What’s happening right now?
Transportation infrastructure has always been a major part of our modern economy and as with other important industries it does consume massive quantities of energy as well as emanates high levels of carbon emissions. But with the recent surge of green technologies and stringent regulations like the Euro6-norm, the automotive industry has sought to vehemently redefine itself. One of the commendable outcomes of such conscientious measures is that researchers have moved back to their drawing boards in a righteous bid to design compact, cost effective and energy efficient green vehicles and that too right out of their laboratories. Fueled by the success of modern day green vehicles such as the hybrid Toyota Prius (which had alone sold over 2 million units worldwide), and spurred by contemporary mechanics and technical knowledge, such convenient conceptions have actually made significant progress since their inception. And going by the spurt of trends, we certainly are looking forward to much more sustainable future.
Trends:
1. 3D Printed Air Bike is as strong as steel but 1/3rd the weight of aluminium:
This is basically the first bike in the world to be created by printing it out on a computer, using a new form of cutting-edge technology. Some scientists of European Aeronautic Defense and Space group in Filton, near Bristol, conceptualized the bike on a computer and had it sent to a printer. The printer in turn composed the whole form of the bike by fusing melted nylon powder layer upon layer by a laser beam. Hence, the result was a lightweight bike (65 percent less weight than conventional ones) made entirely of nylon, yet as sturdy as steel or aluminum.
2. The next Mercedes Benz might be grown in a laboratory:
The above scene might be reminiscent of the creation of ‘Uruk-Hais’ from Peter Jackson’s trilogy, but this artist’s rendition has every chance to be realized in reality. The next generation Mercedes BIOME concept car will be a eco friendly, biodegradable, ultra-light hybrid vehicle that can actually be ‘grown’ in labs. Each major component will be conceived from seeds, and while integrating specific customer requirements, the additional features will be genetically engineered with the seed capsule!
3. The Urbee Hybrid is the world’s first 3-D printed car:
The Urbee is actually the first car ever to have its entire body printed by using the advanced additive manufacturing processes. Contrived by the collaborative effort of Stratasys and Kor Ecologic, its smooth streamlined form has been generated using 3-D printing technology. The car is a gasoline/ethanol hybrid, and its extended mileage is touted to be 200 mpg on the highway.
The concept:
3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. Though once a costly procedure, now with the advances made in 3D graphics and scanning, the technology has steadily progressed into a practicable and cost effective process. Used in varied fields like jewelery, buildings, aerospace to even prototype body parts, it didn’t take much of a long time for some sections of the automotive industry to unequivocally patronize it.
The advantages:
First, we should remember that the 3D printing technology has been applied specifically (in automotive industries) for green vehicles, especially because of their high estimated potential for marketability in the near future. So, benefits like substantially reduced carbon emission and lower fuel consumption, are always on the cards. But the massive demand and plethora of uses associated with this convenient technology has added a new ’sustainable’ dimension to the whole process. Every production aspect starting from the basic conceptualization level to the total labor required can be significantly regulated and in effect have their costs reduced, once the process gets materialized.
The impact:
A technological innovation can only be a success if it can reach out to the masses, by the nature of its convenience and affordability. And one can’t deny the myriad of possibilities with this technology, especially in relation to its production of green vehicles. The whole system can undergo a conscientious change, with truly appealing yet low cost, energy efficient cars being available to the common man (of the world). So it can be a ‘collective’ solution to the broader scope of sustainability encompassing the whole world.
