Written by Christopher Mount, Assistant Curator, Department of Architecture and Design
			Improvements to the exterior body have also made these cars more efficient. Friction produced by the air passing over the chassis and between the road and the tires can create drag, particularly at high speeds. The General Motors EV1 is surprisingly the most aerodynamically "slippery" auto in production–not, as would be expected, a sleek, expensive sports car. The aerodynamics of this car, however, do not reflect a desire for speed but are necessary because of their limited electric power plant. The Honda VV, the Ka, and the Audi AL2 are also aerodynamic in design, and the Toyota Prius and the EV1 feature thin, low-resistance tires that cut down significantly on the friction created between the road surface and the vehicle.   Although these structural improvements contribute to the overall efficiency, a more radical change is taking place to one of the most fundamental parts of the car–the engine. Experiments with alternative fuels and power plants are transforming the internal combustion engine that has been the automobile’s dominant power provider since Daimler Benz’s gasoline engines prevailed over early steam engines. Some automotive engineers have equated the significant transformations taking place in this area with the nineteenth-century metamorphosis from horse-drawn carriages to gasoline-powered cars. New investigations are being conducted into the use of alternative fuels like methane, ethanol, and fuel cells. However, the most immediately significant developments may be electric- and hybrid-powered cars.   Photo: Michael Moran   Select image for enlarged view.   The electric motor presents some obvious advantages and disadvantages over the conventional combustion engine. Because it doesn’t use petroleum to supply power to the engine, it runs clean, without emissions. The electricity can come from many external sources that run on coal, nuclear, or hydroelectric power. Most experts agree that pollution at these plants can be better controlled, and the local smog created by cars would disappear. The use of electricity is particularly appealing to countries like China, which has few natural oil reserves. The electric EV1 can be recharged at stations equipped with a charging device, or even at home. The engine has fewer movable parts and thus needs less service, and it is also far quieter than a conventional engine.   Presently, the major drawbacks of an electric motor stem from the batteries that store the energy. The storage is only sufficient to allow a limited driving range: the EV1 can go approximately fifty to seventy miles per charge, less if the air conditioner is used or in cold climates. This, coupled with the inconvenience caused by the limited availability of charging stations, makes the car inappropriate for long trips. Instead electric autos in the near future seem to be most valuable as commuter cars or in local use, perhaps performing specific tasks as with postal trucks.

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