Commuting

Commuting

Many people have many views on environment and what is currently happening to it since the industrial revolution. Some believe that the global warming that we are currently seeing is part of the earth's cycle. Others believe we are already doomed. Most people have an opinion in-between this, That is the damage is being done but not as much as is being made out. Most of us contribute to green house gasses one way or another ether by driving to work, a lift to school or a flight to a holiday destination. The sole main contributor to the damage to our environment, Commuting.

The fist commercial, 4 wheeled, petrol powered auto mobile was invented in 1891, Named the Benz Velo by a man named Karl Benz (n.d., para 31 & 4). 1891 seems like a very long time ago but in the time line of mankind it is a very sort distance indeed. Since then we have gone from the 0.7bp Benz velo to the modern day super car of 1000+ bh, but the Benz Velo was a super design at that time as it was the first mass production car . Showing the amount of progression in just over a century.

Since then in the past one hundred years the auto mobile population shot up dramatically. In 2001 there was nearly 25 million cars registered in Great Britain alone(Mr. Jamieson, 30/04/2002, para 2), This figure is widely expected to double in the next twenty to thirty years. contributing vaster and faster to the damage to the environment, leaving a more deteriorate world then today and poorer quality of life for future generations.

The auto mobile is the single largest contributor to green house gasses (para 2), At this Rate of growth and damage to our environment i believe that in my life time i will see the affects of Global warming on my doorstep. I also believe that my grandchildren will have a second-rate quality of life, Due to the damage caused to the environment in the past one hundred years. Something will need to be done during the next twenty years or it my be to late for our current quality of life to be left for our future generations.

There are many possible alternative methods of transport including electric, hybrid, solar, natural gas and hydrogen. The hydrogen combustion engine i think is the most viable method for the future, Although the fuel cell is a better way to power a car, i think that is is to much of a change for the near future. The combustion engine has been devolved for over 100 years and is one of the most developed industrial products in the world. Because of this I believe that the hydrogen combustion engine will be very easily produced on a large scale with low costs to the consumer. This is why the BMW HR2 (Hydrogen record car two) was developed in just 10 months. Because the gasoline engine very easily adopted to hydrogen this means designers will not need to reinvent the wheel, Thus making mechanics jobs still in place with there skills only having to be adopted not the make the current mechanics unemployed or having to completely relearn there trade. Along side this people will also have to refuel making the transition to hydrogen fuel very feasible once more hydrogen fuel pumps appear at petrol stations then the technology will be ready for the general public.

The common argument for the green auto mobile is cost, the performance and convenience of use. The fist issue, Cost I believe will drop as technology improves and demand increases, Then mass production on a large scale will become a realistic option making cost reduce dramatically. I don't think that in the near future the cost will be as low as current cars, Although the cost of petrol will only increase therefore the initial cost of the car will have to be calculated alongside the saving in fuel. The convenience is a different issue there is only one hydrogen fuel pump in the UK (2007, para 3). Also the fuel tank is wildly believed to be dangerous, this actually is false, The fuel tank is less dangerous than the petrol tank(Otis Port, 2005, para 7). Performance is where the main problem will be for car fans across the globe. Performance is the main reason that i think that the hydrogen combustion engine will have the demand and the marketability beyond the Hydrogen fuel cell. For example the HR2 is able to go 0 to 60 in approximately 6 seconds (BMW Press Release. 2004), not as fast as some race car built for racing but with the speed limit in the UK being 70 MPH, then you could reach the speed limit in less then 7 seconds. If we compared the HR2 to the Mazda RX-8 then we really see the proof that hydrogen cars are a viable future.

Although hydrogen combustion seems like a great alternative technology is still many years away and as said by Rick Zalesky(para 1) many predict sustainable hydrogen economy to emerge over the next decade or two. But how much damage has been done and how much will be done before the technology will become available to the general public? It dose not seem as if anyone can give a straight answer on damage potential and a time line, But damage has been done that much we know. Alternatives are out there and can potentially be a better deal for us the consumer and the environment. The real question is when and how much damage will have been done before a global change on how we Commute.

Referencing

Mary Bellis, MB. Karl Benz (Carl Benz). Retrieved 17/10/07, from http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blbenz.htm

Mr. Jamieson. 2002. Vehicle Numbers. Retrieved 17/10/07, from http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020430/text/20430w13.htm

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas Emissions..., Retrieved 17/10/07, from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/GHGemissions.shtml

Rick Zalesky, R.Z. . Hydrogen: Where Do We Go from Here?. Retrieved 17/10/07, from http://www.greencar.com/index.cfm?content=voices9

20 Jun 2007. Hydrogen cars - the green alternative?. Retrieved 17/10/07. from http://www.computerquoteinsurance.com/motoring-news/hydrogen-cars---the-green-alternative-nav12-50

Otis Port,O.P. (2005). Hydrogen Cars Are Almost Here, But... http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_04/b3917097_mz018.htm , (para 7)

BMW Press Release. (2004). Retrieved 25/10/07. from http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2004-BMW-HR2.htm