Customer Reviews

Alternative Cars (Eye on Energy)

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With the cost of gas spiraling, fuel efficiency has become a concern, to say nothing of the emissions continually being poured into the atmosphere. In the 1950s and 1960s more people were able to afford a second vehicle and the rush to the suburbs was on. According to the author there are an whopping "136 million passenger cars in the United States" and about "97 percent of them rely on the internal combustion engine (ICU)."

In recent years there has been a resurgence in interest to find alternative energy resources with an eye on cars that use alternative energy. Green is in, but which vehicle type should we focus on? This book takes a look at electric cars, including the popular Tesla Roadster, but also takes a look at the downside of owning one, including the need to improve its battery. It also explores the hybrid car, the hydraulic hybrid, diesel cars, biodiesel fuel and hydrogen power. In 2007 Project Driveway put one hundred "hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles" on the roads in several major cities. This will be one project you may wish to keep an eye on!

This is a lovely, short overview on alternative energy and cars. Many of the photographs of the cars and their engines are `hot' and grab one's attention immediately. Both the pros and cons of each vehicle or fuel source are briefly explored. In the back of the book there is a glossary an index and additional recommended web sites that can be accessed through the publisher's link. This would be a good stepping stone book for students to think about and perhaps select a topic for further exploration for a school report.