Hybrids and other "green" cars
"Green" refers to vehicles that do not pollute or put less strain on the atmosphere and the environment as a whole. Today, to become green, a car has to use one of the technologies that provide high efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to understand that an environmentally friendly car is not more economical or cleaner than a diesel or gasoline engine. Conventional ICEs are also evolving rapidly, becoming more economical and clean. Rather, it is a common ideology in development, the desire to reduce the burden on the planet's ecosystem now or in the future.
Types of green cars. Their advantages and disadvantages
The level of technology development allows the development of environmentally friendly vehicles, some of which are widely used, others remain in the history in the form of ideas, prototypes or promising technologies:
- Electric vehicles with a permanent remote recharge from the electromagnetic field generated by the equipment in the roadway look attractive, but require refinement of technology and incredible investment in infrastructure.
- The concept of power supplies with ion-exchange membranes and a replaceable electrolyte (replacement occurs within minutes at a gas station) promises to solve the main drawback of all electric cars: limited autonomy and long recharge time. However, for about ten years now the case has not progressed beyond the loud statements of developers and constant promises.
Today, there are only three green vehicle concepts that have a high chance of widespread use in the near future. These are hydrogen cars, electric cars and hybrid vehicles.
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Hydrogen cars
There are two types of hydrogen cars: fuel cells and a conventional internal combustion engine. The first hydrogen is stored in the fuel cells, and the electricity is produced by a chemical reaction and is used to power the drive electric motors. The second hydrogen is compressed stored in the tank. It is burned in the internal combustion engine that drives the car.
Advantages:
Hydrogen can be produced in a "clean" way using renewable energy sources, its reserves are inexhaustible. The byproduct of such auto - clean water.
Disadvantages:
Hydrogen is extremely volatile and explosive. Its production is still too expensive and expensive. High pressure hydrogen storage technologies are underdeveloped and do not provide a sufficient level of safety.
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Electric cars
At the moment, electric vehicles are considered to be the most promising branch of motor transport development. The design of their drive is simple and reliable. Such machines operate quietly, have good dynamics. The only major issue facing today's developers is finding a way to efficiently store large amounts of electricity and quickly recharge their batteries. The ability to generate electricity from a variety of sources makes the electric car one of the best in terms of adaptability to change.
Advantages:
Simplicity, reliability, high torque from low revs, quiet at work, no harmful emissions.
Disadvantages:
Modern batteries are still expensive and do not provide the necessary autonomy, ie, the ability to overcome long distances on a single charge. Battery production and disposal are associated with high levels of harmful emissions.
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Hybrid cars
Such vehicles use two or more power sources or drive types, which can minimize the disadvantages of each and take advantage. The most common type is the combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Today, hybrid cars are the most common option for green vehicles, and their popularity continues to grow rapidly.
Advantages:
Hybrids are more affordable than electric cars thanks to their small batteries. At the same time, they are able to travel long distances without significant wastage of recharging or refueling. Cars with a combined power / drive system are more dynamic and economical than their counterparts with an internal combustion engine.
Disadvantages:
Hybrids still produce harmful emissions, and the cost of refueling per kilometer is higher than that of an electric vehicle.
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