Automotive Industry And Environment Essay Samples

Abstract

In this modern society, automobiles are the stereotypical enemy of environmentalist worldwide. Interestingly, the stereotypical assumptions surrounding the automobile industry is real and to a large extent accurate as the industry continues to develop and destroy the environment. Nonetheless, one could argue that the automotive industry does much harm to the environment even as it improves the economic and social conditions of the society. With the technological advancement of the automotive industry comes the equal concern for the safety of the public, the environment, and the economy as a whole. As a result, advocates protecting the environment and mechanical engineers try to find ways that will gratify mankind’s need for speed even as it holds together the fragile environment. Transportation had never been a real problem to the world in the past centuries individuals made use of archaic modes of transportation to move from one point to another. But, with the advent of a motor vehicle over decades ago comes the orchestrated voices of the environment as they plea to the deaf to find ways to save the environment from the harmful emissions of motor vehicle fumes. The following pages will look at the impact of the automobile industry on the society, the future of the environment based on the increase in automobile production, the phases of the automobile industry and the advantages and disadvantages of the future environmental friendly cars.

Introduction

At the turn of the twentieth, the most efficient mode of transportation was the horseback carriages that laced the society. These systems of transportation provided many individuals with the opportunity to move about freely and at the same time keep the environment safe and secure from toxic wastes connected with automobiles. Nevertheless, with improvements in technology and the changes in the ways mankind explored the unknown, came the improvements in the means of transportation. Automobiles became the rave across the world eventually, but with it came the horrors of toxic fumes in the environment. Additionally, environmentalists brought a number of arguments to the forefront as the debates increased over the dangers o automobiles. But, the need for technological advancements in the world took precedence over the need to protect the environment and the automobile industry won the battles.
While many individuals have personal and public concerns about the impact of automobiles on the environment, no one can question the importance, the need and the appreciation of having speed at the tip of one’s fingers. Historian Mark Foster postulates that an estimated fully one-third of the complete environmental damage occurred before automobiles were sold or driven, (as cited by Melosi, 2010); but the world now enjoys the benefits of being able to sit comfortably and move from one place to another without the worries of the heat or tiredness. The reality is that the automobile industry has made significant strides in the world. The automobile impacts every country across the world and the United States is just one of the countries that benefits from the paved bridges, the vacations, the super highways and the economic and social growth that comes with having access to automobiles. As one looks towards the future, there is no doubt that the automobiles of the future will not harm the environment as much as it does now.

History

The French artillery officer, Nicholas Joseph Cugnot developed the first automobile. This self – propelled means of transportation ran with the use of steam. Later, other automobiles innovators created automobiles that used steam as the source of power, but these steam – powered automobiles did not linger for long as the internal-combustion powered automobile eliminated the steam-powered cars. Lenior developed the first internal – combustion automobile and when the technology surfaced in the United States, Charles and Frank Duryea had created the first thriving American automobile that used gasoline. Conversely, Ransom Eli Olds created the primary assembly for automobiles. Eventually, there was a mass production of this novelty. Henry Ford later created the Model T car that controlled the automobile industry. At present, the automotive industry combined with over a million industries that are connected to the industry employs nearly twenty percent of the workers in the United States. The automobile is the badge of the ideal way of life in the United States and no one can fight this “nation on wheels.’

