Walking on the road, you see many cars of different makes, barely can one identify the source of energy of those cars; the form of energy that is converted to mechanical energy by the engines of those automobile is oblivion to you.
Majority might conclude on the source of energy of those automobiles, but how valid is their conclusion?
Automobiles can be classified based on many criteria, but the one we will discuss in this lecture is classification of automobile based on source of energy. If you are conversant with physics, you will know that nothing can produce energy on its own; rather, it converts one form of energy to another; that is the law of conversation of energy.
Similarly, automobiles do not produce mechanical energy by itself, rather they depend on one form of energy that would be converted to mechanical energy by their engines. This is inline with the law of conversation of energy. So we can say that the total amount of energy on earth is constant, since energy cannot be created nor destroyed.
Classification Of Automobiles Based On Source Of Energy
Based on the source of energy, automobiles can be classified under:- Diesel cars
- Electric Cars
- Gas Cars
- Petrol Cars
Since the focus is if electric cars would replace diesel cars, I will explain the operation of diesel cars and electric cars.
Diesel Cars
The use of diesel engine in automobiles started in 1930. This engine, was invented by Rudolf Diesel, a German inventor and mechanical Engineer. source.In Diesel car engines, air enters the cylinder and the piston compresses these trapped air. Compression of air produces heat; that is the reason why when pumping a bicycle tire, the bicycle pump start getting hot with time as felt by your hand. In diesel car engines, the air compressed in the cylinder gets hot to above 500oC and fuel is injected into the cylinder. Due to the high temperature of air in the cylinder, the injected fuel would be instantly ignited and explode, this explosion causes the piston to push back and produces the mechanical energy needed for the motion of the automobile.
The explosion and ignition of diesel takes place inside the main part of the engine(cylinder), hence, diesel engines are internal combustion engine.
In diesel engines, chemical energy stored in diesel is converted to heat energy in the cylinder and finally to mechanical energy needed for acceleration of the automobile by the piston.
Petrol cars and gas cars operate on similar principle as in diesel cars.
Electric Cars
Electric cars are automobiles that utilize electric motors to produce mechanical energy needed for its motion. In other words, electric cars use electric motors for its propulsion; the electric motor in an electric car might be one or more. These motors are powered by packs of rechargeable batteries that can be charged from electricity grid or any electricity source such as wall socket and for this reason, electric cars are called plug in electric vehicles(PEV).Interestingly, the electric car technology is not new, electric car first appeared in mid 19th century . After some while, the worldwide usage of electric car declined due to high cost, low speed, low battery capacity and poor system of electrification
With the invention of lead-acid battery in 1859 by the french physicist Gaston Planté, interest in electric cars revived, this revival was also skyrocketed by the increasing concerns over the problems cause by hydrocarbons fuel.
Based on the knowledge of the lead-acid battery technology, Thomas Parker designed his own rechargeable battery of high capacity and used it to construct the first practical electrical car in London in the year 1884.Electric car found their first commercial application in the USA in the year 1897. source
In electric cars, electrical energy is converted to chemical energy when the battery is recharged, this chemical energy is converted to mechanical energy by the electric motors installed in the car. For this reason, we can say that electric cars depend on electrical motors for its propulsion.
Back to the main matter
Will Electric Car Replace Diesel Car?
The electric car would have replaced diesel car in the mid 19 century, but this was not successful because as of then, most streets/houses in America have no stable electricity and rechargeable battery of high capacity were not in existence. The other factor was that electric cars top speed is quiet low compared to diesel cars.With the advancement of technology, electric cars features have been greatly improved and high capacity lead acid batteries are in existence. Thanks to modern technology
Unfortunately, even with this great advancement in technology, electric car replacing diesel car can still be contended or argued in two ways/places:
- First World Countries
- Third World Countries
1. First World Countries
Among the features of a first world country include stable electricity. The first appearance of electric car was in mid 19 century while Electrification was the greatest achievement of Engineering in the 20th century. This means that as of the time electric car evolved, there was no stable electricity and most houses in America were not connected to electricity.Fortunately, today, almost all if not all the houses in developed countries have constant electricity. Due to this fact, electric car can conveniently replace diesel cars in developed countries of the world
2. Third World Countries
Among the features of a third world country include unstable power supply(electrification). In a country like Nigeria where the citizens are not sure if there would be power supply at all through out a whole week, do you think electric car would even replace diesel car at all? In my location presently in Nigera, the state of electricity is so precarious, sometimes, there would be power failure or blackout for one week due to incompetency of electricity distributors.The Effect Of Electric Car on The Economy Of A Nation
What do you think would be the effect of electric car replacing diesel car on the economy of a country like Nigeria?Nigeria is the highest oil and gas producer in Africa; as of the year 2000, oil and gas export accounted for about 83% of Federal Government revenue
Diesel is a product gotten from refining of crude oil. So, if electric car replace diesel car completely, the economy of Nigeria will crumble. This would not only affect Nigeria but also countries like Angola, Saudi Arabia and other countries that depend mainly on oil and gas export for survival. This is why I solicit even in social media that Nigeria should start looking for a way to improve, equip and modernize our dilapidated technology.
In the other hand, electric car replacing diesel car might have no or little effect on the economy of countries that are good at technology like Japan, USA, Russia and similar countries.
The Effect Of Electric Car In The Environment
Among the causes of acid rain and green house effect include the emission of hydrocarbon fuel from the exhaust pipe of diesel cars, this factor contributes to the intense desire to replace diesel car with electric car.The electric cars are environmental friendly unlike diesel cars. If electric car will completely replace diesel car, then green house effect will be significantly reduced. Also inhaling hydrocarbons is dangerous to human health and can lead to early death; so electric car can increase the life span of citizens.
Conclusion
Electric cars are environmental friendly and can increase life expectancy. The initial cost of acquiring an electric car is higher than that of diesel car but on the long run, electric car is cheaper. So, if you want to buy a new car and you reside in any first world country, purchase an electric car and help keep the environment safe even as you save yourself some expensesTo my follow Nigerians and other third countries citizen, let us try as much as possible to acquire practical knowledge in technology because it is among the few ways of global survival. If we should still depend on oil and gas export, we might wake up in decades to come and see that usage of crude oil products has significantly deceased. Lets make hale while the sun still shines.
Thanks for your ample time. I remain your brethren
References
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