The majority of people, especially in America, cannot go about their daily lives without a car. Automobiles have instilled themselves in peoples’ lives and shown their usefulness since their debut in 1769. Since then, humans have redesigned and refined the automobile thousands of times, each time making the vehicle more efficient and economical than before. Now as the world approaches an ethical decision to dwarf all others, many people look toward automotives for yet another change. The emergence of the hypercar due to ecological turmoil exemplifies the change the world has demanded. Hypercars alter everything people know about automotives, modern ecology, and fuel efficiency. Not only do hypercars offer a solution to many ecological problems humans are faced with now, they also represent the only logical area for the automotive industry, and by some stretch American society, to expand. Automobiles play an essential role in American society. As if being the major means of transportation was not impressive enough, automotives can be seen on T.V., in movies, in magazines, and can sometimes be indicative of a person’s wealth and social status. On average, Americans drive nearly 40 miles and drive for just over 50 minutes driving per person per day (http://www.bts.gov). That means a person spends roughly one-sixteenth of a day driving. It would make sense, then, to make such an essential part of society as efficient, cost effective, and clean as possible. However, that is not the case. As the years have passed cars have actually begun to move away from efficiency. Hawken writes, “[The automobile] design process has made cars ever heavier, more complex, and usually costlier. These are all unmistakable signs that automaking has beco... ... middle of paper ... ...//www.jstor.org/stable/3436123>. Molella, Arthur P., and Joyce Bedi. "Negawatts, Hypercars, and Natural Capitalism."Inventing for the Environment. Cambridge, MA: MIT in Association with the Lemelson Center, Smithsonian Institution, 2003. 299-304. Print. RITA. "National Household Travel Survey." Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), 2002. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. . Stasinopoulos, Peter, Paul Compston, Barry Newell, and Haley M. Jones. "A System Dynamics Approach in LCA to Account for Temporal Effects—a Consequential Energy LCI of Car Body-in-whites." The International Journal Of Life Cycle Assessment 17 (2012): 199-207. Springer Online Journals Complete. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. .
In Christopher Wells’ book Car Country: An Environmental History he starts by speaking about his experience over the years with automobiles. He describes how happy he was to own his first automobile. Mr. Wells goes into detail about the inconveniences of driving in towns where everything is fairly accessible, and the necessity of an automobile in major cities. Although Mr. Wells enjoyed his first car, his local surrounding helped shape the attitude he has towards motor vehicles to this day. Mr. Wells also argued that car dependence in America is connected with the landscape. Wells rejects the notion that America ‘s automobile landscape emerged as a byproduct of consumer’s desires for motor vehicles or as the result of conspiracies to eliminate
Andrew Simms, a policy director and head of the Climate Change Program for the New Economics Foundation in England, presents his argument about the impact SUV’s have on our roadways, and the air we breathe. “Would You Buy a Car That Looked like This? “. The title alone gives great insight on what the article is going to be about, (vehicles). “They clog the streets and litter the pages of weekend colour *supplements. Sport utility vehicles or SUV’s have become badges of middle class aspiration” (Simms 542). Simms opening statement not only gives his opinion on how SUV’s are the new trend, but he also paints a picture of what we see every day driving down our roadways. Simms also compares the tobacco industry’s gap between image and reality to that of SUV’s; stating that the cause and consequences of climate change resemble smoking and cancer. Simms comparison between SUV’s and cigarettes shows how dangerous he believes SUV’s are.
In Mr. John Braggs writing, he proposes that the SUV is attacked by the same individuals whom support former Vice President, Al Gore’s call to abolish the production of internal combustion engines. Considering John Bragg is a policy analyst for the Center for the Moral Defense of Capitalism, it is safe to acknowledge that he advocates the production of SUVs not because it is conducive to maintaining the environment but because the SUV is the symbol of Americanism. Additionally, according to “Why Environmentalists Attack the SUV,” the production of SUVs has declined because of federal fuel efficiency mandates, which were emplaced in 1975.
Increasing environmental awareness, coupled with a responsible American government and improved technology, have all contributed to the comeback of low-and zero-emissions vehicles in the US. It remains to be seen whether the automakers and oil companies will once again work to halt this progress, or embrace it as the technology of a more responsible future.
In the July 1997 issue of Commentary, James Q. Wilson challenges the consensus among academia’s finest regarding the automobile in his bold article, Cars and Their Enemies. Directed towards the general public, his article discredits many of the supposed negatives of the automobile raised by experts, proves that the personal car is thriving and will continue to thrive because it meets individual preference over other means of transportation, as well as presents solutions to the social costs of cars. Wilson emphasizes that no matter what is said and done in eliminating the social costs of the automobile, experts are not going to stop campaigning against it.
In the twentieth century, the introduction of the motor vehicle in the United States became not only noteworthy, but also vital in the development of modern American civilization. This technologically complex machine led citizens to vast future dependency on the invention. While mobility was suddenly not limited to alternative, more convoluted options such as railroad stations or bicycles, yet copiously amplified to aid convenience and expanded leisure opportunities. From auto-racing to redesigning infrastructure, motor vehicles allowed progression, digression, and essentially uttermost change to lifestyles of the American people.
