The majority of vehicles on the road have an internal combustion engine (ICE), which burns fossil fuels, creating energy and harmful gases like CO2; contributing to global warming. A staggering figure shows there are 37.5 million cars on the U.K roads alone,(most of which run on fossil fuels).
With climate change issues such as ice caps melting & the green-house effect, which are detrimental to the environment. Manufactures have made cars more economical and engines cleaner but, as fossil fuels deplete, we must find an alternative fuel source to power vehicles.
One potential way of powering future vehicles is via electricity, though this concept has only recently taken off due to companies like Tesla leading the charge, the technology has been around as long as the (ICE);(nearly 130 years). The concept of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) is a large rechargeable battery that is connected to an electric motor, which is used to power the vehicle. BEV’s are cheaper to run but take longer to charge and are more expensive to buy.
Another option could be the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HCFV). The HCF works by the car being fuelled with hydrogen gas and using reverse electrolysis to convert the hydrogen gas into water vapour & heat. This energy can be stored and used to power the vehicle. HCFV’s are quick to refuel, have long driving ranges but have limited re-fuelling infrastructure and high initial costs.
Although it is unclear which of these new-fuels will power the future, if no action is taken the impact for the planet and for future generations could be catastrophic.
