Tuesday, January 7, 2014

All About Green Vehicles

Green vehicles are the ones that are less dependent on fossil fuels or similar alternate fuels like diesel and gasoline for their power requirements. They derive their energy for operation partly or fully from alternate non conventional energy sources such as solar, electrical and regenerative braking systems. These vehicles also produce less emissions leading to eco-friendly technology and lesser health issues and reduce the global warming by controlling the emission of green house gases as per the guidelines of the Kyoto Protocol. It can save our fossil fuels that are on the verge of extinction consolidating the concept of sustainability development.

Eco friendly and energy efficient
Green vehicles in some countries is a term that is used to refer to the vehicles that follow the extremely strict European and Californian standards. These vehicles requires little or no fossil fuels and depend to a considerable extent on alternate fuels. Consequently, these vehicles emit less pollutants in the atmosphere giving them a green designation. In this way, their usage minimizes the health issues that are arising due to pollutants.

It also helps in curbing global warming caused due to heat retention properties of the emitted gases. These gases are called green house gases. The dependance on alternate sources not only gives cleaner atmospheres but also cuts down their cost because the non-conventional sources are practically come at no cost and we need to invest in technology in order to harness them.

Types of green vehicles


1. Fuel cell cars: These cars are powered by the hydrogen fuel cells. The fuel cells produce electrical energy through complex chemical reactions. The efficiency of the systems is very less though it is cheap. Studies are on to increase the efficiency of the fuel cells and in the present scenario, they are not very popular green cars.
 
2. Electric cars: Electric cars are ones operated on batteries. The batteries need to charged through grid connected outline. Solar panel support can be given to them to improve their charge storing capabilities while they are on the move. Battery costs and their weight issues are the key issues.

3. Hybrid vehicles : They are automotives that can derive their energy either through conventional IC engines by using fossil fuels or alternatively they can be powered by solar energy or batteries. They are expensive but they prove economic in the long run.

4. Compressed air or stirling vehicles : These are a class of vehicles that uses compresses air or liquid nitrogen to generate the propelling force.

The benefits
The basic benefit of green vehicles is their eco-friendly nature. They create minimal pollution as compared to their IC engine counterparts. This reduces the health issues. They emit less green houses gases also. Due to their little or dependance on fossil fuels, they are economic and cheap over long periods of time though the initial investment in harness the sources is quite high. They produce less noise due to the motor driven parts rather than engines. 

Drawbacks
The technology to harness the non conventional sources of energy is not yet developed to its optimum levels. So the vehicles have less time operational capability. The batteries get discharges over short durations of time and hence they require frequent charging. It is difficult to get them charged while on the move unless they are provided with solar panels or regenerative braking systems but they too do not account for the greater energy needs. Due to frequent charging, the battery life goes down and the cost associated with the batteries is very high.

The consequences and implications 
The technologies used in this approach are in transition. Today's technology is better than that of of the past. Research is on to make vehicles  more efficient to converse energy resources.

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