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INTRODUCTION
In a world where the problems that face humanity on an everyday basis continue to grow and pose possible threats, it is up to engineers to apply their knowledge to come up with practical solutions to help fix these potential crises. Whether these issues be environmental, dealing with disease, or simply problems with quality of life; it is evident that there are countless opportunities to observe how certain innovations can make a remarkable difference both now and in the future. One such topic in our world today is the pursuit of renewable and clean energy to halt the negative effect that humans have on the environment and the future of our planet. We are moving towards a more sustainable future in which we hope to drastically reduce air pollution and turn towards alternative sources of energy to power our daily lives. A specific application of this is to automobiles and how we choose to power our daily transportation. By switching from the traditional method of fossil fuels powering our vehicles to an electric-powered car, engineers have been able to come up with a method in which the effects of climate change due to vehicle pollution can be reduced. By examining the detailed technology of a battery-powered, rechargeable car and specific examples of this technology in action, the impact of this innovation on each person individually, the world collectively, and to the field of engineering will all be uncovered.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY USE IN AUTOMOBILES
Problem
Human-induced climate change is a problem that the world is struggling to come up with an answer to, as inefficient lifestyles and outdated technologies still dominant a large majority of our world. A prominent example of this can be seen when examining the consequences of our current means of transportation and the adverse effects that our vehicles have on the world around us. According to Julia Pyper of Scientific American, “Motorized transport makes up almost a quarter of global man-made emissions, most of which stem from personal vehicles” [1]. The traditional method of burning fossil fuels to power automobiles is clearly detrimental to our environment and threatens the stability of the future of our climate, especially when considering the large percent of the global population that relies on such automobiles for daily use. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Energy states that “Highway vehicles release about 1.7 billion tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere each year—mostly in the form of carbon dioxide (CO₂)—contributing to global climate change” [2]. In response to this, engineers have been tasked with searching for alternative forms of energy to power cars over the last several years. The ideal scenario would be to find a form of energy that is clean, efficient, convenient, cost-effective, and appeals to the public. This would serve to reduce the negative impact that humans have on climate change.
Significance
In terms of importance, a small change in energy use in cars can collectively impact many people. Because we all live on this Earth together, any impact that we have on the environment affects us all. The irreversible impacts of climate change need to be addressed, thus, the search for a sustainable clean energy source is vital to the health of our world. Relying on traditional fossil fuels for automobile energy has also been proven to have a harmful effect on the population. The Department of Environmental Conservation writes that “In many urban areas, motor vehicles are the single largest contributor to ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Ozone causes public health problems including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and permanent lung damage” [3]. Methods to reduce pollution from hydrocarbon emissions serve to increase the longevity of our environment as well as the safety of humanity. For the field of engineering, pursuing such an endeavor is important because the problem at hand is one that affects everyone across the world. If engineers can come up with a way to completely re-invent the way transportation functions, the future of our world can drastically be improved by setting a new standard for emissions and uses of “green energy”. Not only this, but eliminating the need for fossil fuels in automobile use will save the limited fossil fuel resources that we currently have. This could open the doors to alternative energy being used for other daily purposes. As a future engineer, this topic is compelling to me because it drives me to want me to make an impact at a global level. This is not a problem that is solved overnight, rather, it is a topic that will take new ideas, hard work, and dedication to accomplish. Solving such a problem would serve to further stabilize the future of humanity by providing a sustainable, efficient future—particularly by means of transportation.
ELECTRIC CARS
Technology
A recent technology that addresses the problem of pollution in traditional vehicles is the innovation of the electric car. According to ScienceDirect in an article about the developments of electric cars, there are two realistic options when trying to fix vehicle emission problems. The first is to change the fuel type used by enhancing the quality, while the second method is to use an alternative energy source to power the vehicle [4]. This article goes on to say that in electric cars, the overall structure of the car remains the same, the only major difference is in the mechanical functions that power the car [4]. Tanya Lewis of LiveScience explains that “Whereas conventional vehicles burn fuel in an internal combustion engine, battery-powered electric vehicles don't have an engine. Instead, they use energy stored in batteries to power one or more electric motors” [5]. A design like this relies purely off electricity, which is emits less carbon dioxide than traditional fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel. This is significant to the ongoing problem of pollution-induced climate change because transitioning to a car model like this would limit the public health problems and contribute to significantly less emissions of greenhouse gasses. Electric cars are also proven to function at a higher level than traditional vehicles, as Lewis further explains by saying they are “…capable of producing instant torque and smoother acceleration than conventional cars” [5]. Current models of electric cars run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are replacing the older vehicle model that used cheap lead-acid batteries [5]. Within the broad classification of electric cars are three specific categories—battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

