The Impact of Global Warming on the Design of Future Cars

1 Title page

Title: The impact of global warming on the design of future cars

Submission Date: 5th March 12

Student Name: Sagar Satam (PD3.1)

Name of lecturer: Fankar Imam

2 Abstract

Fossil fuels have met much of the world's energy needs for several centuries. However the supply of these fuels is limited and will eventually run out. Vehicles that currently use internal combustion engines to burn gasoline or diesel fuel will need to run off new fuels that are less scarce and burn cleaner, reducing pollution. Two of the most promising new alternative vehicle technologies are electric vehicles and hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles. This paper evaluates both these technologies and carries out a comparative analysis based on which a particular alternative fuel technology that shows the most promise, at this moment in time, to be the Car of the Future will be determined.

Both secondary and primary research was carried out. Since the U.S has invested lots of funds in research & development in alternative vehicle technology, most of the secondary information was obtained from the U.S department of energy's (DOE) Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center. Primary research was also carried out to obtain fresh information about the current trends in the car industry. Alternative fuels and alternative vehicle technology public perception survey was carried out to so that a better understanding of the requirements that the general public is expecting from these alternative fuel vehicles can be understood. Analysis of primary research lead to certain requirements that the general public expected from the future alternative fuel vehicles, these included: having a long driving range, quick, and easily accessible refueling/recharging stations, affordable vehicle cost, and safe and reliable vehicles. The two technologies were compared based on these requirements and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In terms of well-to-wheel emissions, electric vehicles remain cleaner than comparable gasoline-powered vehicles even when the electricity they use derives from polluting fuels like coal. A similar trend was observed for fuel cell vehicles. The EV market growth has being hampered by poor battery technology that has resulted in long recharge time, short battery life, limited battery capacity and high battery costs. The DOE have carried out various research & development programs which has resulted in better batteries. The US department of energy has also explored several solutions to the hydrogen storage problems in fuel cell vehicles. These include: storing hydrogen as a gas in high-pressure tanks, storing it as a liquid at sub-zero temperatures and Materials-based hydrogen storage. Vehicle cost is another obstacle to commercial usage of EVs and using hydrogen as a fuel. In EVs a substantial proportion of the costs is taken up by the electric motor and the power electronic energy management system. Several cost-sharing partnership between the DOE and the industry has resulted in smaller, lighter weight motors. Similar to electric vehicles, many of the component pieces of a fuel cell are costly. Because fuel cell vehicles require a completely new vehicle propulsion system, new facilities will need to be constructed in order to produce, transport and deliver hydrogen to consumers. On the other hand, electric vehicles do not need such as extensive makeover to the current energy infrastructure.

Comparing the two technologies, significant improvements in battery technology has allowed future electric vehicles to be more cost effective. On the other hand not much development has been made in the fuel cell technology sector. They continue to be expensive and have durability and reliability issues. The major issue of storing hydrogen is yet to be solved as this has lead to safety concerns. In addition to that, massive infrastructure changes will need to be made for the hydrogen economy to be commersialised. On the other hand, the infrastructure changes needed for electric vehicles are minimal and can be completed in the near future. Regarding the issue on emissions from these vehicles, finding a renewable electricity source is a hurdle facing both the technologies, before zero emissions can be achieved. Thus by electrifying the future transportation system through the use of an electric car as the Car of the Future, we can eliminate the dependence on foreign fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

3 Table of Contents

1 Title page 2

2 Abstract 3

3 Table of Contents 5

4 List of Illustrations 7

5 Introduction 8

5.1 Background 8

5.2 Objectives 8

5.3 Scope & limitations 8

6 Methodology 9

6.1 Secondary research 9

6.2 Primary research 9

7 Alternative fuel technologies 10

7.1 Electric cars 10

7.1.1 Key challenges facing their current implementation 10

7.2 Fuel cell vehicles 10

7.2.1 Key challenges facing their current implementation 10

8 Public perception on alternative fuel vehicles 12

8.1 Primary research results 12

8.2 Primary research analysis 13

9 Comparative analysis of the various alternative fuel technologies 14

9.1 Well-to-Wheel Emissions 14

9.1.1 Electric vehicles 14

9.1.2 Fuel cell vehicles 15

9.2 Vehicle cost 15

9.2.1 Electric vehicles 15

9.2.2 Fuel cell vehicles 16

9.3 Capability of Overcoming challenges 17

9.3.1 Electric vehicles 17

9.3.2 Fuel cell vehicles 19

9.4 Safety issues 20

9.5 Durability and reliability 20