Cleaner Trucks Of 2009
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- Words: 1,259
- Pages: 6
Alternative
solution
to
our
environmental
Crisis
By:
Wenliang
Fu
Introduction The world is in an energy crisis and the United States is suffering from its affects. Lately, the American government has not made much progress in environmental polices, as it has been over shadowed by our economic crisis. Due to the lack of progress in environmental policy, the country is facing major disasters: 3700 to 6400 people die a year due to pollution caused by emissions. 1 In the last twenty years, carbon emissions have increased by 1.5ppm (parts per million) a year increasing our temperature. 2 All these and more problems are being introduced as the demand for energy increases. America, as a country, needs to find a reliable yet cost efficient solution to our environmental crisis. There is an innovative solution proposed recently, the H.R 650, will cut cost for large companies at the same time saving the environment from harmful carbon emissions without the general consumer spending a cent. Problem Statement Transportation in general produces the most emissions of carbon dioxide, producing about twenty four percent of the overall population count. The concentrations of carbon have increased exponentially in the last fifty years. The earth’s atmosphere is able to balance lower levels of carbon, but it cannot balance such high amount of carbon. It has been predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that by 2100, carbon concentrations in the atmosphere will rise to 970 parts per million. Temperatures rose 2.5‐10.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the last century. This century, it is predicted that temperatures will be two times greater than the last
1
Richard F. Garbaccio. The Health Benefits of Controlling Carbon Emissions in China. 2000
2
Bernie Fischlowitz‐Roberts. Carbon Emissions Climbing. 2002
century at the least and ten times as much at most if no actions were taken.3These changes in temperature will also cause unusual weather pattern. Higher temperatures are also affecting crops. In 2002, there was a shortage of 83 million tons of grain due to temperatures and the lowering of the water table. In India, the temperature rose up to 134 degrees Fahrenheit, and crops suffer if the temperature increases more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower precipitation reduced crop yield by 10 million tons. In some states in the United States, water table dropped below 100 feet due to the over pumping of water. Farmers needed more water because of the higher temperatures that increases evaporation. 4
Different kinds of emissions cause different kinds of health problems. Carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere causes headaches and hospitalization. Nitrous Oxide (NO2) causes sore throat, eye irritation, and excess phlegm. Ozone (O3) causes asthma attacks, lower and upper respiratory problems, and eye irritation. China is one of the countries that are being affected the most due to emissions. In 1997, 178,000 premature deaths occurred. If China met pollution standards, 346,000 people would not have respiratory problems. 5 Proposed Solution Recently, the committee on ways and means consisting more than 41 members and led by New York representative Charles Rangel offered an innovative solution to the environmental crisis. H.R 650 Cleaner Trucks for America Act of 2009 switches the usual focus from every day consumer vehicle to industry trucks. The proposed legislation will reduce carbon emission by advocating electric truck. Today a truck only gets around 7.51mpg and that’s only on the high way, in state, and trucking industry requires high distance travel. With the proposed solution, trucking companies will get more credits to develop alternative fueled trucks; many trucking companies such as ken worth have expressed interest in investment due to the high gas price they have to pay. It is proven Bernie Fischolowitz. Lester R. Brown. RISING TEMPERATURES & FALLING WATER TABLES RAISING FOOD PRICES Record World Grain Harvest Shortfall of 83 Million Tons in Prospect. 2002 3 4
5
Richard F. Garbaccio. 2000
that electric power is sufficient to power a industrial sized trucks as shown with an interview with the CARS members at OSU with ABC news. Each battery can last around 50 miles, its not a lot, but its sufficient at least for instate transportation with multiple batteries, also, the technology is only in its early stage. The bill focuses on hydrogen technology that produces little pollution, and it will give “new qualified alternative fuel motor vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings of more than 26,000 pounds from $40,000 to $80,000” 6 Benefits The choice to advocate alternative fuels will lead United States to be less dependent upon oil from foreign countries. In conventional automobiles, less than 20% of the actual gasoline is converted into energy, where hydrogen vehicles can utilize up to 60% of the energy using current technologies. 7
Hydrogen vehicles are actually much safer than regular trucks. Even though
