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Glossary on Green Cars Part-II

Green is the new thing in. But do you really can differentiate an EV from a hybrid? Struggling to figure the difference between a series hybrid and a parallel hybrid?

Believe us, you're not alone. With the green mantra in the automotive world, we're being inundated with an entirely new vocabulary. But one has to learn these new worlds in the coming years. Here is the second part of the Glossary on Green Car.

Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcoholic fuel that is viewed by many as a viable alternative to petrol and other petroleum-based fuels. Until now, ethanol had to be produced from sugar-rich sources - corn is most common in the US, sugar cane in Brazil - but a new cellulosic process (Refer Part-I) could expand the number of feed stocks. Ethanol may actually increase the performance of an internal combustion engine. But compared to gasoline, it also contains less energy, measured as BTUs, per litre and thus typically results in lower mileage.

Flexible-fuel Vehicles

Automobiles designed to run on more than one type of fuel, most commonly either petrol or ethanol, or a blend of the two is called Flexible-fuel Vehicles. BMW and Ford have produced petrol/hydrogen FFVs, and a new prototype “Multi-Fuel Vehicle”, from Volvo, would be able to run on a wide range of both liquid and gaseous fuels, including petrol, ethanol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Fuel Cell

First conceived in the mid-19th century, the fuel cell was first put to serious application as the energy source for America's Apollo moon program. At its simplest, the technology feeds hydrogen into one side of a “stack” and oxygen (or regular air) into the other. In the most common fuel cell design, the hydrogen passes through a catalyst covered proton exchange membrane, which causes it to combine with the oxygen. The resulting reaction produces both water vapor and a small amount of current that can be used to power a spacecraft - or drive an electric motor. Fuel cells are sometimes referred to as “refillable batteries”.

Fuel-Cell Vehicle

Fuel-Cell Vehicle, also known as an FCV, is in function, an electric vehicle which relies on a fuel cell, rather than a battery, to provide the power for its motor(s). The first FCV was developed by General Motors in the 1960s and in recent years, virtually every major automaker has developed its own, running prototype. But while several companies, including Honda, claim to be “selling” small numbers of fuel-cell vehicles, they are really just field-testing the technology. The technology has been improving dramatically in recent years, becoming smaller, more efficient and more durable, but cost and manufacturability are still serious issues and most experts believe truly competitive FCVs won't be ready for market before the middle of the next decade - at the earliest.

Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases are any of numerous gases that absorb infrared radiation when they are released into the atmosphere. This leads to the so-called greenhouse effect, which is one source of global warming. Greenhouse gases include not only CO2, but also methane, oxides of nitrogen and various fluorocarbons.

Global Warming

Many scientists theorize that the use of fossil fuels is responsible for a steady increase in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. This and other so-called greenhouse gases are thought to trap heat in the atmosphere. Those who attribute the warming of the planet-at least 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century-to use of fossil fuels believe that the process is to blame for the melting of many glaciers and parts of the polar ice caps. Global warming theorists say temperatures could rise perhaps five degrees or more this century, leading to greater melting - and resulting in flooding of low-lying coastal regions. A vocal minority of scientists believe the earth's warming trend is caused by natural variations in surface temperatures.

Hybrids

Hybrids are those cars, trucks and crossovers that combine at least two different forms of power in order to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. The most common approach is to use both petrol and battery/electric power, though several manufacturers, including Peugeot, are developing diesel-electric hybrids. The typical hybrid recaptures energy lost during braking and coasting, storing it in an onboard battery pack. When a burst of energy is needed, power is drawn from the batteries to run the onboard motors as well as the gas engine. Not all hybrids are alike. Some only feature this “electric supercharger” mode others can automatically shut down their gas engine when idling. So-called “full” hybrids are able to run on electric power only, usually for short distances and at low speeds.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the lightest element on the periodic table. Its most common form consists of just a single proton and an orbiting electron. Hydrogen is also the most abundant element in the universe, the fuel for the sun's thermonuclear furnace. Many experts are encouraging the development of a “hydrogen economy”, replacing petroleum fuels with the lightweight gas. But unlike oil, hydrogen is best considered an “energy carrier”. On earth, it exists only as part of various chemical compounds, such as water or petrochemicals. So adopting a hydrogen economy will require not only the development of devices like the fuel cell, but also an efficient means to produce, transport and store the gas. In a fuel-cell, hydrogen and oxygen are passed through a membrane, producing electricity and water vapor.

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