How do we kick the oil habit? Many auto companies are working on short-term solutions: high-profile hybrids (quickly becoming Hollywood’s trendy new accessory); more efficient gasoline engines; cleaner burning diesel engines; and bio-fuels and synthetic fuels to substitute for petroleum. Right now, our choices matter more than ever – every time we go to the showroom and drive a hybrid instead of an SUV off the lot, we send a message to automakers to keep the solutions coming. The long-term solution is likely electric, whether the electricity is provided by a super-efficient battery or by a hydrogen fuel cell. Researchers and automakers are looking to electrify the drive train, powering vehicles only with electricity and motors, rather than with petroleum fuel and combustion engines. Several years ago, most people would have said the hydrogen-powered cars were the only solution – and exciting new developments from manufacturers like Honda have restored faith not only on hydrogen cars but also in a future hydrogen economy. However, hydrogen development is more challenging that had originally been anticipated, and will clearly be slow to yield workable results. We can’t assume that hydrogen-powered cars will be perfected in time to head off the potential shortages and disastrous environmental consequences of peak oil and global warming. There may not be one right answer to the car question. Every piece of the puzzle could be important – from saving fuel now, to supporting new vehicles that run on clean energy, to backing legislation that will pave the way for the future of cars and fuel. The road ahead demands a different kind of car. Drivers’ Ed: in the immediate term, no simple solution to our fuel and emissions problems presents itself. There’s no magic rabbit coming out of the technology hat. The best thing we can do right now is to choose wisely and behave responsibly. There are two basic and related approaches to shedding our dependence on oil: substitute and conserve. On the substitution front, we can use bio-fuels and synthetic fuels whenever possible. On the conservation front, we can swap our gas-guzzlers for cars that are more fuel-efficient: smaller, newer, diesel, or hybrid-electric. And we can choose not to buy SUVs. When it comes to conserving fuel, it’s not just what you drive, it’s how you drive it. Abiding by the following tips will help you conserve: • Avoid idling. If you need to warm up your engine on cold winter days, keep idling time to less than thirty seconds - Drive slower. When congress imposed the 55-mile per hour speed limit in response to an earlier oil crisis, the result was and estimated 2.5 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel conserved in 1983 alone, according to the National Resource Defence Council. That figure works out to 163,000 barrels of fuel per day – the output of a midsize refinery. • Drive steadier – jackrabbiting gobbles fuel. Use cruise control when possible. - Use an overdrive gear if you car has it. This mode reduces your engines speed, which saves gas. • Keep your car cleaned and well maintained. Dirty air and fuel filters reduce gas mileage, as does low tire pressure. Also, refrain from using your car as a storage unit – the more weight your carrying around, the lower your gas mileage will be. - No matter what you drive, you can benefit from the above suggestions. But if you own a hybrid, you can squeeze out even more outrageously good mileage by knowing how to best drive your vehicle, as follows: • Accelerate quickly from a stop. Unlike in a standard car, this is actually more efficient for a hybrid’s electric system. • Coast or use coast control whenever possible. • Brake gently whenever possible – this will recover braking energy to the battery. • Use the real-time miles-per-gallon display to monitor your car’s activity – you’ll likely be able to determine other patterns.
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A worker makes an effort to preserve oil
04/05/2011 12:31