New vehicle technologies and their applications

New Vehicles

The trend to save the environment for future generations while at the same time maintain our current lifestyle has proved to be a constant struggle. One of the most discussed and debated issue of modern time is the increased use of petroleum-based products for automobiles. Cars are considered consumer goods. There is an expectation then, that autos will be updated within three to five years. Automobiles are run using an internal combustion (IC) engine that burn hydrocarbons to generate energy that helps move the vehicle. Currently, the two most commonly used hydrocarbons are gasoline and diesel. There is no doubt that the IC engine changed the world as we know it today. Suburbia was a result of the ability of people to drive longer distances to work, for entertainment and for recreation.

Today, the internal combustion (IC) engine still dominates the world of automobiles. Design of engines has not changed much. But attempts have been made to improve performances and reduce the harmful effects from the by products generated. Engines have become more fuel efficient; however, cars have become bigger with bigger engines offsetting any advantages that could have been gained by smarter designs. People have also started traveling more, working longer hours and have tended to explore and research to larger extents. All these factors have resulted in generating more greenhouse gases. This has impacted the quality of air and the ozone layer that surrounds our planet.

The dependence on automobiles has encouraged research and development (R&D) in this field. Gasoline-electric hybrid and the ethanol cars are but a few of the new innovations that have been put forward in the past few years. While many environmentalist claim that these cars are the solution to the problems of global warming, a closer look indicates that these are not quite the panacea that people envisioned. Many critics are quick to note that many of these so called new inventions are simply cleaned-out versions of fuel use that allow the user to appease their guilt of using automobiles. For instance, ethanol fuel produces more greenhouse gases; one obvious advantage they offer is that they can be produced from renewable source.

There is no doubt that, at some point, a new technology for the transportation industry will have to be sought. As with any new technology, there will be a learning curve that will have to be undertaken. New vehicle technologies such as hybrid electric automobiles and diesel-electric buses and trucks are lauded as important tools in the fight against global warming and rising fuel costs; however, they also pose new challenges and risks.

Discussion:

While the intentions are good, hybrid cars can prove detrimental to the very purpose for which they have been designed. Often, these hybrid cars are expensive and beyond the purchasing power of the average American. For example, the Lexus LS600h L. hybrid starts at $104,000; and, while it claims to 'eco-friendly,' is really not very efficient. (HybridCars, 2007b) as such, this car really will not help solve any of the current problems faced. There are many reasons people buy hybrid cars; however, the fuel-saving costs are not always realistic as these cars cost more. People like to feel however, that they are doing something to save the environment and save it for the next generation.

This paper discusses some of the concern and the issues that any changing technology faces in the market. An adjustment period from the social and cultural aspect will always occur. At the same time, public opinion is more vocal today than it was when the automobile was first developed. Over time, different additions and modifications to the car has always created a stir in the public. For instance, when air-bags were first introduced, there was much criticism of the dangers and the safety of these installations in cars. Today, we take air bags for granted and modern cars incorporate more than just the front air bags. Studies indicated that approximately 5000 people today are alive as a result of this new technology. The same is also true for seat belts and padded dashboards. There are many 'horror" stories of people dying as a result of seat belts not releasing, but these are far fewer instances than the number of people who have been saved from seatbelts having been properly deployed.

Critics state that it will be a long time before the sales of hybrid cars is sufficient in changing the existing automobile-based economic structure. Toyota's hybrid model Pirus sold just about 24,000 cars for the month of May 2007, with a total of just 109,648 hybrid cars sold to date. It is clear that such a sales volume is not as significant as the total number of cars sold totally in the U.S. (HybridCars, 2007c) From a geographical standpoint, the maximum numbers of hybrid cars have been sold mostly in the major cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington DC and Seattle. (HybridCars, 2007c) Research also indicates that these vehicles perform better within city limits than on open highways and on steep inclines (where the batteries tend to drain faster than they recharge)

The use of hydrogen fuel cells for cars has also been extensively discussed. The problem however, is that maintenance issues for alternative fuels for vehicles is not taught as extensively in trade schools. The IC engine still holds the highest attention of automobile instructors. Efforts are being made however, to encourage schools to offer these programs in their schools. (CCCEWD, 2007) the range and scope of the programs are limited to a few schools and require third party funding to ensure that they receive the expected coverage. Most of the current training on new vehicles is through collaborations between dealers and auto manufacturers. Even so, the numbers of mechanics who have undergone the training are significantly lower than the ratio for the standard cars.

