Thought I'd start a thread on the future of the motor car, with particular reference to the impact of cars on the environment.
As we know, the car relies on the internal combustion engine, which in turn uses oil. Oil is a rapidly dwindling resource, with various estimates on how much is left. I've heard that there may be as few as ten years of oil reserves left, although the exact number of years is open to interpretation. It is a fact that oil will run out, though.
With this in mind, what is the most likely direction that the car will take. Will fuel cell hydrogen cars become the norm? What about the infrastructure required for these cars. How long will this take to develop? Or is there other potential sources of fuel once oil supplies run out? Perhaps electric cars? Or methonol?
Personally, I do think that hydrogen fuel cells will be the way to go. From what I understand, hydrogen fuel cell cars will provide most of the performance of petrol/diesel powered cars, but without any emissions. Provided the hydrogen is produced from a clean source (ie: not from oil driven power stations, which just shifts the problem), we can totally eliminate emissions coming from the exhausts of cars.
Also, how do we solve the problems of congestion? The car is a remarkable device in terms of enabling people to easily and cheaply move from point A to B. Not to mention the freedom aspect. However, in the cities they tend to be an inefficient form of transport. In many of the larger cities, the average speed is as low as 10 km/h. Not only that, most cars driven in cities only have one passenger. How do we solve the problems regarding congestion? Increase public transport options and bicycle lanes help. As do automated motorway warning systems which advise of problems ahead and alternative routes.
Finally, a friend of mine once explained that the main problem of the car is that the manufacturing process behind the car is too "energy intensive". Of course it is. The steel, plastics and rubber industries are all energy intensive, and the car wouldn't exist without them. I think his point was primarily intended to suggest that if the car was somehow banned and all the industries associated with it went out of business (thus resulting in mass unemployment and anger amongst the workers affected), then a more desirable economic/societal system to capitalism would emerge. While I myself have some problems with capitalism (although at present, I don't see any alternatives that I prefer), I don't agree that the car should be banned on the basis that it is too "energy intensive". However, I do think that ways should be found to reduce the overall impact of the car on the world's resources, for example through recycling.
Now, before you attack me for being a tree hugging greenie, believe me when I say I am a car and motorsport enthusiast in every way. I also care for the environment. The issues I've raised are important ones, and as enthusiasts we should be able to discuss them. The car will be around many decades to come. However, I believe the industry has reached a cross roads which will determine how the car survives and in what form.
Your thoughts please. Also, perhaps we can have the engineers explain in simple English, some of the technical aspects of alternative fuel cars.
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Originally Posted by Spastik_Roach
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