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Fossil fuels have been the backbone of transportation for over a century now, but they come at a cost: greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming. Engineers have been working hard to come up with solutions to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for transportation and achieve carbon-neutrality.
One approach to reducing carbon emissions from transportation is the development of electric vehicles (EVs). EVs use electricity stored in rechargeable batteries to power their engines rather than gasoline or diesel fuel. In addition to being environmentally friendly, they also have the added benefit of being cheaper to operate than conventional vehicles. However, EVs have some drawbacks, including limited driving range, long charging times, and high upfront costs.
Another approach to carbon-neutral transportation is the use of fuel cells. A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that can generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen. Unlike other forms of energy conversion, such as internal combustion engines and steam turbines, fuel cells produce no harmful emissions. Even so, infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling and storage must be developed, as well as advancing the technological expertise in fuel cell manufacturing, to enable fuel cells be readily commercialised.
Hydrogen itself can also be used as a fuel with combustion engine cars and trucks. Burning hydrogen generates no carbon emissions and releases only water vapour from the tailpipe. But hydrogen fuel also has hurdles, along with infrastructure development, such as safety and storage concerns.
There is also the potential of biofuels as a green transportation alternative in comparison to fossil fuels. Biofuels are derived from renewable resources like sugarcane, corn, and algae, and emit less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels. However, the land usage prerequisite for biofuel cultivation has the potential of generating competition for food production and could pose a threat to biodiversity.
In conclusion, engineers have their work cut out for them in relation to maintaining carbon-neutral transportation. Electric vehicles, fuel cells, hydrogen fuel and biofuels all have advantages and disadvantages. This has prompted innovation and advances in technology, stimulating more sustainable lifestyle practices and producing mitigation strategies against the harm in the environment caused by conventional transportation.
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