Critics are not very forgiving of the hybrid cars. There are short comings in many of the new hybrid designs. Electrical cars cannot cover great distances as the capability of the batteries needed for these cars cannot be compact enough. The fuel cell is the next option that sounds promising on paper. These cells use hydrogen and oxygen as their inputs and the only byproducts from the process is water. The concerns with this design is the storage of hydrogen especially hydrogen under pressure. The infrastructure required to supply hydrogen is also required and would take sometime to implement. "The only way hydrogen, theoretically, can be supplied in the quantities necessary for it to become the primary fuel used in the world is to manufacture hydrogen via electrolysis." (Ring, 2005) as such, this type of car would not be an instant solution but would take a long time. What most people do not realize that the process of the creating hydrogen and oxygen even though it is freely available requires a lot of resources. (Powell, 2007)

The best alternative so far has proved to be the hybrid car that uses an IC engine along with an electric motor or battery. But these cars are not without inherent problems. While the performance is better than a standard or comparable car, it is not as significant as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) numbers suggest. Hybrids are very much dependent on batteries that have to store the charge and they are larger than the conventional car batteries used. If the popularity of these cars among consumers increases, disposing these batteries will be a major concern. There are no definite policy guidelines as yet that the car manufacturers can access to take care of the problem. The material to manufacture batteries such as lead, copper and heavy metal have to be mined and manufactured which can be very environmentally damaging.

Many of the numbers touted for the hybrid cars are generally not realistic as the gasoline mileage is generally evaluated for city driving. When the mileage is to be evaluated for highway driving the values are generally much lower. "The test fails to consider the fuel needed to recharge the batteries later on. All energy-draining, electrically-powered accessories (including AC) are switched off during both the urban and highway tests. These variables contribute to the huge discrepancy between the EPA's official numbers and hybrid owners' real world experience." (Elton, 2007)

Hybrid designs result in heavier power trains and as such this weight has to be compensated for during the design. There are other factors such as "Engine shut-off at idle, electric power steering, harder and reduced rolling resistance tires (at the expense of comfort and traction), reduced option content, reduced engine performance, and, in the case of the Ford, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) all help raise the cars' overall efficiency."

The press and environmentalists have aggressively pursued the idea of clean car without reviewing some of these factors. Auto makers are also investing heavily in this new field with the objective of garnering public relations brownie points. (Knapp, 2006)

Quiet cars could also be a pedestrian hazard. Hybrid cars generally run quieter that the traditional IC engine cars. (Keelan, 2004) the very design of operation of the hybrid cars ensures that the engine turn off when stationary and start up on electric power and then switch to gas. This design could be risky to people who do not pay attention to the road and blind pedestrians. It is presumptuous to state that this is a negative for the hybrid cars. Any change in technology is always viewed with skepticism.

For instance, when cars with glass on all four sides were introduced, people were afraid to ride in them. This was due to the concern that they had regarding the safety of the vehicle if it met with an accident and the glass broke. (PBS, 2007) it took some time and observation of the benefits such as protection from the elements that convinced people that it was safe to ride in these cars.

There are concerns that higher accidents among the blind population could increase if hybrid cars become more common. Blind people depend upon sounds of traffic to cross streets safely. (Oppegaard, 2007) Some industry wide standards could help this cause but making the car manufacturer bear the responsibility for all the concerns without educating the public at large would not be fair. It has been suggested that tags which detect motion could be used by blind pedestrians to warn them about silent cars as some responsibility for safety should also be the pedestrians.

One of the real concerns that hybrid cars face is the limited availability of qualified mechanics. Hybrid cars are very dependent on technology and as such 'every corner mechanic' might not have the necessary skill or equipment to fix the problem. Even dealerships might not always retain a team of hybrid mechanics as the volume of hybrid cars sold might not justify this investment. (Valdes-Dapena, 2006) While many of the brands of hybrids sold such as Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid are well respected for their performance and durability there will always be maintenance and service needs that these cars will have to undergo. Selecting a mechanic will always be a concern for owners of these cars. Common issues such as oil change and tire rotation can be handled easily by most mechanics but more complex problems such as engines and power train repairs will require experienced mechanics.

Most hybrid cars depend extensively on electronics. "Electronic complexity leads to mechanical simplicity. Toyota offers a transmission with 14 moving parts instead of 300 moving parts in a gas only car." (Dowd, 2007) This dependency on electronics as opposed to mechanics can make the issue of problem diagnosis difficult. Mechanics will have to understand computers as well as engines to solve a problem. Reliability testing will pose a concern if mechanics cannot understand sources of problems and their relevant solutions. This could also affect the knowledge that is generally gathered for understanding working condition and performance of the vehicle by the auto manufacturer.