hydrogen diffuses quickly and disperse since it’s 14.4 times lighter than air. If the hydrogen ever starts burning, the flame is 7% cooler than regular gasoline. Victims of hydrogen caused fire also don’t have to worry about choking in smoke, and they are usually not burned unless they are directly in the flame. Hydrogen is also hard to explode in an open environment, it requires twice as rich of a mixture than natural gas to donate. 8 The biggest concern over fuel cell is that will people be able to afford it, the answer is yes; hydrogen will be made affordable by the time it reaches the general public similar to any other new products. All first generation systems are expensive like the first gasoline‐powered car, so it is not reliable to make conclusions based on the first generation price. Even though production price of a hydrogen engine is around $225, many companies have a goal of $30‐50. Companies stated that it will achieve a competitive cost by 2010! Also, according to a study done by the National H.R. 650. 2009 Rifkin, Jeremy. The Hydrogen Economy 2002 8 AMORY B. LOVINS. Twenty Hydrogen Myths. 2005 6 7
Academy of Science, the cost of hydrogen per mile should be around 50% lower than gasoline. With these benefits, Ohio will greatly cut cost in trucking industries and increase our environmental stability. 9
Conclusions The only way to prevent the current problems from getting worse is to have the government, industries, and environmentalist work together. Pollution from emissions is affecting everyone. The developments of hydrogen trucks are the best solution to the problems. The United States would become independent on foreign oil if the solution were implemented. Pollution levels would decrease causing improvement in health. If the United States continues to ignore the environmental problems, then the country will plunge into disaster. Rising temperatures and sea levels will diminish the coastal regions and crops causing even more damage to industries. The decision is up to the government, the industries, and the country as a whole. Citations: Rifkin, Jeremy (2002). The Hydrogen Economy. Sliding Down Hubbert’s Bell Curve Rose, R. (23 May 2004) Questions and Answers about Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Website: http://www.fuelcells.org/info/library/QuestionsandAnswers062404.pdf Fischlowitz‐Roberts, B. Carbon Emissions Climbing. Earth Policy Institute. Retrieved April 30, 2008, from http://www.earth‐policy.org/Indicators/indicator5.htm Garbaccio, Richard F., et al. "The Health Benefits of Controlling Carbon Emissions in China." (August 26 2000). 27 April 2008, from http://www.earth‐policy.org/Indicators/indicator5.htm Brown, L. R. Rising Temperatures & Falling Water Tables Raising Food Prices. Earth Policy Institute. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.earth‐policy.org/Updates/Update16.htm Brown, L. R. Global Temperature Rising. Earth Policy Institute. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.earth‐policy.org/Indicators/indicator8.htm Lovins, A. B. (February 17, 2005). Twenty Hydrogen Myths. Retrieved May 7, 2008, from http://www.rmi.org/images/other/Energy/E03‐05_20HydrogenMyths.pdf
9
Robert Rose. Questions and Answers about Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2004
Introduction The world is in an energy crisis and the United States is suffering from its affects. Lately, the American government has not made much progress in environmental polices, as it has been over shadowed by our economic crisis. Due to the lack of progress in environmental policy, the country is facing major disasters: 3700 to 6400 people die a year due to pollution caused by emissions. 1 In the last twenty years, carbon emissions have increased by 1.5ppm (parts per million) a year increasing our temperature. 2 All these and more problems are being introduced as the demand for energy increases. America, as a country, needs to find a reliable yet cost efficient solution to our environmental crisis. There is an innovative solution proposed recently, the H.R 650, will cut cost for large companies at the same time saving the environment from harmful carbon emissions without the general consumer spending a cent. Problem Statement Transportation in general produces the most emissions of carbon dioxide, producing about twenty four percent of the overall population count. The concentrations of carbon have increased exponentially in the last fifty years. The earth’s atmosphere is able to balance lower levels of carbon, but it cannot balance such high amount of carbon. It has been predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that by 2100, carbon concentrations in the atmosphere will rise to 970 parts per million. Temperatures rose 2.5‐10.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the last century. This century, it is predicted that temperatures will be two times greater than the last
1
Richard F. Garbaccio. The Health Benefits of Controlling Carbon Emissions in China. 2000
2
Bernie Fischlowitz‐Roberts. Carbon Emissions Climbing. 2002
century at the least and ten times as much at most if no actions were taken.3These changes in temperature will also cause unusual weather pattern. Higher temperatures are also affecting crops. In 2002, there was a shortage of 83 million tons of grain due to temperatures and the lowering of the water table. In India, the temperature rose up to 134 degrees Fahrenheit, and crops suffer if the temperature increases more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower precipitation reduced crop yield by 10 million tons. In some states in the United States, water table dropped below 100 feet due to the over pumping of water. Farmers needed more water because of the higher temperatures that increases evaporation. 4
