Tag Archives: Obama

Improving Efficiency of Vehicles

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Since the introduction of Obama’s 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standards in 2012 the automotive industry has begun to experience the pressure of innovating newer technology that can yield greater fuel efficiency. Through the cooperation between the US Department of Transportation and the US Environmental Protection Agency they have finalized standards that will require automakers to create vehicles that have a 54.5 mpg rating by the year 2025. There are several technologies that are currently in the works and some that have already been developed that can help in achieving the 54.5 mpg by the next 10 years. I will explore both the general and technical advancements that automakers use to increase gas mileage.

 

One of the methods that automakers are using to create more fuel efficient vehicles is by developing newer manufacturing practices than can lower weight. Decreasing the weight of an automobile can be done by manufacturing parts that weight less but still are efficient and reliable. The more a car weighs the more work an engine has to do in order to accommodate for the additional weight thus decreasing the fuel efficiency.

 

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Automakers are also designing more aerodynamic cars that can both save mileage but also be physically appealing to consumers. Vehicles that are more aerodynamic can ‘cut’ through the air more smoothly with less drag resulting in more gas saved. These two techniques apply to both the traditional combustion engine car and to hybrids and all-electric cars like Tesla. A less technical approach that automakers are using is by promoting their hybrid vehicles which are capable of reaching very high gas mileage although they are slightly more expensive to their combustion engine counterparts.
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Now that we have discussed some of the general ways that the automotive industry is increasing gas mileage lets open the hood of the car and explore more technical-based improvements that automakers are doing to raise gas mileage. Many newer cars are currently being equipped with a variable valve system. Variable valve timing alters the timing of the intake and exhaust valve opening in order to maximize efficiency and performance. Also, automakers are currently developing transmissions that have more gears inside. Adding more gears results in the car running at peak performance across a spectrum of different speeds while also saving fuel consumption. While focusing on maximizing the transmission of cars there has also been more emphasis on improving engine techniques as well. The majority of automakers are gradually implanting direct injection technology into their engines. Direct injection delivers precise amounts of fuel directly into the combustion engine which results in better mileage and more engine power. Another technology that automakers continue to sophisticate is the automatic engine shutdown. When a car is no longer in motion, for example a red light, the car’s engine will shutdown automatically in order to save fuel and turn back on once the car needs to be put in motion. Closely related to the automatic engine shutdown is the cylinder deactivation system. The cylinder deactivation system shuts down one or more cylinders inside an engine while a car is cruising in the highway or a light road by closing the intake and exhaust valve of that particular cylinder. This action results in gas being stopped from entering that cylinder, thus saving fuel. For all of these mechanical innovations there is a constant development in enhanced lubricants for cars, such as oil, that can increase the mechanical efficiency of engines and transmissions and also reduce the effects of friction and wear on the vehicle which will result in better fuel efficiency.

 

References:

Brooke, Lindsay. “Beyond the 6-Speed: More Ratios for Automatic Transmissions.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 Sept. 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

Leiser, Ken. “Auto Industry Makes Strides toward Improving Fuel Economy : Business.” Stltoday.com. N.p., 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

Plumer, Brad. “Cars in the U.S. Are More Fuel-efficient than Ever. Here’s How It Happened.” The Washington Post. N.p., 13 Dec. 2013. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

“Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standards.” The White House. The White House, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

“VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE: FUEL EFFICIENCY AND EMISSIONS.”  Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

President Obama dealing with Climate Change

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In recent years, there has been a gradual growth in environmental concerns from citizens, which has led many political figures to take a stand on the subject. Our current president, Barack Obama, has received the responsibility to deal with the problem of climate change. President Obama has started various initiatives to begin to tackle climate change. Collaboration between President Obama and the Environmental Protecting Agency has resulted in the development of a final version of the “Clean Power Plan”. With the implementation of this plan the federal government would “require states to meet specific carbon emission reduction standards” (Malloy). Under this plan, there would be limitations as to how much CO2 each state can emit into the atmosphere. In addition to the restriction of CO2 pollution, the plan strongly encouraged states to look into renewable energy sources and ways to use energy-efficient technology. Obama doesn’t just see this as a positive step for the US but he also hopes that he can inspire “other countries to commit to deep reductions in their own carbon emissions” (Davenport/Gardiner). If he can convince other big nations such as China, India, and Russia to cut their emissions, then thousands of metric tons of CO2 will be removed from the atmosphere annually.

 

Also, President Obama announced that he would “create jobs and cut carbon pollution by advancing solar deployment and energy efficiency” (U.S. Department of Energy). Making solar panels more available to the private and pubic sector is an ideal way of reducing carbon emissions gradually. Obama plans to focus on the industry first before strongly encouraging the people to become eco-friendly. After all, the source of most CO2 emissions comes from the industrial field such as power plants, factories, and etc. Reducing CO2 emissions in the industrial field will without a doubt have a profound impact that we will and future generations benefit from.

 

Furthermore, Obama isn’t only asking power plants to improve their efficiency. He is also demanding the automotive industry to improve the gas mileage of their respective vehicles. Obama “commits to developing fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles” (The Washington Post). Heavy-Duty vehicles are not the most energy efficient because they take in so much gas and don’t seem to output a reasonable amount of driving distance in return. Heavy-Duty vehicles “account for about a quarter of U.S. on-road fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation” (Automotive News). Cars and light-trucks are not out of the vision either. Obama has also worked with his administration to finalize new efficiency standards that will require automakers to produce vehicles with a “fuel economy to the equivalent of 54.5 mpg for cars and light-duty trucks by Model Year 2025” (The White House). By increasing gas mileage standards it will help cars to become more efficient and travel further with less gas. I like to see this new standard as a mutualistic relationship between the environment and car consumers. While consumers get to consume more gas for their buck, the environment receives more relief as a result of less CO2 emissions.

 

President Obama’s strategy is definitely a challenging task, which is still doable. These plans will only work if everyone, private and public sectors, cooperates with one another in achieving these new standards and also promoting alternative green energy. We are at a perfect time where the older generation can pave the road for green energy and pass the torch to our current young generation that will keep the flame burning vibrantly.

 

References:

Davenport, Coral, and Gardiner Harris. “Obama to Unveil Tougher Environmental Plan With His Legacy in Mind.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Aug. 2015. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.

Malloy, Allie, and Sunlen Serfaty. “Obama Unveils Major Climate Change Proposal.” CNN Politics. CNN, 3 Aug. 2015. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.

“Commit to Solar.” Commit to Solar. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.

“Highlights of Obama’s Plan to Cut Carbon.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.

“Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standards.” The White House. The White House, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.

“Obama Sets March 2016 Goal for Truck Fuel Efficiency Rules.” Automotive News. N.p., 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.