The automotive industry has traditionally been looked at as one of the worst industries for the environment. While other industries have begun to rely on alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power, cars have lagged behind, continuing to rely on finite resources like fossil fuels and oil. Manufacturing plants have a reputation for heavy pollution and even base materials like tires are made from rubber and repairs rarely use recycled or upcycled parts, instead ordering brand new ones directly from manufacturers. With all of this history going against them, is it even possible for the automotive industry to go green?

You might be surprised to learn that the answer is yes. Thanks to developments in alternative fuels and the continued technological investment in battery operated hybrid and full electric cars, environmental sustainability is not out of reach.

Here are a few different ways that the automotive industry has been working towards a more environmentally friendly model of doing business.

Electric Cars

One of the more sustainable advancements in the car industry occurred when hybrids began taking to the road. These cars combined a battery with a gas-powered engine to increase fuel economy while reducing emissions. As technology increased, so did the capabilities of hybrid vehicles. The rapidly skyrocketing cost of gas led consumers to quickly begin adopting these cars as well.

The next step in hybrid technology was a plug-in hybrid model. These models allowed cars to run completely on battery power for a limited range. Once that battery died, the car shifted into hybrid mode, and finally into pure gas.

Along with this, more and more companies have begun developing entirely electric cars. These have become so popular in Europe and Asia that many governments are looking at a complete ban of cars that rely on fossil fuels within the next couple decades. These cars are more popular in urban areas, where many parking structures now include charging stations, but less popular in rural areas, where the commutes are much longer and charging stations haven’t caught on yet.

Many of the early models had limited ranges, where a single charge could get a responsible driver around 80 miles before requiring 4 hours at a charging station or 16 using a traditional home port to recharge the battery. These were obviously less popular options for those who didn’t have short commutes in urban areas, so it took a while for car manufacturers to decide it was worth investing in this technology.

Now, thanks to companies like Tesla, completely electric cars have gotten much better ranges and the capacity for lightning quick charging using the right ports. Some of the higher end models can go several hundred miles on a single charge, which eliminates the major complaint that electric cars aren’t feasible for people with long commutes or who like to take regular road trips.

Currently, the biggest two complaints with this option are the price and the lack of available chargers outside of major urban cities. For this technology to become more regularly adopted, the automobile industry has begun finding more affordable ways to develop these cars. Even Tesla has developed a budget model to their typically high priced, luxury brand of cars.

A lot of local governments have offered major tax incentives to businesses in the hopes that it will encourage them to provide charging options for electric vehicles. The automotive industry can help these options catch on in more rural areas by providing chargers in rest stops along freeways and highways.

More and more automotive companies have begun investing in fully electric cars. By 2030, nearly every brand in the industry will have several electric vehicles available at competitive prices.

One of the coolest new developments is the flow battery. This battery uses a mixture of electricity and hydrogen gas, and it can be recharged in seconds. This eliminates the last complaint remaining – the lengthy recharge times. In fact, this option makes recharges go faster than pumping fuel at gas stations!

3D Printing

Another great technological development is 3D printing. The automotive industry is currently heavily reliant upon the plant manufacturing process. Recent developments may change this into a more environmentally friendly process. A 3D printed car is currently undergoing safety testing and is expected to make its debut by 2020. What this means is that, if successful, plastic parts will be reduces from a few thousand per car to less than 100.

Self-Driving Cars

Several car manufacturers have invested in self driving (autonomous) technology. This will have a huge impact on how the average daily commute works. Allowing cars to drive themselves will vastly reduce issues like traffic, sudden brakes, and accidents. This makes for a safer commute, but it also reduces the constant starts and stops that negatively impact fuel efficiency. Without traffic and unpredictable changes in lights at intersections, cars can easily move around one another using advanced technology.

Against what may be considered their better interest in terms of patents and profits, the developers of automated cars have decided to use open source technology. This allows consumers to spot changes and problems in the code to prevent any of the cars from being hacked and reprogrammed for nefarious purposes.

Green Manufacturing

Many companies have been using recycled products in their manufacturing process. Aluminum is extremely lightweight, so it automatically increases the fuel efficiency when used in cars. Tire companies have also begun using more environmentally friendly raw materials in production. Using more eco-friendly parts at the same prices reduces the amount of broken car parts that are sitting in junkyards and won’t break down easily. Likewise, many mechanics have begun using recycled and upcycled parts in their process instead of simply ordering brand new parts from the assembly lines.

A lot of manufacturers have also found ways to use green supply chains. They have found ways to reduce carbon build up in their manufacturing processes and reduce the amount of fresh water used in plants. Rather than relying on fossil fuels to power machines, they have found ways to incorporate more sustainable energy sources within their supply chains.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of ways that the automotive industry has begun cleaning up both their reputation and the environment. I am hopeful that before the next generation gets their licenses, the entire automotive industry will no longer be reliant on fossil fuels to power their cars. I am also hopeful that cars will be build up entirely of sustainable, eco-friendly materials and the use of automated technology will reduce the need for heavy cars that need to be built to hold up in crashes… because with 100% automated cars on the road, crashes and automobile fatalities will be a thing of the past, along with outdated environmentally hazardous materials and fuel sources.