The Impact of the Automotive Industry

The automobile industry has paved the way for speedy movements and efficient mobility, yet one would never know the benefits of the automobile had there not been the invention of a life removed from the tedious life of horses as a means of transportation. Many individuals take the auto mobile for granted because they cannot appreciate the negative and positive impact that automobile has had on the lives of individuals. The truth is that with all the dangers and loss to the environment, the automobile provides the opportunity for freedom of travel among the different classes of individuals in the society. From a positive standpoint, the automotive industry create opportunities in war as a number of automobile firms produce transportation, aircrafts makes guns and recoil mechanisms to assist their countries in war. Additionally, they provide job opportunities for individuals as employment increases as the industry attempts to meet the demands of the automobiles. Melosi writes: “Mass-produced automobiles like most mass-produced commodities entailed the use of a wide variety and vast quantities of resources, the need for great amounts of human labor and mechanical power, and the generation of copious waste products,” (Melosi, 2010).
Nevertheless, the automotive industry can produce harmful effects on the society. As a rule, studies show “the toxic effects of brake debris and tire particles indicate a need for a wider scope of consideration for the environmental impacts of automobiles,” (Environmental Impacts from Automobiles, 2015). These harmful substances increase the level of toxicity on the environment and the soil and build the level of black carbon in the soil. Tire particles are pollutants in the society and cause lung toxicity even as it accounts for considerable amounts of particulate substances in the urban areas, (Environmental Impacts from Automobiles, 2015). Still, the automobile industry recognizes the need to save the environment and “vehicle manufacturers have been working to reduce the environmental impact of their products,” (Environment, 2013).
Within the last fifteen years, the automotive industry has made a conscious effort “to reduce the environmental impact of its products throughout the life cycle,” (Environment, 2013). In fact, reports show that from 1999, there have been improvements in the processes associated with production of mean energy used in the production of vehicles. Statistics show that water use went down by 35% and 91% less waste enters landfill sites, (Environment, 2013). With these strides in the automotive industry, there will be a reduction in the emissions of toxic elements in the society as technology improves and makes way for future environmentally friendly cars.
The Environmental problems that come from the automotive industries center on the “market failure due to environmental externalities,” (Mickler, n.d) and lead market failure as sales and services do not reflect the aspects that relates to the environment, (Mickler, n.d). Still, this is inevitable as much of “the upshot is that – despite common claims to contrary – the embodied emissions of a car typically rival the exhaust pipe emissions over its entire lifetime,” (“What is the Carbon Footprint,” n.d). And this adds to the dangers to the environment. As a result, many manufacturers currently look towards a future with automobiles that are friendly to the environment. The fact is that there is a strong need for such automobiles as the environment suffers serious setbacks when there is damage to the ozone layer and in turn affects green house gases.
In recent times Ford Motor Company designed and displayed the “prototype solar hybrid car called the C-MAX Solar Energi,” (Nakashima, 2014) it is hoped that this car will run through “a gas engine along with rooftop solar panels that also power the engine,” (Nakashima, 2014). With this type of car, the future of environment can be secures in the knowledge that the thin magnifying glass will focus on the Fresnel lens that draws the rays from the sun and power the electricity that the car need. While this seems highly impossible as decades and gas run engines have destroyed the ozone layer and manufacturers have indirectly destroyed the trees and the soil as they seek material to operate and manufacture vehicles. Yet, Ford believes that the automobiles of the future will work remarkably well as they the car must be recharged in order for it to operate.
Interestingly, the “seven hours of sunlight gives a full charge” (Nakashima, 2014) and this should maintain the balance of operating in the common American city. But, with every futuristic idea comes futuristic technicalities. The makers of the vehicle suggest that car “must park facing east-west and inch forward to make the most of the sun’s rays as it passes overhead,” (Nakashima, 2014) which gives it enough energy to operate for approximately twenty one miles on the store electricity. Similarly, popular car company Daihatsu press forward as they carry out “research and development aimed at making our compact cars smaller and lighter,” (Daihatsu’s Current Approach to meet the Future, 2015) for the makers of this brand of cars, there is the knowledge that “a compact, lighter car is a car that uses less fuel and other resources,” (Daihatsu’s Current Approach to meet the Future, 2015) can make a positive contribution to the environment. The Mira e:S is the flagship to the futuristic cars at Daihatsu and the makers believe that this third generation eco-friendly car is fuel efficient enough to achieve the goals of the harmful effects of the automobile industry on the environment.
The reality is that eco friendly cars offer a wide range of opportunities for the environment and the people in the environment. There are many benefits of having a hybrid or all-electric car as they form the fundamental foundations for the future. With the “engines that run on electricity and do not require gasoline,” (“What Are the Benefits of Going Green with Eco-Friendly Cars, 1990), comes the thrill of the hope of the hybrid car that “use electricity for short distances and gasoline for long drives and high speeds,” (What are the Benefits of Going Green with Eco-Friendly Cars, 1990). These eco-friendly cars come with many advantages to the consumers. Nonetheless, “eco friendly cars emit less carbon chemicals compared to ordinary cars,” (Benefits of Driving Eco-friendly Cars, 2013). Additionally, the “environment is already suffering because of the toxic substances that destroy our atmosphere,” (Benefits of Driving Eco-friendly Cars, 2013) and there be changes if one hopes to live in a healthy environment. 
In concluding, much need to be done in the automotive industry to save the environment. Automobiles offer the golden opportunity for individuals to move about freely and at a fast pace, it pointless to move in a desolate place. With the toxic wastes that come with gas and diesel, the natural habitat humans suffers as the green house effect becomes a serious threat to the society. Yet, one argues that without the automobile industry, the society will see an increase in job losses and a decrease in mobility. People have become so dependent on automobiles that may individuals believe that their lives would end without the use of a vehicle. Would life really end? Clearly, life would go as it had gone on before the introduction of car in the nineteenth century. The fact is that people have made automobiles the center of their lifestyle that they cannot imagine a life with one. Still, Ford is proving that there are other ways to operate automobiles and it is the hope that these new futuristic models will work or the future looks dim.

Works Cited

Daihatsu’s Current Approach to meet the Future, (2015) (n.a) Web. Viewed March 11, 2015
Environmental Impacts from Automobiles (2015) (n.a) Web. Viewed March 10, 2015 from
http://yosemite.epa.gov
Environment – SMMT, (2013) (n.a) Web. Viewed March 11, 2015 from
http://www.smmt.co.uk
Melosi, Martin, (2010) “Environmental Cost of the Automobile Production Process,” The
Automobile and the Environment in American History, Web. Viewed March 11, 2015
Mickler, John (n.d) “The International Car Industry and Environmental Sustainability: Moving
Beyond ‘Green-Washing’? Sustainability and Social Science Round Table Proceedings
125 University of Sydney, Web. Viewed March 11, 2015 from
http://www.minerals.csiro.au/sd/pubs/Mikler_Final.pdf
“Benefits of Driving Eco-friendly Cars,” (2013, March 29) (n.a) Web. Viewed March 11, 2015
What's the carbon footprint of a new car? (n.d) (n.a) Web. Viewed March 11, 2015 from
http://www.theguardian.com
“What Are the Benefits of Going Green With Eco-Friendly Cars?” (1970, January 1st) Web.
Viewed March 11, 2015 from http://greenventuresconference.org