Different kinds of emissions cause different kinds of health problems. Carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere causes headaches and hospitalization. Nitrous Oxide (NO2) causes sore throat, eye irritation, and excess phlegm. Ozone (O3) causes asthma attacks, lower and upper respiratory problems, and eye irritation. China is one of the countries that are being affected the most due to emissions. In 1997, 178,000 premature deaths occurred. If China met pollution standards, 346,000 people would not have respiratory problems. 5 Proposed Solution Recently, the committee on ways and means consisting more than 41 members and led by New York representative Charles Rangel offered an innovative solution to the environmental crisis. H.R 650 Cleaner Trucks for America Act of 2009 switches the usual focus from every day consumer vehicle to industry trucks. The proposed legislation will reduce carbon emission by advocating electric truck. Today a truck only gets around 7.51mpg and that’s only on the high way, in state, and trucking industry requires high distance travel. With the proposed solution, trucking companies will get more credits to develop alternative fueled trucks; many trucking companies such as ken worth have expressed interest in investment due to the high gas price they have to pay. It is proven Bernie Fischolowitz. Lester R. Brown. RISING TEMPERATURES & FALLING WATER TABLES RAISING FOOD PRICES Record World Grain Harvest Shortfall of 83 Million Tons in Prospect. 2002 3 4
5
Richard F. Garbaccio. 2000
that electric power is sufficient to power a industrial sized trucks as shown with an interview with the CARS members at OSU with ABC news. Each battery can last around 50 miles, its not a lot, but its sufficient at least for instate transportation with multiple batteries, also, the technology is only in its early stage. The bill focuses on hydrogen technology that produces little pollution, and it will give “new qualified alternative fuel motor vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings of more than 26,000 pounds from $40,000 to $80,000” 6 Benefits The choice to advocate alternative fuels will lead United States to be less dependent upon oil from foreign countries. In conventional automobiles, less than 20% of the actual gasoline is converted into energy, where hydrogen vehicles can utilize up to 60% of the energy using current technologies. 7
Hydrogen vehicles are actually much safer than regular trucks. Even though
hydrogen diffuses quickly and disperse since it’s 14.4 times lighter than air. If the hydrogen ever starts burning, the flame is 7% cooler than regular gasoline. Victims of hydrogen caused fire also don’t have to worry about choking in smoke, and they are usually not burned unless they are directly in the flame. Hydrogen is also hard to explode in an open environment, it requires twice as rich of a mixture than natural gas to donate. 8 The biggest concern over fuel cell is that will people be able to afford it, the answer is yes; hydrogen will be made affordable by the time it reaches the general public similar to any other new products. All first generation systems are expensive like the first gasoline‐powered car, so it is not reliable to make conclusions based on the first generation price. Even though production price of a hydrogen engine is around $225, many companies have a goal of $30‐50. Companies stated that it will achieve a competitive cost by 2010! Also, according to a study done by the National H.R. 650. 2009 Rifkin, Jeremy. The Hydrogen Economy 2002 8 AMORY B. LOVINS. Twenty Hydrogen Myths. 2005 6 7
Academy of Science, the cost of hydrogen per mile should be around 50% lower than gasoline. With these benefits, Ohio will greatly cut cost in trucking industries and increase our environmental stability. 9
Conclusions The only way to prevent the current problems from getting worse is to have the government, industries, and environmentalist work together. Pollution from emissions is affecting everyone. The developments of hydrogen trucks are the best solution to the problems. The United States would become independent on foreign oil if the solution were implemented. Pollution levels would decrease causing improvement in health. If the United States continues to ignore the environmental problems, then the country will plunge into disaster. Rising temperatures and sea levels will diminish the coastal regions and crops causing even more damage to industries. The decision is up to the government, the industries, and the country as a whole. Citations: Rifkin, Jeremy (2002). The Hydrogen Economy. Sliding Down Hubbert’s Bell Curve Rose, R. (23 May 2004) Questions and Answers about Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Website: http://www.fuelcells.org/info/library/QuestionsandAnswers062404.pdf Fischlowitz‐Roberts, B. Carbon Emissions Climbing. Earth Policy Institute. Retrieved April 30, 2008, from http://www.earth‐policy.org/Indicators/indicator5.htm Garbaccio, Richard F., et al. "The Health Benefits of Controlling Carbon Emissions in China." (August 26 2000). 27 April 2008, from http://www.earth‐policy.org/Indicators/indicator5.htm Brown, L. R. Rising Temperatures & Falling Water Tables Raising Food Prices. Earth Policy Institute. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.earth‐policy.org/Updates/Update16.htm Brown, L. R. Global Temperature Rising. Earth Policy Institute. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www.earth‐policy.org/Indicators/indicator8.htm Lovins, A. B. (February 17, 2005). Twenty Hydrogen Myths. Retrieved May 7, 2008, from http://www.rmi.org/images/other/Energy/E03‐05_20HydrogenMyths.pdf
9
Robert Rose. Questions and Answers about Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2004
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