Question: Why do you work on engine coolers when it pollutes and kills the planet? Electric cars are better aren't they?

Hannah Pearlman answered on 21 Jun 2015:

Hi, there are many things which pollute and damage the planet, a lot of the work of car manufacturers at the moment is to reduce this damage and limit the effect of pollutants.

One of the things to remember is that whether you use a traditional engine or an electric motor the energy has to be generated somewhere, so for electric cars although they do not pollute as much on the roads there will be a power plant somewhere creating that energy and some pollution.

I think the key thing, and one of the things that interests me, is that in order to reduce the effect we (as humans) have on the environment we need to change the way we operate. Switching from petrol to electric vehicles is not the answer, its about changing the way we live to cut down on journeys and the use of cars and when we do use them to maximise their use eg. by putting more people in vehicles, and therefore less vehicles on the road.