Environmental Issues In The Automobile Industry Essay

The automobile making process has created a domino effect in which it distorts the

natural stage of the environment. For instance, motorized vehicles consume fossil

resources; they pollute air, water and lands. When autos are being manufactured,

there are many natural sources used such as metals, glass, plastics, rubbers, and

some other raw sources. Until now, cars have definitely changed the country’s

landscape more than any major invention designed by humans.

Currently the American auto industry faces many environmental challenges. A

major one is the effect of emissions and government reactions to it. Even though the

American government has environmental reactions in regards to the auto industry,

clean air vehicles come up as an alternative to lessen emissions and pollutants in the
air, water and land.

The environmental effect of the American auto industry caused the Government

some reactions in regards to it. To being with, pollution comes from “by-products of

this combustion process (exhaust) and from the evaporation of the fuel itself.” The

following chemicals conform pollutants. Ozone (O3), which is created from

the
hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (NO) in reaction to the sunlight. Ozone, as we all
know, is beneficial when in the upper atmosphere; however, it produces respiratory
issues, coughing, chocking, and lung capability when at ground level. Particulate
Matter (PM) made out tiny black powdery, metals and pollen; produce smog a dark
color in the sky. These are harmful to the lungs when inhaled. These can be the main
cause of lung cancer. Among the previous chemical components discussed, Carbon
monoxide (CO) is the most dangerous. Its main function is to block the inflow of
oxygen to the human organs as such the brain, heart and other organs.

And lastly,

sulfur dioxide comes from the burned diesel and can cause a health risk to children

and people with asthma conditions. In addition, all these gases contribute to the

Global Warming. For instance, it is predicted by scientist “the earth’s average

surface temperature will increase between 2.5 0F to 10.4 0F by the year of 2100.” I

believe it is time to make conscious choices to decrease the earth warming.

Because of all the health risks involved in combustion processes and vanishing of

the fuel itself, the Government has taken extra steps to rule in producing cleaner

fuels. Through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Obama’s

administration has announced new combustible rules to produce gasoline cleaner;

therefore diminish the smog in car’s exhausts. This new rule will be also make it

easier for the automakers to be aligned with tougher standards when it comes to

emissions. In addition, this new endorsement will help The U.S. “to meet the global

standards” of the “lower sulfur standards”. For instance refineries in Europe

and
Japan have already started producing low sulfur gasoline. In the U.S., the Golden
State of California, being the first state of the union, has also already aligned to this
new standard. Bob Perciasepe, an EPA administrator indicated, "Today's proposed
standards – which will save thousands of lives and protect the most vulnerable – are
the next step in our work to protect public health and will provide the automotive
industry with the certainty they need to offer the same car models in all 50 states."
I believe the effort should not only be in making cleaner fuel but not also in creating
“pollution control technology” and zero- emission vehicles.” For instance, In
California, a technology called “three way” catalyst helped in reducing “smogforming”
emission from the gasoline-fueled cars. For diesel engines, a “two-way
catalyst and engine controls” helped decrease the hydrocarbon and the carbon
monoxide emissions, but nitrogen oxide and particulate-matter (PM) stayed high.
However, if we pretend to eradicate emission once and for all, the focus should be in
developing “hydrogen fuel-cell and electric vehicles”. A hydrogen uses the
“electrochemical” process, which is “a chemical reaction driven by an external
applied voltage”. Instead, fuel-cell vehicles operate on electricity that is produced
directly from the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. For instance, ‘Toyota has
developed the 2016 Toyota Mirai Hydrogen’. Another aspect is the “Fuel-cell
vehicles run on electricity that is produced directly from the reaction of hydrogen
and oxygen. In addition, zero-emission cars are the alternative to completely avoid
emissions. For instance, the Nissan LEAF, is by far the most innovated ALL electric
or “pure electric” vehicle (EV) car in the world.
In conclusion, although clean air vehicles or zero emission vehicles are not as
contaminant as conventional cars, the Government should still be enacting new
rules or improving the existing ones to better protect the environment and the
citizens. But most importantly, while clean air vehicles do not contaminate, the
environmental challenge should still remain the same ‘till we accomplish ZERO
emissions from the American auto industry