Guide » Automobile

Will Combustion Engines Go Extinct?

For the last decades, since mankind inhabited the planet, nature has been negatively affected. Do you still remember the Kyoto Protocol from the 90s? Something had to be done to stop the effects of global warming. We, human beings, need to face our actions and change our ways to save the planet we live on, and combustion engines are a great barrier on this path.

In this article, we are going to discuss the issues related to combustion engines, their survival, and some alternative technologies. 

Will the Combustion Engines Soon Be Obsolete?

Combustion engines run by using non-renewable sources of energy, i.e., gasoline or diesel. With the rapid downfall in petroleum resources as well as the huge negative impacts of these engines on the environment and the survival of mankind, it is necessary to find some alternatives to these engines. 

However, these engines are not going to be extinct, at least not in the next couple of decades. This is because the other technology needs enough time to get completely developed and available. This process is going to happen gradually and will take many years. 

Pollutants Produced by Combustion Engines

The pollution caused by combustion engines comprises mainly three outputs, which can cause severe health effects as well as drastically impact the environment. They include the following:

The EU is the leader in the fight against carbon emissions. The governments of different countries like Belgium, The Netherlands, France, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ukraine, and many more decided to lower their impact on global warming. Respecting nature and creating a healthier living environment for its inhabitants by reducing the carbon footprint. 

Europe has signed up for a 55% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030. Carbon emission is generated from burning fossil fuels to generate power for cars, power plants, etc. When these gasses stay in the air and form clouds, this can result in acidic rain. Even the outside of buildings erodes underneath this harsh precipitation. Now, imagine the effect on nature and not forgetting ourselves.

For that last reason, I use a percentage of my winnings in a Finnish online casino as a deposit for the right cause. By donating, as the Fins say: €5 talletus of my winning bets that I made by playing a poker game or spinning the roulette wheel, I contribute a little bit for the sake of our future.

These are the toxic gasses that can cause severe health issues when inhaled. These are comprised of the following:

• Carbon monoxide (CO), is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas, the inhalation of which is enough to kill someone.
• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), a combination of nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide, can also cause serious effects on the environment and respiratory systems of living organisms.

These are the tiny, airborne solid, or liquid matter like soot and dust present in the air. Combustion engines emit large amounts of PM that pose severe environmental and health risks like cancer. 

Top Two Future Replacements for Combustion Engines

Cars have the biggest influence on the greenhouse effect. These are to be transformed into zero-emission engines. This means that the dirty, old engines need to be rebuilt or just torn out and exchanged for an ecological one. Let’s take a deeper look into engines with renewable energy, i.e., electric and hydrogen engines, how they work, and the challenges related to them.

The propulsion of an electric car is provided by an electric motor. It is directly connected to the drive shafts without the intervention of a gearbox or clutch. The electric motor obtains its energy from a powerful battery. Driving an electric is therefore completely different from a combustion engine. 

The old school dual-engine has many moving parts; alternator, starter motor, a starter battery, gearbox, clutch, exhaust, fuel tank -and we can go on for a while – where issues can arise. 

Challenges With the Electric EV Industry

Several challenges arise while building an EV charging network, including the following:

• Purchase Cost

  The biggest challenge for this industry is the purchase cost of the vehicle. They are more expensive than vehicles with combustion engines. This is because they need expensive raw materials for the production.

• Difficult Finding a Technician

  Reaching a dealer to get your car serviced rather than going to an independent repair shop is much costlier. Because of the limited development of the industry, it is difficult to find technicians at regular repair shops and parts like car or bike brakes, tires, and other internal parts. 

• Charging Station Financing

  Due to the limited installation of charging stations, these vehicles are not considered a good choice for long journeys. Public EV charging stations require great funding (ranging from $2,500 to $36,000) to get installed. However, the number is increasing, and several apps for electric car charging are launching over the internet.

But beyond all these challenges, electric engines or vehicles are considered to be a great replacement for combustion engines. They are not only emission-free, but they are also almost maintenance-free. 

Hydrogen-powered cars convert compressed hydrogen into electricity, which powers the engine. 

To kick-start this process, electric energy is needed and it releases water vapor and heat. 

Challenges With the Hydrogen Engine Industry

Various challenges faced by these engines are as follows:

• Hydrogen Extraction

  Extraction of hydrogen from water via electrolysis or separating it from fossil fuels requires so much energy. This increases the production cost and need for resources.

• Need for High Investment

  Hydrogen fuel cells demand a potential amount of investment and time to improve and mature the technology.

• Regulatory Issues

  There are certain barriers regarding the regulatory issues that define ineffective commercial deployment models.

But apart from all of this, hydrogen cars are user-friendly. The performance and acceleration are not inferior to fuel-based cars, but their fuel cells charge much faster than the batteries of electric cars. 

Conclusion

What would you prefer? I am going to get rid of my diesel engine and go electric. In the first place, because it is old and has been lacking in situations, I required it most. The maintenance was a close second, the zero-emission is an incredibly nice bonus. The purchase costs aren’t very low, although my piggy bank sorted out half of the amount already, and in the long run, it will prove its value. Exciting times!

Posted by

Alan Biles

Expertise