Introduction
Most modern motor vehicles as we all well know, have a combustion engine, which tend to use petroleum as a base for combustion. Oil is of course a finite resource that in my, and many others opinion, is no longer a viable option going into the future. The world is dependent upon fossil fuel not only to fuel our cars, and gas guzzling Suv’s, but also to create energy. According to an article in National Geographic; the world as of 2004, is consuming 80 million barrels of fuel a day! With so many options for transportation, why do we still choose such an antiquated form of transportation and fuel, and what will be our main mode of transportation be in the future?
Summary of Key Findings
In the year of 1886, Karl Benz created the fore runner to the modern combustion engined automobile. Before Karl Benz’s creation, Gustave Trouve created a working electric powered vehicle in 1881. At the turn of the century, electric vehicles outnumbered both steam, and internal combustion engines. Electric cars were both quieter, and faster than gasoline powered cars, and had a range of around 70 miles per charge, Electric cars also gave people the convenience of charging their vehicles at home. With such magnificent capabilities, why you may ask, did we not further develop the electric automobile? One answer, they were heavy!
Batteries are not of a light construction.
In January 1990 GM stepped forward with amazing concept car called the EV1. The EV1 was a remarkable step in the electric car direction, but was suddenly halted in its development for reasons I’ve yet to comprehend. Greed is a powerful thing, and in producing a car GM felt was
“not profitable” Greed reared its ugly head. In 2002 all EV1’s were reposed from customers