Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Cars
A Web Quest for Designers, Environmentalists and Owners of
Future Cars
The world’s supply of petroleum based fuel for automobiles is running out.
Prices are rising and the world needs an alternative means of transportation
for use by private individuals. Without your assistance the global financial,
political and environmental consequences will be huge! You must complete
this project quickly to prevent the collapse of the world’s economic security.
A couple of reasonable questions to prompt your thinking are:
What is the future of private transportation?
What energy source will provide an economical and environmentally
friendly means of travel?
These questions and others that you will ask become the basis for this web
quest. Open your mind and jump into an investigation of
Transportation in the Future.
This is your challenge:
As a group, consisting of three individuals (Designer, Environmentalist and
Consumer) you will:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Investigate any information available
Discuss the options for future cars
Reach consensus about the type of car most suitable
Prepare a report for presentation to your class
detailing your reasons for selecting this particular car.
The future approaches quickly, so you will be given 5 days to get this
project completed. You will need to finish your investigation in one day.
Discuss your findings and come to consensus on the second day. You’ll
prepare your report on days 3 and 4. The final step is to make your
presentation to the class on the fifth day. Each team will present their
findings to the class and support their choice by listing all the attributes
of the car type they have chosen.
Okay?
Good, let’s get going!
Designer
You are the idea person. You investigate from the perspective of what is
going to be the best design. You’ll look for functionality (does it do what
it needs to do), efficiency (does it do what it should while using few
resources) and safety (is it a hazard for occupants or others).
You will begin by using the following resources. You may wish to
investigate other sources that are not listed. Be sure you document which
sources you use. Any statement made in support of your choice will need
to have a reference listed. Be careful!
Not all internet sites are accurate and truthful. Be selective.
Read about how electric cars work
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/electric-car.htm
Read about how hybrid (electric + gasoline) cars work
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car.htm
Read about how fuel cell cars work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/news-item10.htm
Read about hydrogen fuel cell cars
http://www.ecoworld.org/Articles/Hydrogen_fuel_cars_EW.htm
Read about ethanol cars
http://www.farmtotable.org/index.php?cmd=F2TNews&method=view&id
=59
Read about hydrogen cars
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392247&la
nguage=english
Science article comparing hydrogen cars to hybrid cars
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s802512.htm
Sandia Labs contribution to fuel cell cars
http://www.sandia.gov/LabNews/LN09-08-00/hybrid_story.html
Union of Concerned Scientists’ discussion about hybrid cars
http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/green_tips.cfm?publicationID=438
Alternative fuel vehicles website
http://www.altfuels.com/
Atomic Scientists chime in with nuclear cars
http://www.thebulletin.org/article.php?art_ofn=so03rogers
Environmentalist
You are the guardian of the planet. Your job is to ensure that whatever car
your group chooses, it will not hurt the environment. You’ll need to
consider emissions (whatever comes out of the car), fuel (whatever energy
source goes into the car) and components (whatever goes into the structure
or support systems that may be harmful to the environment).
You’ll begin by using the following resources. You may wish to investigate
other sources that are not listed. Be sure you document which sources you
use. Any statement made in support of your choice will need to have a
reference listed. Be careful!
Not all internet sites are accurate and truthful. Be selective.
Read about Electric Cars
http://whyfiles.org/005electcar/
National Renewable Energy page (electric and hybrid cars)
http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/hev/
News article about car manufacturer reticence for developing
electric/hybrid cars
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6827172/
Read about hydrogen fuel cell cars
http://www.ecoworld.org/Articles/Hydrogen_fuel_cars_EW.htm
BBC news article comparing fuel cell cars to hybrid gas and electric cars
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2840191.stm
Ethanol combustion and CO2 production
http://www.scjai.com/technote155.html
National Geographic News article about hydrogen cars
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/10/1016_TVhypercar.html
Mother Jones criticism of hydrogen cars
http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2003/05/ma_375_01.html
NPR audio discussion about hydrogen cars
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4285040
CNN report on natural gas and hybrid car impact on environment
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/science/02/08/green.cars/
All about environmentally clean cars
http://www.nesea.org/greencarclub/links/info.html
Consumer
You are the person who will be driving this car. Your job is to ensure that
the car your group chooses will meet your transportation needs. You’ll need
to consider functionality (does it do what you need it to do), expense (is it a
good value for the money it costs), and “Pizzazz” (is it appealing to the
senses).
