More eco-friendly cars please

by: Carol Deang (3rd entry)

I came across a report saying that chicken feathers may fuel hydrogen cars in the future.

Chickens may start losing sleep over more than Americans’ love of McNuggets. Chicken consumption in the US creates over six billion pounds of feathers each year. Previously discarded as waste, researchers at the University of Delaware are developing an innovative way to put all that wasted plumage to use — as fuel to power hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. If this technology was implemented in a fuel cell vehicle, it would cost about $200, as opposed to using carbon nanotube tanks (which cost about $5.5 million) or metal hydrides (which cost about $30,000). (by Sara H Parsons)

Amusing but actually a serious issue.

In a third-world country as the Philippines, I believe that we have a lot more at stake than the rich and developed countries in developing alternatives to fuel-generated cars. Richer countries can definitely outbid poorer countries for scarce fuels. Moreover, with the global concern for the environment, Philippines have to be able to develop sustainable and cheaper workable transportation that does not involve burning fossil fuels. Examples are hydrogen vehicles such as those to be fuelled by the chickens, electric vehicles which entail charging of batteries like cellphones and laptops or the natural gas vehicles. While some efforts have already been introduced in our country such as the launching of the E-Jeepneys in Makati, a lot still have to be done, obviously. The Government, in the long run, should at least promote alternatives to fuel-generated cars. Though, I doubt that these alternatives are available on a commercial scale here already. Several factors deter their mass production including efficiency, cost and safety.

But, I am hoping that the Philippines and the whole world will reach that point where only ecology-friendly vehicles run the streets.

Sources: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/06/25/chicken-feathers-may-fuel-hydrogen-cars-in-the-future/?=rssfeed

http://jalopnik.com/5336586/stingray-concept-transformers-corvette-a-high+tech-hybrid-super-car