Automobiles play a major role in today's society. Almost every American owns at least one motorized transportation vehicle. Some say they make our lives better by reaching places faster than before. Others say they are a harmful to the environment. Have they made our society better or worse? They may be fast, but do we as humans want our environment to suffer because of time. Face it, cars pollute. And they release destructive chemicals into the air. Air pollution can threaten the health of many subjects in the environment including human beings.
The future American commuter will undoubtedly have to transition from the use of fossil fuels to new alternatives due to the diminishing availability of the nation’s oil resources. How will America respond to this upcoming issue? It is difficult to predict which alternative fuel source America will ultimately choose, but with the premier of Nissan’s electric powered Leaf and other companies; such as Tesla Motors and Chevy, with their electric cars ready for market, the electric car may be winning the race to become the new standard for the gasoline alternative. Electric cars resolve long standing environmental issues, but it will need to maneuver around many roadblocks to become a marketable consideration for the general public. The cost of electric cars, currently on the market, makes them an impractical purchase for the average consumer. If cost is not the growing concern in today’s economy which prevents the consumer from considering this option; they may deny the technological advance due to battery storage capabilities and the inadequate infrastructure in place to refuel and provide for them.
Most American cars are not hybrids or fuel-efficient, they are usually big SUV’s or trucks that get eighteen to ten miles per gallon. Most of Hondas, Toyotas, and Hyundai’s get around 20 to 30 miles per gallon, and hybrids get 50 miles per gallon. Peoples demand fuel-efficient cars because oil is i...
For the last two years, the car industry has experienced constant changes in the world political conditions, economic climate, socio-cultural transformation and technological advancement. Today’s carmakers have been astonished by the increasingly growing demand in the developing world, and also struggled to meet all the demanding environmental regulations in most countries in the world. In addition, the new development of mega cities, and the emergence of new technologies have urged automakers to continuously innovate their products to better cater to the diversity of consumers’ tastes. Moreover, the recent awakening of a new urban middle class in emerging economies represents the largest single defining factor in shaping the future of the automobile industry thanks to its demand for convenient and modern means of transport. Therefore, in order to sustain profits and grow in this global economy, car manufacturers need to adopt mitigation strategies, seek avenues from different approaches, and form a partnership or alliance with other stakeholders in the economy.
Today, people use their own personal vehicles to travel more than ever before. Personal transportation is no longer considered a luxury; it is now considered a necessity. The number of cars in the United States has been growing steadily since the 1970s. The number of miles traveled by cars has risen nearly 150 percent, yet the United States population has only grown roughly 40 percent during that time (hybridcars.com, Driving Trends). Although it may seem like we are advancing into the future, in reality, we are moving backwards from the effects these vehicles have on our bodies and the environment. The pollution produced by these vehicles has brought us to the day where we must find other modes of transportation that cause less harm to the world in which we live. Advances in technology have developed hybrid vehicles to try and slow down the amount of pollution. Driving a hybrid vehicle, instead of a conventional gas powered vehicle, can reduce the amount of pollution that affects our lives and the environment around us.
Melosi, Martin V. “The Automobile Shapes the City.” Automobiles in American Life and Society. 2004-2010. Web. 26 November 2013.
Motor vehicles are accountable for almost 50 percent of smog-forming volatile organic compounds, more than 50 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions, and about 50 percent of the toxic air pollutant emissions in the United States (EPA, 2014) . In the United States, there are more than 210 million cars and light-duty trucks on the road resulting in carbon monoxide emissions at a whopping 75 percent (EPA, 2014) . Between 1970 and 2005, the increase in the use of travel by Americans rose to 178 percent and continues to increase at a rate of two to three percent each year (EPA, 2014) . Beginning in the late 1980s, America’s love affair for large vehicles began as there was a significant increase in vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks on the road. By the year 2000, these "light-duty trucks" accounted for about half of the new passenger car sales, which on average consume more gasoline per mile and contribute three to five times more pollution than cars (EPA, 2014)
Vergragt, Philip J., and Halina Szejnwald Brown. "Sustainable Mobility: From Technological Innovation to Societal Learning." Journal of Cleaner Production 15.11-12 (2007): 1104-15. Web.
It is clear that the US consumption of polluting substances like lead, platinum and rubber has dropped due to improvements in the environmental friendliness of auto manufacturing, since these materials have been in use for cars since the 1950s. By replacing materials with those of a lower density has also made an important impact on fuel economy. Studies show that making 10% reduction in mass yields 5% improvement in fuel economy. Indeed, the US automakers in the last 25 years have responded to the government regulations Corporate Average Fuel Economy by changing materials to lighter ones like aluminum and plastics. Newer developments using other components like Magnesium, polymer composites, and ceramics also are helping to make further improvements to fuel