A case for the internal combustion engine powered vehicle

Abstract

The damaging effect of climate change has made mankind to continuously pursue means of reversing global warming caused by greenhouse gases. CO2 gas according to available data for the year 2010 represents a whopping 76% of the emitted global greenhouse gases hence, making it a focal point in the reduction of greenhouse gases. Many nations are looking at the halt of the internal combustion engine powered vehicles and are making favourable policies for the adoption of electric vehicles to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas. This study reviews the contribution of the internal combustion engine powered vehicle to the global CO2 gas emission, comparison of its CO2 emission rate to that of the electric vehicle based on their life cycle assessment, and the health challenges that the disposal of the electric vehicle batteries can pose to human. The CO2 emission rate of electric vehicles based on life cycle assessment is comparable to that of internal combustion engine vehicles power on gasoline and diesel, and based on emission per KWh of electricity generation in the UK, Germany, India, and China, the diesel powered internal combustion engine was observed to be better than that of the average electric vehicle based on a kilometer of road travel, asides the potential health risk which the subsequent disposal of batteries can cause. A great boost in the reduction of CO2 emission can be made with the development of the commercial production and adoption of synthetic fuel for use with the conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. Keywords: CO2 emission, Electric vehicle, Global warming, Greenhouse gas, Internal combustion engine