• Question: How do you feel about the increasing amount of pollution due to car fuels?

    Asked by missalice to Al, Emma, Ivanka, James, Omar on 19 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Ivanka Brown

      Ivanka Brown answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      The increasing amount of pollution is mainly due to increaseing number of cars being used. Also congestion means that cars are on the road longer for even short journeys. I only use public transport as I live in London, but the crush does make me think about the convenience and comfort of using a car.
      I feel that people are so very used to cars so we are unlikely to be able to coax people away. The only other option is to design more fuel efficient and less polluting cars. Manufacturers have already started this process, but more engineers with bright ideas are needed. Have you got the next big idea?

    • Photo: Al Bartlett

      Al Bartlett answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      Hello missalice,

      I think Ivanka has pretty much hit the nail on the head. Of course we would all like to live in a world where our environment is not in any danger from humans but its just not the case – Its not because humans don’t care, its because until recently, we haven’t understood enough about the environment to realise we were doing any damage.

      Its never too late to start designing engines that are kinder and kinder to the environment which is why the next generation of engineers and the generation after that will be so important to the way the world is shaped. Engine designers and manufacturers have been lowering their emissions for years now and they are getting better.

      The next generation of hybrid-engined cars are already on the road and im sure that others are in development but until we can design an engine that runs on water or air, then there will always be an effect on the environment.

      I hope this helps.

    • Photo: Omar Mustufvi

      Omar Mustufvi answered on 20 Mar 2012:

      Good question, and thankfully it is an issue which is on everybody’s minds- from the government to car companies, smaller technology firms and the general public. The effects of climate change are worrying and car emissions are a big part of the problem. This is why the government is passing more and more laws which put restrictions on what type of cars we buy and sell. There are more and more low emissions zones in big cities and these may even become zero emissions zones.

      Hopefully as an engineer in the car industry I will help shape future cars, and I hope we can have everyone driving zero emissions vehicles some day.

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