Cars have become the most common transport medium for population all round the globe. From public transport to private carriages every one owns a car, filling them with fuel to keep them running. Fossil fuel is the fuel being used on a wide scale but as recent observations have indicated that using it is dangerous for our environment, and now other alternatives are being introduced.
Such cars are being built that can run without using conventional petrol or diesel, instead using environment friendly fuels. Vehicles that use environment friendly fuel to propel its engine are termed as ‘green vehicles'. Much development in this direction is under way, and vehicles powered by eco-friendly sources have been manufactured but only on a small scale.
The main way to reduce a vehicle's fossil fuel consumption can be mainly be alternate propulsion. By using this technique the engine of the vehicle also uses other kinds of fuel such as bio-fuels, reducing the use of petroleum partly or preferably completely. Similarly, reducing the weight of the vehicle by eliminating extra equipment will greatly reduce its consumption of fuel as less fuel is required to move lighter cars.
Use of green vehicles, as the name suggests, has a lot of benefits for our environment. Recently studies have shown the startling effects of Global Warming and it has changed from a theory to a reality. Emission of greenhouse gases through road transport is a major contributor to rise in global temperatures, with carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide as the major gases emitted. Road transport emissions have been observed to be the third largest contributor to Global Warming in the UK. The transport sector is one of the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases. Of all the greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, over 85% are due to carbon dioxide emissions from road vehicles. With the use green vehicles carbon dioxide emissions will drastically drop showing favourable signs for endangered environment.
Apart from damaging the environment, the green house gas emissions also affect humans in a more direct manner. Studies from World Health Organization indicate that air pollution has caused up to 13,000 deaths annually among children across Europe. It is estimated that if these emissions can be lessened up to the EU limit, 5000 lives can be saved each year.
Use of green vehicles will also decrease consumption for fuel as compared to a normal car resulting in savings for the consumers. Also with the use of new technology, cost in making brakes for these environment friendly cars has also been reduced, lowering the overall cost for the manufacturer. Green vehicles are being used in different parts of America and Europe, but due to lack of advanced technology many of the nations have not adopted this alternative. the need of the hour is that green vehicles should be made accessible to all countries worldwide, the ultimate result of which would be decrease in air pollution on a much wider scale.
