Fuel Consumption Problems and Solutions Essay Example

Fuel Consumption Problems and Solutions Paper With an average of 755 cars for every 1000 people, the United States of America ensures more gasoline than South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia combined (Source: Energy Information Agency) ! Modern world get well more than of its energy from fossil fuels, major part Of it is Oil. We use Oil everywhere, from lipstick and painkillers to gasoline and tires. Almost everything that we use on daily basis is made out Of OiL According to the EIA, over 60% Of world transportation is ran on oil based fuels. How much longer can we consume the resource until we run out of it? If someday we run out of oil, I think that the world should be prepared! Gasoline is a petroleum-delivered liquid that is used in internal combustion engines which are used in almost every type petrifactions. Over the years, the consumption of gasoline is increasing, while the sources are exhausting. Many geologists propose that most of the sources of oil on Earth have reached so-called peak oil which is the point where the amounts of oil produced start to decline. American Association to Petroleum Geologists provides a good example of the peak, In 1861, oil derrick called Monoclinic #1 produced SO barrels of oil daily. We will write a custom essay sample on Fuel Consumption Problems and Solutions specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Fuel Consumption Problems and Solutions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Fuel Consumption Problems and Solutions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In 2006, 145 years later, it produced 1 barrel a day. This example shows that everything has a limit, Peak oil is also what causes dramatic price changes n gasoline around the world. In 2000, one gallon of gasoline cost $1. 35 (EIA), right novo its $3. 79 and it keeps on going up. Peak oil in the United States also caused the increase of import of the oil from foreign countries. I believe that instead of consuming more and more every year, and increasing the import of gasoline, not only the LLC. S. , but the whole planet should limit themselves in consumption and find new ways to power their vehicles. The first solution that Id like to propose is stimulating people to purchase vehicles with hybrid engines. In past two years, the automobile companies have been working very hard to create hybrid powered vehicles that will save as much gasoline as possible. The concept Of hybrid engines is simple and effective. The hybrid engine consists Of two parts: small gasoline powered engine and electric battery that is charged by the wheel rotation. In 201 1, the average miles per gallon ratio was about forty five which is almost twice less than Nan-hybrid cars consume (http://www. Greenbrier_com), But only 2. 6% of Americans own at least one hybrid vehicle which does not do enough impact on the consumption problem. In my opinion, this is where the government needs to step in. We need radical changes in vehicle production. First thing that the government needs to do is Start stimulating people to buy electric powered vehicles by giving out loans, grants, or any extra money towards the purchase Of the vehicles. Another thing that would help the problem is allowing people to trade in their old, gasoline powered vehicles for hybrid vehicles at little, or no cost. The cars that are traded in can be recycled and the material can be used in the production of hybrid cars. Another great source of energy is the sun light. For many years, people used solar energy to power different electric devices or even entire houses. Some automobile companies attempted to produce a vehicle that would run entirely on solar energy. It worked perfectly fine during summer due to the sun activity, hut when it came to storing the energy, they faced problems. Solar energy takes a lot of space to store. Solar batteries are also very expensive. To find the solution to this issue, I have talked to one of the students at Thiele College. His name is Benjamin Hellene-Burros. Ben was a part of a research group called Solar Hydrogen Activity Research Kit (ShARK). The main goal of the ShARK is to find an inexpensive way to store the solar energy, Ben believes that if the program is well funded, the solution might e found. The last solution that Id like to propose is promoting alternative fuels. There are many substances on our planet that, potentially, could substitute gasoline as the main type of fuel in the world. The IIS News article called *The Pros and Cons of 8 Green Fuels, Rick Newman describes different types of alternative fuels. According to him, top three green fuels are bodiless, hydrogen, and corn ethanol. Bodiless is derived from vegetable oil, animal fat, and even used cooking Oil! Unlike most Other alternative fuels, bodiless does not require major changes in the vehicle, as long as its powered with a diesel engine. It is fully renewable and relatively clean burning product. Comparing to any Other alternative fuel, bodiless is used by many people around the world. There are many gas stations that have a bodiless pumps such as Exxon and Mobile Fuels. But the only way for bodiless to work without any issues is if its pure, which is not how its sold at gas stations. Because of the high cost, its usually mixed with regular diesel. Such mix tends to damage engines and fuel pumps of the vehicles, (U. S. News) Hydrogen can be extracted from water or natural gas. During the process of the extraction, hydrogen and oxygen convert into electricity. Unlike bodiless, hydrogen is not used widely due to the problem of storage, In order to use it as fuel, hydrogen needs to be kept Lender high pressure at all times. (U. S. News) Corn ethanol is a pretty common fuel as its mixed with most types of gasoline at any gas station. The concentration of ethanol can reach up to 85%, but it still needs gasoline on order to combustion, Ethanol is extracted from corn which grows widely in the United States. Just like the bodiless it is fully renewable. The only problem faith corn ethanol is that it doesnt provide as much energy as gasoline goes, therefore its less efficient. IS. S. News) All these solutions have been discussed by many research groups and politicians. But Id like propose something they do not talk about. Henry Ford and Rudolf Diesel designed their first engines to run on the most organic and efficient fuel on the planet hemp. Up until 1937, citizens of the United States were allowed to grow hemp and take advantage Of this great material. Poor hundreds Of years, hemp was used in almost everything. Food, clothing, medicine, fiber, fuel, and many more things were made out Of hemp. It is fully renewable and recyclable. It grows at a very fast rate producing up to 25 tons per hectare per year! In my opinion, hemp is the solution to the problem Of dependence on fossil fuels. If we grow hemp on as little as six percent of the U. S. Territory. We can stop using fossil fuels once and for all. The only issue with hemp is that growing it is illegal! The best material on the planet is the illegal one. Its a complete nonsense! The advocates against hemp argue that it can be used as a drug, but this information is not proven, Hemp contains almost no ETC, which is the chemical that gets, people who smoke it, high.