You’ll begin by using the following resources. You may wish to investigate
other sources that are not listed. Be sure you document which sources you
use. Any statement made in support of your choice will need to have a
reference listed. Be careful!
Not all internet sites are accurate and truthful. Be selective.
Read about Electric Cars
http://whyfiles.org/005electcar/
News article about car manufacturer reticence for developing
electric/hybrid cars
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6827172/
News article about General Motors quitting production of electric cars
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/biztech/04/09/electric.cars.ap/
Read about hydrogen fuel cell cars
http://www.ecoworld.org/Articles/Hydrogen_fuel_cars_EW.htm
BBC news article comparing fuel cell cars to hybrid gas and electric cars
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2840191.stm
Read about ethanol cars
http://www.farmtotable.org/index.php?cmd=F2TNews&method=view&id
=59
Read about hydrogen cars
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392247&la
nguage=english
Spotlight on hybrid cars
http://www.care2.com/channels/ecoinfo/hybrid
Hybrid cars mileage discussion
http://www.wired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,63413,00.html?tw=wn_story
_related
Now that you have gathered the
facts and reached consensus on which car is the best, you’ll
need to prepare a fairly elaborate report. This report will
include three components:
1. A brief overview of the various types of cars you have
considered.
2. A thorough report on the car you selected including the
design, fuel and specifications for the car.
3. A complete list of references for the facts and analysis you
used in making this selection.
Your report shall include a Power Point presentation to support
your oral argument as presented to the assembly of experts
working on this project. In addition, you will need to prepare a
document that contains all the information that you deliver in
this presentation. Your group’s ideas will be evaluated on the
basis of how well you give your oral presentation, the quality of
your Power Point presentation and the substance of your written
document. First, Second and Third choice of all the
presentations given will be chosen by a select committee of
evaluators within the assembly of experts.
In order that you complete this project as required, you should
refer to the attached evaluation rubric. The evaluators in the
assembly will judge your work on the merits specified within
the rubric.
The world is awaiting your best effort. Your report is essential
to the well being of this country and to world security. I
congratulate you in advance for the professionalism you have
shown in being selected for this task in each of your respective
roles.
Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Cars – Evaluation Rubric
Attribute
Oral
Presentation
3 points
2 points
1 point
0 points
Everyone in the
group presents a
portion.
Easily heard and
understood by
everyone in the
room.
Spoken (not
read) to the
audience.
All questions
asked are
answered with
authority.
Someone in the
presenting group
distracts from the
speaker.
Large portions
are difficult to
hear and
understand.
Speaker seems
unprepared.
Some questions
asked are not
answered or they
are ignored.
The group is
largely
ineffective in
delivering their
findings.
Lack of
preparation or
concern for the
result is obvious.
Questions are not
addressed.
Group’s
Knowledge
of the
Subject
Power Point
Presentation
Grasp of the
information is
complete and
obvious to
everyone.
Professional in
appearance and
instructive in
substance.
Logical, clearly
stated argument
for the car
selected.
Grammar and
spelling is
excellent.
All quoted
material is
properly
referenced.
Not everyone in
the group
presents.
Difficult to hear
or understand
some portion.
Speaker has eyes
fixed on
document while
speaking.
Some questions
asked are
answered
without
authority.
Some degree of
insecurity with
the subject and
the contents of
the presentation.
Plain in
appearance or
not instructive in
substance.
Somewhat
muddled
reasoning.
Some
grammatical or
spelling errors.
Not all material
is properly
referenced.
Limited
knowledge of the
subject and the
contents of the
presentation.
Haphazard in
appearance and
ineffective in
substance.
Reason for the
group’s choice is
uncertain by
reading this
document.
Many
grammatical or
spelling errors.
Many facts are
not referenced.
Poor or no
knowledge about
this presentation.
Typed
Document
Power Point
presentation not
done.
Illogical, poorly
stated argument.
Poor grammar
and spelling.
No references
included.