Man and Machine

One of the more important issues that have to be addressed by off highway vehicle manufacturers is how to deal with ever tightening emissions standards and rising fuel costs.Governments around the world including the developing nations have embarked to reduce the dependency of human life on fuel obviously concerned firstly about extinguishing this important by product of coal and secondly the massive ramifications caused by its polluting nature.The last decade has seen spurts of sorts as far as green manufacturing is concerned.GM has an eco car competition wherein colleges across North America develop fuel efficient cars using technologies like electric,hybrid and plug in hybrid.In spite of the economy downturn the competition receives full funds mainly because companies and governments consider it to be the future of the suffering automobile industry and reasonably so.The competition to create the best viable automotive which satisfies the green lobby should be encouraged and pursued by every government across the globe and different innovations should be nurtured. Most of the research is based on cars but the next obvious target is heavy duty vehicles.For the electric vehicles to be ubiquitous new battery chemistries coupled with improved engine systems should be developed. Also, the market demand will drive prices down while the rising cost of fuel and the price placed on carbon emissions will make electrification a better proposition. Couple of questions to be pondered upon.