Our imaginations are filled with endless possibilities when we think about the world’s future. Some of us imagine a highly advanced technological world filled with flying cars or robots. In reality, our current way of life will lead us to climate change. However, we can change this outcome through a more sustainable and cleaner mode of transportation. This may not tackle the climate crisis, but it creates a sense of hope that we are on the right track to a better future.
What is Climate Change?
Many people still get confused by the term “climate crisis.” The climate crisis is the rise of carbon emissions and other harmful greenhouse gases. This causes natural disasters and rising global temperatures. Today, the transportation industry is one of the biggest contributors to the climate crisis. But how can they change their ways to help this emerging issue? Let’s look at the following ideas and innovations in the transportation industry that will help us achieve a greener future.
The Transportation Evolution
Quick and easy transportation between places is essential to our daily lives. To achieve this, we use cars, airplanes, and ships. But, as we do this for our convenience, we are indirectly harming the environment. To create a solution for this problem, scientists and engineers are designing new forms of transportation. The first way they are doing this is by creating electric-powered vehicles. We have already been seeing progress through Tesla cars, but in the future, we will also be seeing a new electric version of the Ford- F-150. The number of all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is rapidly increasing.
The Aviation Industry
At the same time, the aviation industry is proposing the idea of battery-powered planes that will decrease carbon emissions from airlines. Some have also thought about battery-powered electric engines, sustainable fuels, and better materials. For instance, Rolls Royce has developed an engine known as the “UlraFan,” which will use entirely sustainable fuels and blades made from carbon fiber.
The aviation industry is shrinking its carbon footprint through more sustainable fuel known as SAF. SAF is created by taking carbon emissions from steel then mixing it with microbes. After that, it is mixed with water and nutrients and left to ferment. This process creates ethanol, which when mixed with Jet-A fuel, powered a Boeing 747 in 2018.
Engineers from the Delft University of Technology have also created an aircraft prototype known as a Flying-V. The Flying-V would be hydrogen-powered, which means it would release no carbon emissions. Lithium hydrogen is an ideal source of fuel as it creates immense energy from a small amount of mass. Also, the waste it creates is water vapor and heat, which is not harmful to the environment.
As you can see, the transportation industry has improved by trying to decrease its carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. This is only the beginning of the path to becoming more sustainable, and there still is a greener future awaiting us.
*Jet- A fuel is a mix of refined kerosene and burns at a higher temperature than gasoline-based fuel*
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