| During the old hot rodding days,oil was king. | | | | |
| It was also only about 25 cents a gallon, and | | | | Using alternative energy directly in cars is |
| everyone thought there was an endless supply. | | | | not practical. What' the solution, if not |
| Then we were hit with the oil shock of the | | | | windmills and solar panels? Hydogen as a |
| seventies, and we realized that there was not | | | | source of fuel for vehicles has proven to be |
| an endless supply of oil (only of lines at | | | | the most viable. Many hydrogen powerd |
| the gas tanks) and we had to change our ways. | | | | vehicles exist today, and more are being |
| Big, gas guzzling cars had to give way to | | | | developed. |
| economy models,and many of the traditional | | | | |
| car companies suffered. But continued hish | | | | How do we involve alternative energy more in |
| oil usage still threatens the supply. | | | | our lives? Hydrogen as a source of power is |
| | | | extracted form a number of different natural |
| This fact has forced the world to look at | | | | resources, such as water, biomass, coal and |
| alternative sources of energy to fuel our | | | | methane. The best source is water and many |
| vehicles. What knd of alternatives are | | | | cars today are being run on fuel cells that |
| suitable to running cars? Let's have a look | | | | extract hydrogen from water. |
| at the facts. | | | | |
| | | | There are many processes to extract hydrogen |
| There are many forms of alternative energy, | | | | molecules. But, in general, all of these |
| primarily from the forces of the earth: water | | | | processes require electricity tofunction. As |
| (tidal or hydroelectric), air,waste | | | | the world's population grows, the demand for |
| (biomass), the sun and the earth itself. But | | | | power and energy grows with it. That will |
| currently, we only meet 10% of our energy | | | | help the popularity of hydrogen power, but |
| needs through these alternative natural | | | | this type of alternative power will |
| sources. Coal, gas and nuclear fuel supplies | | | | eventually be replaced by other, more |
| 88% of our needs, and oil 2% For vehicles, | | | | efficient types of alternative energy. |
| however, oil is by far the biggest source of | | | | |
| power. Diesel and gas oils powers most of the | | | | So the quest for other, better energy sources |
| cars, trucks and SuVs on the roads today. | | | | for our vehicles will continue. We may see |
| Biodiesel fuel such as vegetable oil, | | | | the day when an extremely powerful solar cell |
| methanol and ethanol are starting to be used | | | | or roof mounted turbine will power a car for |
| in some buses. Using the same logic, we | | | | miles. |
| should be able to make our cars into | | | | |
| mini-windmills or mini solar panels. But this | | | | For now, the present problem of finding |
| use is limited and we nee to find a | | | | alternative energy solutions to power our |
| longer-range solution. | | | | vehicles continues. The task is large, but it |
| | | | is certainly is achievable. |
| What does the future hold? | | | | |