Alternative Fuels
Lines and lines of pumps decorate the elaborate design of a gas station in the year 2030. As a new customer coasts up to the filling station, he notices that in addition to the usual 20th century choices - regular, super, and premium gasoline - there are four additional choices: ethanol, natural gas, hydrogen, and even electricity? No, this isn't a page from a futuristic comic book, but instead an accurate prediction of what a gas station might look like in 30 years. Pollution is an ever-widening problem in the world today that cannot be easily solved. Many methods have been developed to reduce pollution, but almost none of them has been proven effective in cars. Alternative methods of fuel such as ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and even electricity (batteries), provide a sure-fire way of eliminating harmful emissions from cars. Perhaps most important, alternative fuel sources can resolve this concern not only efficiently, but also cost-effectively. It is true that in today's modern world, people care less and less about the environment, and governments are just as guilty by their indifference in controlling the matter of pollution. A survey by the California Energy Commission found that last year alone in California, people
Perhaps the most "common-sense" choice of alternative fuels would be electricity. After all, what does every child's car, truck, and bus operate on? A choice that might seem radical at first, might not be that far from home, as batteries become more popular as an alternative source of fuel for cars. Surprisingly enough, a hybrid car that runs on a battery operates as simply as a toy - a button is pushed to turn it on, and after so many days of use, it needs to be recharged. United States. Environmental Protection Agency. "Automobiles and the Ozone." 24 Apr. 1999. When natural gas is completely and correctly burned, it releases a staggering 89 to 96% less ozone depleting chemicals then gasoline. But, when natural gas is either burned not to completion or incorrectly, vast amounts of methane is released, which is a greenhouse gas. Another downside of natural gas, which is similar to almost all alternative fuels, is limited driving
Some common words found in the essay are:
Chemology Corn, Energy Commission, , Smith Hydrogen, Department Energy, Power Systems, Rist Gasoline, John Hendren, Protection Agency, Tom Arrandale, natural gas, apr 1999, alternative fuel, alternative fuels, hydrogen fuel, sirs researcher sirs, sirs researcher, researcher sirs, 22 apr, sirs spring, spring 1999, 22 apr 1999, cd-rom sirs researcher, sirs spring 1999, researcher sirs spring,
Approximate Word count = 1966
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
