| During the old hot rodding days,oil was king. It was | | | | What does the future hold? |
| also only about 25 cents a gallon, and everyone | | | | Using alternative energy directly in cars is not |
| thought there was an endless supply. Then we were | | | | practical. What' the solution, if not windmills and solar |
| hit with the oil shock of the seventies, and we | | | | panels? Hydogen as a source of fuel for vehicles has |
| realized that there was not an endless supply of oil | | | | proven to be the most viable. Many hydrogen |
| (only of lines at the gas tanks) and we had to | | | | powerd vehicles exist today, and more are being |
| change our ways. Big, gas guzzling cars had to give | | | | developed. |
| way to economy models,and many of the traditional | | | | How do we involve alternative energy more in our |
| car companies suffered. But continued hish oil usage | | | | lives? Hydrogen as a source of power is extracted |
| still threatens the supply. | | | | form a number of different natural resources, such |
| This fact has forced the world to look at alternative | | | | as water, biomass, coal and methane. The best |
| sources of energy to fuel our vehicles. What knd of | | | | source is water and many cars today are being run |
| alternatives are suitable to running cars? Let's have a | | | | on fuel cells that extract hydrogen from water. |
| look at the facts. | | | | There are many processes to extract hydrogen |
| There are many forms of alternative energy, | | | | molecules. But, in general, all of these processes |
| primarily from the forces of the earth: water (tidal or | | | | require electricity tofunction. As the world's population |
| hydroelectric), air,waste (biomass), the sun and the | | | | grows, the demand for power and energy grows |
| earth itself. But currently, we only meet 10% of our | | | | with it. That will help the popularity of hydrogen |
| energy needs through these alternative natural | | | | power, but this type of alternative power will |
| sources. Coal, gas and nuclear fuel supplies 88% of | | | | eventually be replaced by other, more efficient types |
| our needs, and oil 2% For vehicles, however, oil is by | | | | of alternative energy. |
| far the biggest source of power. Diesel and gas oils | | | | So the quest for other, better energy sources for |
| powers most of the cars, trucks and SuVs on the | | | | our vehicles will continue. We may see the day when |
| roads today. Biodiesel fuel such as vegetable oil, | | | | an extremely powerful solar cell or roof mounted |
| methanol and ethanol are starting to be used in some | | | | turbine will power a car for miles. |
| buses. Using the same logic, we should be able to | | | | For now, the present problem of finding alternative |
| make our cars into mini-windmills or mini solar panels. | | | | energy solutions to power our vehicles continues. The |
| But this use is limited and we nee to find a | | | | task is large, but it is certainly is achievable. |
| longer-range solution. | | | | |