Battery-Electric Vehicles
Among the three specific types of electric cars, battery-powered electric cars have had the most extensive research and time devoted to their properties and impact on the environment according to an article about the qualitative analysis of battery-electric cars [6]. Also known as BEV’s, these cars rely on a battery pack that stores electricity to power the car and turn the wheels [6]. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “When depleted, the batteries are recharged using grid electricity, either from a wall socket or a dedicated charging unit. Since they don’t run on gasoline or diesel and are powered entirely by electricity, battery electric cars and trucks are considered “all-electric” vehicles” [7]. This source further explains that this type of electric car can be charged from a home garage using a 240-volt outlet, providing a driving range of 70-100 miles when fully charged [7]. The amount of pollution produced is significantly less than that of gasoline-fueled cars, yet it is based off how the electricity is made. Electricity made from fossil-fuel powered grids will still produce pollution, but BEV’s charged with electricity produced by completely renewable energy resources such as wind or solar energy will emit no pollution [7]. Furthermore, BEV’s turn off the car when stopped and charge the battery while braking to minimize the overall energy consumption [7]. Overall, this specific car utilizes the newest technological advancements to have maximum fuel efficiency, conserve energy, and limit the harm on the surrounding world from its energy byproducts.
Usefulness
In my opinion, the electric car has numerous benefits to society in the future that many people are unaware of. Because it emits significantly less pollution, our effect on climate change would be drastically lowered if even a quarter of our global population were to switch to this type of car. Not only would we be decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, but we would also be saving valuable fossil fuels (such as crude oil) and advocating for a more efficient way of transportation. Furthermore, there are various economic benefits to electric vehicles. Research from a ScienceDirect article about the electric car indicates that “It is estimated that electric vehicles cost nearly 2 cents per mile while conventional petrol-powered cars cost around 12 cents per mile” [4]. Not only do electric cars cost less per mile, but they also are more efficient at harnessing the energy that is supplied to them. The article further explains “The U.S. Department of Energy also reported that internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles normally use 15% of the total fuel energy to run the car while 75% of the energy is usefully utilized in electric vehicles” [4]. To engineering, I believe that the electric car should be one of the top priorities to examine and further improve. To be able to have a stable future with optimal resources, engineers must find a way to limit the energy wasted and the negative strain on the environment from exhaust pollution. A battery-electric vehicle serves to minimize energy use and maximize the potential to be powered by a completely clean, sustainable energy; proving that transitioning to this type of transportation would solve several problems right away. This significance applies to me personally as well. I have always been aware of how my lifestyle affects the world around me, and to be able to make changes for the betterment of our world would be truly satisfying to me. The impacts of global climate change apply to me, a citizen of Earth, as well. Any attempt to improve the state of our environment has a direct impact on each individual person, so I think that it is for these reasons that transitioning to a battery-powered electric car would be extremely beneficial.
ELECTRIC CARS IN ACTION

Tesla Model 3

A specific example of this technology in the real world is the Tesla Model 3, a car manufactured by Tesla Motors. According to the official website of the Tesla company, the Model 3 is a completely electric vehicle that runs on batteries to provide energy to the car [8]. The goal of the Tesla Model 3 (along with previous models) is to promote a new, efficient way of driving, and to offer incentives to the public by lowering overall costs. According to the company’s product description, “…the Model 3 achieves 220 miles of range while starting at only $35,000 before incentives” [8]. In terms of capability based on charge, Consumer Reports explains that “Tesla says the base Model 3 should travel 220 miles on a full charge” [9]. In response to the problem of needing to find alternative forms of energy to power individual vehicles, the Model 3 functions as a BEV running on electricity to reduce hydrocarbon emissions. Consumer Reports also reveals that compared to a traditional car that runs on gasoline, the Model 3 has relatively zero emissions assuming the grid electricity comes from a renewable source [9]. Furthermore, it will reduce the negative effects on human health since the car has no exhaust. This means that collectively, smog and ground level ozone formation will be limited. In summary, instead of relying on an internal combustion engine, the Tesla Model 3 draws energy from a rechargeable battery.

