Automobiles came to being as a result of worldwide effort. It did not evolve from any one country or from a single person. Despite its varied evolutions, the car has not seen any drastic alterations in its primary engine structure since 1807 when Francois Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss inventor built the first, albeit commercially unsuccessful, internal combustion engine.
The Unchanging Internal Combustion Technology
Since then, there have been variations in these types of engine; however, they are mostly reaction engine such as jet propulsion, rocket and gas turbine. And, nearly always, an energy-dense fuel such as gasoline or jet fuel, derived from fossil fuel is needed to power them.
Yes, to its credit, the internal combustion engine can deliver an excellent power-to-weight ratio with little safety or other inconveniences. According an article published in the Weekly Scientist , December 29, 2009, we are at an age where the intrinsic rotation of electrons is about to be harnessed by physicists for the future production of microchips for computers and other electronic devices. Yet the automobile still uses almost the same internal combustion engine that dates back to the 19th century.
Why was there no rapid evolution for the automobile engine? The answer could be that the world got too complacent as a result of a cheap and relatively safe fuel. However, fossil fuels are neither cheap nor safe any longer. The big question is this: Is the world willing and capable of moving away from it?
Will Needed to Move beyond Fossil Fuels
When asked by the late United States President, John F. Kennedy what it would take to put a man on the moon, the preeminent rocket engineer Wernher Magnus von Braun gave a simple answer, “Just the will, Mr. President.” If the political leadership of the world is willing to wean the world from fossil fuels, the capability will follow, as surely as the day follows the night.
It is doubtful, however, that the world political leadership is best equipped to come up with ideas regarding green cars, as many of them have an overwhelming interest in the exploration, production, refinement and the distribution of fossil fuels, according to research done by the Centre for Research on Globalisation and Global Policy Forum . If the effort to develop alternative fuels is left solely in their hands, the capability could never be there, since the will would be missing. Indeed, many world politicians are know to be conservative when it comes to science; and are not willing to look at the problems the world faces regarding the world’s fossil fuels dependency.
This effort to perfect alternative fuels, or an ideal green car is therefore left open to every world citizen. Wealthy entrepreneurs especially, are better equipped to help spearhead it; traveling to Space should take a backseat to this effort. The health of the planet and world economy demands this.
Now is the time to find a lasting and safe solution to the world’s energy crisis and thus, to the deterioration of earth’s environment before it is too late. The world can’t afford to fail.
References:
Global Policy Forum: "Conference in Berlin on Corporate Accountability", November 25-26, 2005
Athol Garnet Elliott: Gas and Petroleum Engines (Paperback - Oct 9, 2008)
Centre for Research on Globalisation: "Afghanistan, the Taliban and the Bush Oil Team", Jan 2002
Christian Science Monitor: "Hugo Chávez deepens petroleum and military ties with Russia", September 2009
website: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2009/0910/p06s11-woam.html
Weekly Scientist: "Spinning atoms may be supercomputers", December 2009
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