This particular vehicle used no gas while idling and the gasoline engine turns off while the vehicle is stopped. As a result, this vehicle uses less gasoline and the tank lasts longer. The electric motor boosts acceleration so not as much gasoline is used. The HEV has a regenerative braking system that recharges the battery. This vehicle emits half of what an ultra low emission vehicle does, so is much better for the environment. It is already possible that by the year 2003 this type of vehicle will cost less because of various state and national tax incentive plans to lower the cost significantly. This has already been accepted in Maryland
Electricity is used to power all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. By drawing electricity directly from the grid and other off-board electrical power sources, like Goodyear’s Electricity-Generating Tire Concept and stores the power in the batteries. Hybrids electric vehicles use electricity to boost fuel efficiency by using electricity to power the vehicles for increase energy security and emissions benefits. Most plug-in vehicle owners, will power their vehicle at home, but some employers offer access to charging at the workplace. Some states, offer plug-in vehicle drivers access to public charging stations at businesses, hospitals, and libraries. The idea is rapidly expanding and becoming more convenient for drivers and the confidence to meet their needs.
Tourouvre-au-Perche - a small village in Normandy, France - boasts the world’s first solar road. It is made of tempered glass capable of withstanding the pressure of a semi-truck, and it has the same texture of asphalt. This road is currently capable of powering streetlights and warning drivers of upcoming traffic or obstructions using LED lights on the road. It is hoped the roads may one day be used for charging electric cars. The one-kilometer road was unveiled by Ségolène Royal, France’s ecology minister, who has pledged to build one-thousand kilometers of solar roads throughout the country over the next five years. While many see the advantages of having such innovative renewable energy, many critics are worried about cost. The vice-president of Network for Energetic Transition (CLER), Marc Jedliczka said, “It’s without doubt a technical advance but, in order to develop renewables, there are other priorities than a gadget of which we are more certain that it’s very expensive than the fact it works,” (source). With one kilometer of solar road costing France five million euros, over five million U.S. dollars, Jedliczka along with other critics worry that the advantages of a solar road will not outweigh the cost it takes to make these specialized solar panels. France is not the only country exploring solar roads.
The Industrial Revolution sparked a need for large sources of energy. Human and animal labor could not provide the power necessary to power industrial machinery, railroads, and ships. The steam engine and later the internal combustion engine provided the bulk of the energy required by the industrial age. Today most nations are still heavily reliant on energy that comes from combustion. Usually coal, petrolium, and natural gas are used. Some hydroelectric, wind power, and nuclear fission sources are used, but in the US they accounted for less than 20% of the total energy consumption in 1997 (1). Many experts are worried that natural resources such as coal and petrolium are being depleted faster than they are being replenished, which could
Industry and the population is highly dependent upon fossil fuels. Though greener alternatives to the burning of fossil fuels have been presented, none have been nearly as efficient enough as the burning of fossil fuels. Emission testing for gas-powered forms of transportation have helped to reduce excessive carbon dioxide levels into the atmosphere, though total emissions increased in the United States from 1990 to 2007 (Rogers). The burning of fossil fuels has remained the most efficient source of energy for years. As the population continues to grow, an increased dependency on fossil fuels will also continue to grow. According to a source from Bizfluent from the U.S Energy Information
According to many articles, journalists claim hybrids are the best for the environment, as they are designed for fuel efficiency and offer many other advantages. In 2009, a spring article was published on greenamerica.org stating, “In the hybrid cars of today, a battery provides an electric assist to the gas-powered engine, achieving twenty to thirty five percent better gas mileage than conventional cars.”
People buy hybrid or electric cars because they either want to save money on gas or they want to be able to help the environment with their vehicles. One of the most popular hybrid vehicles in the United States is the Toyota Prius, which, compared to a normal gas powered car, has great mileage and reduced fuel emissions. The popularity of the Tesla Model S--a fully electrically powered car--has recently skyrocketed due to the increase in gas prices. Hybrid technology powered cars, such as the Toyota Prius, are better for the environment than fully electric powered vehicles, such as Tesla’s Model S, because of the emissions created by the electricity that powers the vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles are slowly gaining popularity despite American car companies failure to utilize the type of engine. During rush hours and heavy traffic, when vehicles are gaining most of their use, the electric powered engine helps reduce cost and maintain environmental health. American automotive companies need to start utilizing hybrid engines rather than normal gasoline-fueled engines by making hybrid engines the automotive standard.