The introduction of automobiles, and other modes of transportation, launched a global transformation in the movement of both people and goods throughout the world. At the time of its invention, the automobile provided a significant benefit to public health by replacing the horse. In 1900, for example, there were 220,000 horses in New York City; the air was filled manure and urine particulate and nearly 14,000 horse carcasses were removed daily, most of which were dumped into the rivers and bays.
At the turn of the 20th century, there were approximately 8,000 registered vehicles in the United States, but by 2005 there were over 247 million vehicles in the U.S. and over 700 million vehicles worldwide. Since 1970, the number of vehicle miles traveled in the United States has increased 50 percent while our population has only increased by 40 percent. At the current rate of increase, there could be over one billion cars on the road by 2025.
However, the infrastructure necessary ? for use, maintenance, and disposal ? takes up a large amount of land. In the U.S., on average, one third of a city's land is used for roads and other car-related essentials. The runoff of oil, automotive fluids, and roadway chemicals are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of tons per year and are considered a leading source of water impairment. The combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, as well as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and other air pollutants that contribute to poor air quality. In addition, over ten million vehicles are trashed ? or disposed of ? every year, producing nearly seven billion pounds of un-recycled waste and scraps.
With current trends, automobile use will continue to increase worldwide, and ? along with it ? the need to further reduce emissions. Therefore, many new research and development efforts are continuously underway to help improve automotive technologies.
Many of the refinements include greater use of lightweight materials, new emissions control technologies, and the advancement of alternative fuels. As a result, average miles per gallon for passenger vehicles has increased significantly since the 1970s, and new types of cars have entered the market ? including hybrid electric vehicles and others that can utilize non-petroleum fuels.
Improvements in design and emissions control technologies have reduced the amount of emissions and improved fuel efficiency considerably over the last few decades, but both still remain an increasing concern. Some fuel additives intended to improve the air quality have actually proven more detrimental to other aspects of the environment. MTBE, which does not break down chemically over time, has proven to be a serious water contaminant. With heavy fuel taxes and the tightening of environmental laws and greenhouse gas restrictions, the development of alternate fuels continues to gain strength around the globe. As of 2000, 8 million automobiles were running on alternative fuels worldwide. With increasing automobile use and the wide array of alternatives, research and development will undoubtedly continue to reach for cost-effective and environmentally friendly sources of power for automobile applications.
How a Car Engine Works The How Stuff Works website offers a complete illustrated guide to how gasoline engines work.
FuelEconomy.gov Compare the federal government's estimated miles per gallon (mpg) for all vehicles currently available in the United States by make, mileage, and class, or compute the real-world mpg of your car and share it with other drivers. The website includes side-by-side comparisons, background information, and videos on alternative fuel vehicles.
Fueling Our Transportation Future Part of a September 2006 Scientific American special issue on the future of energy, Heywood explores how new technologies, lighter vehicles, and alternative fuels might power the economy and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
LAWS & TREATIES
Vehicle Standards and Regulations The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Transportation and Air Quality program provides links to standards and regulations for controlling air pollution from cars and light trucks.
FOR THE CLASSROOM
From Raw Materials to Dreams In this lesson from Houghton Mifflin's Education Place students research the sources of raw and manufactured materials used in the production of automobiles. [Grades 6-8]
XRT: eXtraordinary Road Trip XRT is an educational computer game designed to teach players at all levels how to analyze transportation variables affecting air quality. See the Teachers Lounge for lessons in which students investigate average vehicle occupancy in their community, track how their family uses vehicles, and demonstrate the weight of various pollutants.
Energy and Cars: What Does the Future Hold? This lesson plan from Discovery School examines alternative energy technologies for automobiles; requiring research on how cars operate, the role of fossil fuels, and the factors that can contribute to consumer acceptance of more fuel-efficient vehicles. [Grades 9-12]