Introduction
Nowadays, people start to concern the problem of global warming and this problem really serious to next generation. And then the exhaust gas of currently regular car is one of reason which cause the temperature was rising. So the development of environment-friendly car is a trend in the future. There are many different type of environment-friendly cars such as Hybrid-electric car, Electric car and Fuel cell car. I am interest on environment-friendly car researching because if environment-friendly car could be new car generation for people. It dose reduce the exhaust gas from car and helps improve the environment. Furthermore, there are some case studies will be show in this review and those examples can prove that environment-friendly car became normal a day by day.
Hybrid-electric car
One of the most symbolic and popular symbols of the “green” movement is the hybrid-electric car, known better as simply the hybrid car. These vehicles extend the functionality of traditional internal combustion engines by combining them with a battery-powered electric motor, which takes some of the work off the combustion engine’s hands. This allows the cars similar performance to a comparable conventional car with a much smaller gasoline engine, and an overall increase in fuel efficiency. Contrary to what some people think, these hybrid cars do not need to be plugged in to charge up the batteries.
They aren’t just any batteries, though. Keep reading to get the scoop on hybrid car batteries, and the difference between full hybrids and mild hybrids.
The on-board batteries in hybrid cars are recharged by capturing the kinetic energy created when using the brakes (commonly referred to as “regenerative braking”), and some hybrids use the combustion engine to generate electricity by spinning an electrical generator to either recharge the battery or directly feed power to an electric motor that drives the vehicle.
Electric car
An electric vehicle (BEV) utilises an on-board rechargeable battery to store electrical energy. The battery recharged by connecting it to an electricity supply (usually the ‘mains’). When required, energy is drawn from the electric-cells and converted to motive power by the use of an electric motor. Battery storage also enables the use of regenerative braking which tops up the battery when the brakes are applied.
Historically, the lead-acid cell has been the most widely used traction battery – in spite of having a relatively low energy density, it is possible to build cars with a range of up to 60 miles (100 km). Although lead-acid batteries are far from ideal, they have the advantages of proven reliability and an extensive maintenance support network (as they are used by conventional cars). The latest generation of rechargeable traction batteries include nickel metal-hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-ion (Li-Ion) cells. These provide a significant improvement in performance and range. Despite their relatively high cost, these new battery types have proved to be well suited to automotive applications and are now preferred by most BEV manufacturers.
Fuel cell car
The fundamental principle of a fuel cell is that an electro-chemical reaction is used to produce electricity. As is the case for an electric cell, the laws of thermodynamics do not limit fuel cells. This means that they are able to achieve higher conversion efficiencies than conventional engines that only make use of 20%-25% of the fuel’s energy – fuel cells can achieve up to 60%. However, unlike a battery the reactants (fuel and oxygen from the air) have to be continually supplied for an electric current to be produced. The fuel cell is more versatile than the electric cell in two ways: it can continue to produce electricity as long as the reactants are supplied, and its design maximises its energy conversion characteristics without also having to be optimised for energy storage.
The fuel cell thought by most analysts to have the greatest potential for automotive applications is the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The principal advantage of the PEMFC is its ability to operate at relatively low temperatures (which reduces start-up times). The cell uses solid polymer materials such as Nafion (related to Teflon) that eliminates the safety considerations associated with other cells that use liquid acid or alkali electrolytes. Its conducting electrodes are made of graphite, which form the terminal of each cell. The electrodes are grooved to allow easy passage of the reactants while maintaining electrical contact with the electrolyte-catalyst-gas interface. At the anode, hydrogen is catalytically disassociated to leave hydrogen ions. An external circuit conducts electrons while the positive ions migrate through the electrolytic membrane to the cathode. There they combine with oxygen and electrons from the external circuit to form water.
Case studies
Hybrid-electric car from Toyota
Without doubt, Toyota did make contribution on hybrid-electric car development. Toyota did not introduce the Toyota Prius until 1997, but Toyota Motor Corporation had issued the “Earth Charter” document outlining its goals for developing low-emission vehicles as early as 1992. The company began a secret project called the G21 (Global Car for the 21st Century) after the Clinton Administration announced its new Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) to support the American auto industry, thereby excluding Toyota. Toyota introduced the Prius to the Japanese market in 1997, and sold a total of 18,000 units that first year.
After the Prius entered Japan in 1997, Toyota produced its hybrid RAV4 EV and exported it to California. Toyota released the Toyota Prius four-door sedan to the American market in 2000, and the Toyota Prius II won the Car of the Year Awards from Motor Trend Magazine and the North American Auto Show in 2004. Demand for the Prius increased rapidly that year, resulting in a six-month waiting list. Toyota produced 47,000 units of the Prius just for the American market to meet demand.
The Toyota hybrid engine was designed based on a 1974 TRW patent, and was initially created in 1994 under the leadership of executive Takeshi Uchiyamada. The first generation Prius was simple in design, and easily recognized with its rounded, bubble-like silhouette. The 2001 to 2003 models (NHW11) that were sold in the United States were designed with a 1.5 litres, 4-cylinder gasoline engine and magnet AC electric motor. The 2004 to 2009 models (NHW20) were a complete redesign of the NHW11, and designed with a lift back to offer more storage space. This also increased rear-seat legroom, and made it about six inches longer than the NHW11. This hybrid vehicle was also designed with the innovative Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) that uses an electric compressor to cool the engine. Minor cosmetic changes were made in 2006, and the 2010 model (ZVW30) is designed to be the next generation hybrid vehicle with better aerodynamics, a sleeker style, more horsepower and improved mileage.
