Vehicles of the Future

Mason Bolen

Chevrolet VoltTechnology: The Chevy Volt runs on both gas and electric power. The Volt contains lithium-ion batteries that allow a range of 38 miles with full use of the batteries. Along with the batteries inside is a gas generator used to produce electricity that allows for a total 380 miles for one full charge and one full tank of gas.Advantages:The Volt has countless advantages when put on the road. With its battery technology as well as the electric generator, this car’s average operating length between fill-ups is one month, equivalent to 900 miles. The aspect alone saves tons of money and time purchasing more and more gas with its reduced level of dependence from gas.Infrastructure: The Chevy volt requires nothing different from any other car in order to be sufficient and sustain on the road. The Volt can get gas as it needs just as any other car, just at 4x less frequently than a regular vehicle. Also, with its easy plug-in port and cable, the Volt can charge through virtually any outlet, at the convenience of your own home.Disadvantages:The only true disadvantage that this car has is the fact that it still uses gas as a resource for the car. Nevertheless, The Volt propels itself into a new, better source of transportation, leading the way towards better, more efficient cars and way of life.Government:It is important for government support in creating these new use of resources in technology. We need to promote new technology in ways that have already been put to use such as new establishments of electric stations into parking lots provided to charge cars.

Tesla RoadsterTechnology:The Tesla Roadster is a completely electric sports car run on lithium-ion batteries. There are over 6,000 batteries that power the Roadster, eliminating all dependencies on gas. The car’s body is also made out of carbon fiber, which takes off mass amounts of weight compared to other traditional cars that slow down and put more pressure on a regular car engine. The carbon fiber provides the same level of protection with its durable, indestructible make-up. The car is also capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds as well as operating for 250 miles on a single charge.

Advantages:This car uses fully clean energy using the lithium-ion batteries as the source, which themselves are recyclable and renewable resources. The car, being able to simply recharge with any regular 110 V or 220 V outlet,(done anywhere, anytime) the Roadster completely eliminates a need for gas, causing no air pollution and saving unimaginable amounts of money that would go towards a constant refueling of gas.

Disadvantages:The Roadster is currently a very expensive buy, making Tesla’s most urgent task at hand to create ways to provide a more plentiful supply of batteries and efficiency in order to lower the price and make it much more affordable. The car only has two seats as well, eliminating itself as an option for families and those in need of plentiful seating and room.→ The roadster also contains a maximum length of operation of 3.3 hours on one charge,

making road trips more of a difficulty.

Government:The government will need to put forward money in areas that will assist in the expansion of our new technology. This can be done by funding new programs to help experiment and research for innovative methods that can change the entire routine of our culture. The promotion of clean technology, and funding of expansion can help to provide the same technology for all and bring us closer to the reality that we are approaching.

GMC Terrain FWDTechnology:The GMC Terrain uses Flex-Fuel technology to run a cleaner, more efficient, and environmental-friendly system of operation. Flex-fuel burns both ethanol and traditional gas. The technology of flex-fuel is based off of E85 or ethanol. The ethanol, derived from the sugar of corn, is used as an alternative to gas, emitting 25% less greenhouse gases than regular gasoline.Advantages:The Terrain’s Flex-fuel technology assists in creating less harmful pollutants in the atmosphere and uses a system in which we use a better form of technology that’s resources are right here in America, lessening the country’s dependence on other countries and their resources.Disadvantages:Although the Terrain’s flex-fuel tech receives its resources locally, it takes away a resources that is very important and is ultimately one of our necessities. Also, the flex-fuel technology when looked at broadly can be seen as harmful to our environment by constantly using the resource that can lead to a depletion in our supply of land and crops for food, which is a resource important to maximize.Government:The government would first need to ensure a full and sustaining amount of corn and cornfields to supply the demand for it our country has. This would be the key before going to pull more out of that resource than we have available. Secondly, the government would have to ensure a productive and efficient method of growing isolated crops for the sole purpose of flex-fuel while maintaining healthy levels of production and farming in different areas throughout the country for prevention of overproduction.

Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric DriveTechnology:The B-Class Electric Drive is a complete emission-free electric car. It’s range is around 115 miles and limits the top speed of the car at 100 mph. Finally, the car contains a battery manufactured in Tesla Motors’ models, known for its full use of lithium-ion technology.

Advantages:The B-Class Electric Drive is another car that uses no amount of gas, containing fully-clean technology, making it 100% clean for the environment. This saves the driver money and time as the need for gas is gone. The car also saves money as it has no requirement for additional maintenance of gas-fueled cars such as oil changes.

Disadvantages:The B-Class requires a charge of lasting 2 hours after only 60 miles of driving which makes long-distance driving a conflict when in certain situations.

Government:The government has to begin new programs and efforts that will provide money to build more charging stations and sponsor the expansion of technology to help build a gradual continuation of new technology, eventually leading to a complete independence from fossil fuels in the future.

in 10 years…

• 10 years from now, I would like to be driving the Tesla Roadster. Out of the many alternative fuel cars, that one to me is the most intriguing. I am inspired by its level of efficiency for an electric car, and the many upsides including the 380 miles you can receive from one charge and just the thought of being completely independent from gas and gas prices from ANY electric car inspires me. Also, I believe it is simply the most innovative car we have seen yet in the fact that it is made purely out of something that is not metal, making it lighter and the next level of progression in our culture and lifestyle. Overall, the Tesla Roadster is my favorite of the alternative fuel car with the most innovation, being my choice of transportation 10 years from now.

Citations

• Blanco, Sebastian. "2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive is headed for US - Autoblog." Autoblog. AOL, 13 Mar. 1927. Web. 17 June 2013.

• Car of the future. Dir. Joe Seamans. Perf. N/A. WGBH Boston Video, 2008. Film.

• "Fuel Economy." Fuel Economy. U.S. Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 17 June 2013.

• "Tesla Motors | Premium Electric Vehicles." Tesla Motors. Tesla Motors, Inc., n.d. Web. 17 June 2013.

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