Value

In terms of significance to society, the Tesla Model 3 serves to provide a source of transportation that has maximum energy efficiency and limits the risk to the environment and public health. It has the same features of a normal car, it is simply more environmentally friendly. The only issue holding people back is that it is a relatively new technology, and most people seem hesitant to make such an abrupt change to a different car. However, it is clear from previously mentioned information that the cost of the car is worth it when considering the future of our planet. For the field of engineering, it is my opinion that this technology should be one of the top priorities for the near future. The longer we wait, the more irreversible effects our daily vehicle pollution can have on the environment. If we truly treasure life and safety on Earth, serious considerations need to be made about requirements regarding the functionalities of motor vehicles. Finally, for personal value, it is my belief that we need to be investing in innovations that have the capability to guarantee a sustainable future for us all. Therefore, I believe that the Tesla Model 3 is the car that can provide the first step in finding the solution of fixing climate change problems worldwide.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, I believe that the current innovation of the battery-powered electric car, specifically the Tesla Model 3, is the first step to the solution of solving global climate change. If enough of the population were to make the switch to this vehicle, global emissions would be drastically reduced while non-renewable resources would be able to be conserved. My opinion about the importance of electric cars is clearly reinforced by the statistics presented about their overall emission information compared to that of a traditional vehicle. To the field of engineering, electric energy has the potential to change the functioning of everyday life if harnessed correctly. If we want to continue to move towards a sustainable future with maximum energy efficiency and limited pollution, engineers need to continue to promote such technologies. Climate change is an irreversible action of which humanity must take immediate steps to reduce, so our future is dependent on the choices we make now.

SOURCES

[1] J. Pyper. “Car, Truck, and Airplane Pollution Set to Drive Climate Change.” Scientific American. 4.10.14. Accessed 10.29.17

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/car-truck-and-airplane-pollution-set-to-drive-climate-change/

[2] “Reduce Climate Change.” U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed 10.29.17

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/climate.shtml

[3] “Motor Pollution Fact Sheet.” Department of Environmental Conservation. Accessed 10.29.17

http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8577.html

[4] T. Wilberforce, Z. El-Hassan, F. Khatib, A. Makky, A. Baroutaji, J. Carton, A. Olabi. “Developments of electric cars and fuel cell hydrogen electric cars.” ScienceDirect. 10.5.17. Accessed 10.29.17

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036031991732791X

[5] T. Lewis. “Electric vs. Fuel Cell Vehicles: 'Green' Auto Tech Explained.” LiveScience. 1.28.15. Accessed 10.29.17

https://www.livescience.com/49594-electric-fuel-cell-vehicles-explainer.html

[6] E. Graham-Rowe, B. Gardener, C. Abraham, S. Skippon, H. Dittmar, R. Hutchins, J. Stannard. “Mainstream consumers driving plug-in battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars: A qualitative analysis of responses and evaluations.” ScienceDirect. 1.1.12. Accessed 10.29.17

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856411001418

[7] “How Do Battery Electric Cars Work?” Union of Concerned Scientists. Accessed 10.29.17

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-vehicles/electric-vehicles/how-do-battery-electric-cars-work#.WfYY9YWcFPY

[8] “Model 3.” Tesla. Accessed 10.29.17

https://www.tesla.com/model3

[9] “Tesla Model 3: Everything You Want to Know.” Consumer Reports. 8.7.17. Accessed 10.29.17

https://www.consumerreports.org/tesla/tesla-model-3-faq-everything-you-want-to-know/

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks to Austin Cook, Dillon Garrett, and Jack Sullivan for motivation to work on this paper as well as for help in the brainstorming process for topic ideas. Without them, I would have put this paper off until the last minute and likely would not have finished on time.

University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering

10.31.17