History of electric car
There is long history behind electric car. The history of electric vehicles has to start with the first successful attempt to store electrical energy made by Alessandro Volta in Italy in 1800. In 1873 it had been shown by R.Davidson in Edinburgh that it was possible to drive a road vehicle, in this case a four-wheel truck, using an iron/zinc primary battery. However, it was not until 1881 in France that G.Trouve made the first electric vehicle to be powered by a secondary Plante battery. The vehicle was a tricycle and used two modified Siemens motors, which drove one large propelling wheel through two chains; these motors developed about 1/10hp and propelled the 160kg(350lb) vehicle at about 12 kph (7mph). Throuve also operated an electrically powered motorboat on the seine in the same year showing the versatility of this new form of power.
The 12 years from 1900 to 1912 was the golden age for electric vehicles, although gasoline-powered vehicles were developing rapidly over this period. Also in this period, ideas to improve range and performance continued to appear and these developments are exemplified in the 1900 French Electro automobile and the 1903 Krieger electric-gasoline car, both of which used an electric motor and a gasoline engine in a hybrid configuration to provide a combined drive to the front wheels. The latter car also had a form of power steering. By the early 1920s almost all the electric car manufacturers had rather gone our of business or started to make cars with gasoline engines. From 1060 onwards interest in electric cars began to appear again, air pollution caused by gasoline engines was beginning to be of concern and number if small firms were set up o try and meet what was seen to be a new demand. In the mid-1970s a number of other small companies in the USA were engaged in converting conventional cars to electric drive. Nowadays, there is new generation of electric car happen in 2009. An electric car, which named Tesla Roadster, was impact car market.
Tesla Roadster’s performance:
Style
2-seat, open-top, rear-drive sports car
Drive train
Single speed fixed gear with electrically actuated parking lock mechanism and mechanical lubrication pump
Motor
375 volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor with variable frequency drive. Output 248 peak horsepower (185kW) and 276 ft/lbs (375 nm) of torque. Redline 14,000 rpm. \
Chassis
Resin-bonded and riveted extruded aluminium monoquoque. Four-wheel independent suspension featuring upper and lower unequal length wishbones and co-axial coil spring telescopic dampers.
Brakes
Hydraulically operated. Tandem master cylinder with vacuum servo and anti-lock braking system.
Acceleration
0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds
Top Speed
125 mph (electronically limited)
Range About 220 miles
(based on EPA combined city/highway cycle)
Battery Life
Five years or 100,000 miles
Battery
Custom microprocessor-controlled lithium-ion battery with 6,831 individual cells. Weight 992 lbs.
Full Charge
About 3.5 hours using the Tesla Motors High Power Connector.
Honda clarity Fuel Cell car
Honda unveiled the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, and an announced that a limited number of southern Californians will have the opportunity to lease one in the next few years. This is the first time a customer can obtain a fuel cell car directly from a retail dealer. The company is also showing progress with the creation of a hydrogen home fuelling station.
A lease on the Honda FCX Clarity will cost $600 per month, including service, maintenance, and collision insurance. The term on the lease will be three-years.
In terms of appearances, the futuristic four-door Clarity will closely resemble the FCX concept, aside from some minor front-end design modifications. A hydrogen fuel cell stacks—running along the car’s centre tunnel between the front seats—that generates electricity but produces zero exhaust emissions at the tailpipe, will power the Clarity. Functional improvements in the FCX Clarity over the previous concept model include a 20 percent increase in fuel economy, a 30 percent increase in vehicle range to 270 miles, and an advanced new lithium-ion battery pack that is 40 percent lighter and 50 percent smaller.
Conclusion
Environment-friendly car already became a trend of this world currently. In those different type of Environment-friendly cars, I rather interest on electric because if electric cars become more common a day by day. It will make government to consider the problem of electricity system and develop others electricity system such as wind power or waterpower etc. furthermore, the energy of the earth will be finish in the future and the price of petroleum will increase day by day. Therefore, environment-friendly car is one of important development for future.
Bibliography
Edmunds Website at:http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/prius/2007/review.html
Ehow Website at:http://www.ehow.com/about_5045867_history-toyota-hybrids.html
Greenstudentu Website at:http://www.greenstudentu.com/encyclopedia/green_vehicle_guide
Hybridcars Website at:http://www.hybridcars.com/hydrogen/honda-fcx-clarity-hydrogen-home-refueling.html
Teslamotors Website at:http://www.teslamotors.com/performance/perf_specs.php
Thedailygreen Website at:http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/cars-transportation/honda-FCX-clarity-460409
Treehugger Website at:http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/08/green-basics-hybrid-car.php?page=2
Whatgreencar Website at:http://www.whatgreencar.com/electriccars.php
Whatgreencar Website at:http://www.whatgreencar.com/fuelcellcars.php
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