Even though my mother always told me not to, once again I stared directly at the sun, and looked into a promising future.…………
Volkswagon’s concept of Sun-Fuel relies on the infinite energy source of the sun to grow plants from which to extract oils and create fuel. Itis quite unique to VW’S overall vision and ultimate goal. Their synthesis factory turns bio-plant mass from wood, wheat or plant waste into gas and then a special liquid fuel that can power a vehicle or be blended with other fuels. As sun fuel is burned in the automotive combustion process, the CO2 released is not new CO2 because it was already absorbed by the plant. I recently attended a Volkswagon exhibit on behalf of GreenAuto.com. It was a traveling museum known as VW’S Dieselution Tour. According to a VW specialist, the use of sun fuel only emits CO2 that was already consumed by plants and recycled through the emission system. He also stated his belief that petro’s can be saved for other means such as planes, jets, and even pharmaceuticals. This is why sun fuel is such an important concept, far more advanced than previous diesel solutions, which use more mineral oils. The VW engineer that was on site answered my question about how long it would take for gasoline vehicles to be completely obsolete.
“Fossil Fuels will be around for the next 30-40 years. The big oil companies will keep finding sources (one way or another). There is too much money involved. They will dig up our oceans and destroy them just to find more oil,” he said.
I also read, on the wall next to where we were standing, that the rate of extinction of species is now 1000 times higher than it has ever been in the past. This is primarily due to humans destroying natural habitats. VW is raising awareness that we are running out of mineral oils on earth. The most important thing is that they have a plan for the future. For VW, Sun fuel is merely a stepping stone away from gasoline and toward an all electric drive train which they plan to have developed and perfected for mass production by the year 2020. On the way to the exhibit I had seen a sign in the subway with a quote on it.
“It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision”-Helen Keller.
Volkswagon has a vision and they have literally gone on a road trip, spreading it to all who choose to open their eyes and see.
I’m not sure who is directly responsible for the SUV craze. If I had to say I would guess it is a combination of public demand and the manufacturers. Without the public demand, manufacturers would fail, yet without manufacturers, the public demand would never be met. Regardless of who is responsible, it is time for a change. Yet, as with every drastic change, a smooth transition is necessary.
As I drove home today from a visit with family in the City, I paid special attention to the cars and trucks that surrounded me on the road. The number of SUVs on the road was quite concerning and although it was no surprise to me, it did get me thinking. Who is really responsible for the current trend toward larger SUV type vehicles on the road?
While at the New York Auto Show on Thursday, the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, announced that the X Prize Foundation and Progressive Insurance have partnered to offer a $10 million dollar purse for a 100 MPGe vehicle.
One brisk fall afternoon, I had a vision of the distant future. I stared at the glowing sun above and experienced an epiphany. It dawned on me that the recent “green” alternative fuel movement in the automobile industry is merely a means to an end. The end is a world full of cars that give off ‘zero’ harmful emissions, yet to reach that end it must be by means of the most energy efficient and cost effective solutions. If natural resources are being depleted then why not use nature’s infinite energy source? After all, the good “green” earth relies on the sun in order to be sustained. Then I spotted it from afar, a car that can run utilizing solar panels to store energy directly from the sun, powering an electric motor, and skipping the entire fuel making process altogether! While this is obviously more efficient than gasoline, the use of solar panels to power cars is the furthest away of all the alternative technologies. Members of the University of Toronto’s Solar and Electric Car Teams were present at the Eco-fest in New York City in late September, showing off their unique experiment.
I can remember the first time I saw the Chevrolet Volt and, quite frankly, falling in love with it. It looked like a powerhouse, and although it went against every belief that I have, I wanted one. This was a vehicle that would wake the kids, the neighbors, and anything else trying to sleep as I left for work in the morning. However, as I looked beyond the "physical" aspect of the vehicle, I realized that not only did this car have the look I wanted, but it had the potential to keep my "green" conscience clear.
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