One of the major concerns with hybrid cars is the battery. The hybrid battery discharges between 300-500 volts of electricity as opposed to 12 volts that an IC engine car discharges. The voltage of 270 is sufficient to stop a human heart. Where the 12 volt battery can cause minor discomfiture, the hybrid battery volts can kill. An untrained mechanic could seriously hurt themselves if they are not aware of the required procedures. "The batteries, without moving parts heat up to the point of needing vents behind the second seats and a ceramic rear window." (Dowd, 2007)

All hybrids use regenerative braking, a system that uses generators placed on each wheel to send electricity to the battery pack when the brake pedal is pushed." (Press, 2007a) Research is ongoing to develop a new type of lithium battery which is compact but is able to store more power. Lithium ion batteries appear to be a good alternative for the present battery allowing these batteries to be charged using electricity for charging.

Safety is also an important concern for personnel from first response such as police, firefighters and paramedics. Car designs change constantly. It is essential that the first responders understand the location of the batteries and the potential dangers that these could pose. In the case of hybrids there is the concern that the first responders might not always realize that the car is running as the engine shuts down or is very silent. It is therefore essential that hybrids be explained to these first responders with the advise that these individuals turn off the vehicles before attempting to undertake any rescues mission. Turning the ignition off might not always disable the battery system. For instance, the Toyota Prius' electrical system needs to be turned off and then left alone for about 5 minutes as the system is still powered. (UCNJ, 2005)

It is also important that first responders also realize that they should not cut any wires that are orange in color as these are the high power cable. At present, there are no formal procedures defined for responding to injuries and damages to hybrid vehicles for the first responders, although many car manufacturers distribute information about their vehicles to firefighters and police personnel. (Caspi, 2005) Power cables are generally well marked in all hybrid vehicles, but in the confusion of an accident first responders might not realize the concerns or problems that face them. The 12-volt battery has to be disconnected. It is also important to ensure that the higher voltage battery is also disconnected. In the case of vehicle fire, the high voltage battery does burn quickly, but it is safer to be far from the fire as possible.

As the hybrids are less noisy, rescuers might not realize the hazard that the car is if they mistakenly move in front of the vehicle and it starts, it could potentially kill the rescuers. The design of hybrids is smart and most of the high voltage cables do not pass through areas that firefighter or rescue workers would have to cut through in cases of emergency to get to the individual. (Caspi, 2005)

Critics of hybrid cars are quick to point out that the disposal of nickel metal hydride batteries used could prove to be an environmental nightmare. While nickel is not as environmentally damaging as lead, it is an environmental risk, nevertheless. (HybridCars, 2007a) There are however, the concerns of mining and the challenges of recycling of this material that have arisen as well. Manufacturers of hybrid car are quick to point out that the battery used in their cars do not need replacement and one battery can last the entire lifetime of the car as well. Many companies are also setting up operations to help dispose the battery as hazardous waste.

There are many concerns with the technology and the design that are used in hybrid cars. This is not to state that there is a flaw in the designs; there are however, adjustment issues that any new technology has to go through. Most of the major auto manufacturers have realized that there is the need to think of the new generation auto and are using different approaches to handle the problem. Total Zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) might appear to be science fiction, but R & D. towards achieving this goal has been the goal and aim of many automakers.

Conclusion

The need to be mobile will always drive the research and development of the next-generation automobile. Hybrid cars that run on a combination of electric and gasoline power appear to be the transition vehicle to the next big breakthrough in transportation. As Wood put it in his article 'Have car, will commute', America has always had a love affair with the automobile. (Wood, 2001)

There is no doubt that the U.S. will always be the largest market for any new auto technology being developed.

In 2000, the three largest consumers of petroleum products were the United States (19.7 million barrels per day), Japan (5.5 million barrels per day), and China (4.6 million barrels per day). Americans use almost 17 million barrels of oil (more than 700 million gallons) every day of the year. And with each passing year, this usage continues to increase. The United States currently imports more petroleum than it produces domestically. This has resulted in the creation of a dependency on foreign sources of oil for maintaining the economic growth and prosperity of the U.S. society. This dependence on foreign oil has been a cause for concern for some time in this country.

Any new technology therefore, will only benefit the auto industry in the U.S. Petroleum products are not renewable and some form of replacement will have to be sought. The introduction of the automobile change the way man lived and worked in the early 1900s, business and homes did not have to be centrally located. 'Center cities' became ghost towns and suburbia developed. Communities got larger and more connected. The dependency on public transportation decreased. It is clear to see from the earlier example that things do change -- "sometimes these changes are natural and accepted and sometimes these are forced. Things will change with hybrid cars becoming more common. Populations will learn to adapt to the new change.