The Next Car

The Next Cars

It has been said recently that gasoline-powered cars are the vehicles of the past and that gas-electric hybrid cars are the cars of today.

What will power the cars of tomorrow (in about 10 years, ~2030)? Choose and describe one energy source. 1 point
Explain the reasons for your choice and identify the advantages and disadvantages of “tomorrow’s” cars power supply (not just in the vehicle but at the fuel’s / power supply’s source). 4 points
Identify at least one source of information that supports your assertions. Provide a proper citation in either MLA or APA style. 1 point
Example: If your research suggests that “hamster wheels” would be a good power supply/fuel for tomorrow’s cars, what are the advantages and disadvantages of “hamster wheels”? Where would the “hamster wheel” come from? Are there any challenges to relying on “hamster wheels” as a widespread vehicle power source/fuel? Do the advantages of “hamster wheels” outweigh any disadvantages? What problems might arise from increased use of “hamster wheels”?

Be sure to back up your explanations with some research before discussing this topic online with your classmates. Be sure to read relevant sections of your text and other supplementary readings.

After posting, be sure to respond to at least two classmates’ posts. A response needs to be something substantial and contribute something significant to the conversation, not just saying “Good job.” or ” I like how you explained …”. Say something original and significant. Contribute some information, describe an example, share an experience, ask a thoughtful question, etc. If you are asked a thoughtful question, part of your significant response can be providing an intelligible response to that question. Each response should be at least a paragraph in length, that is, at minimum, 4-5 full sentences. Each response post is worth 2 points.

This discussion board is worth 10 points and goes toward your “participation” grade.

Do your own work, do not copy or even paraphrase somebody else’s work. I’ll be on the lookout for such things as I grade and have various tools available to check for plagiarism. All college rules of Academic Dishonesty are fully in effect.

ANSWER

The Next Car

The Next Car

With environmental pollution getting worse and oil production declining, it is undeniable that the future will see a massive shift into alternative fuel sources. In addition to pollution, economies are looking forward to being energy independent, hence producing energy domestically with no dependence on imported oils. The numerous alternative fuels likely to dominate the transport sector in the next ten years include, among others, hydrogen, electricity, ethanol, and biodiesel. This article pays specific attention to hydrogen and its possible advantages and disadvantages.

Hydrogen is a unique energy carrier and is in many ways a perfect form of fuel. According to Manoharan et al. (2019), hydrogen has the lowest volume of energy content but the highest energy content by weight. In addition to being available in the atmosphere as a gas, it is present in water as a liquid. In a hydrogen-powered engine, hydrogen gas can be burned and combined with oxygen to form water molecules. The reaction creates energy used to power a car.    Hydrogen is a sustainable fuel source since the only emission in a hydrogen-powered vehicle is water vapor; thus, it is cost-effective (Manoharan et al., 2019). Additionally, it reduces greenhouse gases emission into the atmosphere making it environmentally friendly (Hosseini & Butler, 2020). However, it has a long way to be the ideal fuel since creating hydrogen gas is energy-intensive and ineffective. Further, the gas is difficult to store and transport. It is also cost-intensive since it is man-made, making it more expensive than petroleum fuels.

Some companies have started producing fuel service vehicles (FSV’s) with hydrogen as the fuel, including; Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai. The FSV’s are already available in North America, Asia, and Europe, although the current consumers are the high-income people and the highly educated (Manoharan et al., 2019). Hydrogen as a fuel has several disadvantages; however, the advantages are more. The cost of production may be high at first, but as it becomes more widespread, the production is likely to become more affordable. Additionally, before the year 2030, there will be more advanced methods of storage and transportation. Environmental sustainability is the most beneficial aspect of hydrogen as a fuel.

References

Hosseini, S. E., & Butler, B. (2020). An overview of development and challenges in hydrogen     powered vehicles. International Journal of Green Energy, 17(1), 13-37.

DOI: 10.1080/15435075.2019.1685999

Manoharan, Y., Hosseini, S. E., Butler, B., Alzhahrani, H., Senior, B., Ashuri, T., & Krohn, J.      (2019). Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles; Current Status and Future Prospect. Journal of         Applied Sciences, 9(11).

https://doi.org/10.3390/app9112296