Harmful Emissions From Passenger Cars
The modern day passenger car is a result of several innovations and technological improvements. These improvements have come over a period of time and so is the improvement in engine management system.
It is believed that passenger cars generate maximum amount of harmful emissions that results in ecological imbalance. As car manufacturers started understanding the significance of ecological imbalance they started hunting for ways and measure to reduce automotive emissions and protect environment.
Many Indian car manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki Hyundai and Honda are presently working on their green projects to ensure protection to the environment and even help car owners to reduce their fuel bills.
Common Car Pollutants
Both petrol and diesel have a blend of hydrocarbons composed of hydrogen oxygen and carbon atoms. Nitrogen present in the air passes through the engine and blends with the oxygen to produce harmful gases.
The main car pollutants that have negative effects on the environment are:
- Carbon Monoxide: Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that is produced as a result of incomplete burning of hydrocarbon based fuels in the internal combustion engine. Maximum amount of carbon monoxide is produced when the ratio of air to fuel is low during combustion. This mainly occurs when cars are not maintained and tuned properly. It is believed that in urban area the contribution of carbon monoxide to the environment by passenger cars is about 90.
- Nitrogen Oxide: Under high pressure and temperature condition nitrogen and oxygen reacts together to form nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxides are considered to be precursors to the formation of ozone and are believed to contribute maximum to acid rain. This poisonous gas is believed to make up about 72 of the total gases contributing to global warming.
- Hydrocarbons: These also form one of the most poisonous emissions from the automotive. These are composed of different molecular weight compounds and some of them are carcinogenic. Prolonged exposure to such substances is of great danger to human. In case of environment it contributes to the depletion of ozone layer thereby creating an ecological imbalance.
Long Term Solutions
With the advent of technology more and more advanced engines and alternative fuels are introduced to widespread the urgency of protecting the environment. These days the trend of Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG and Compressed Natural Gas CNG is increasing in the car industry. These alternative fuels are believed to reduce the burden on environment by producing lower level of emissions.
Some of the car manufacturers in India are also looking at water and air as alternative fuel. Though thats a long way to go but if these are introduced as fuel in the Indian car market the industry will definitely witness a new dawn.
About the writer: Carazoo.com
Related posts: