Transportation and Air Pollution Glossary air pollution any substance in the atmosphere commonly recognized as harmful to humans or the Earth. Common air pollutants are carbon dioxide, sulfurous oxides, nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons, radiation, particulates, volatile organic compounds, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). alternative fuel any fuel that is substantially non-petroleum and yields energy security and environmental benefits. The EPA (EPAct 1992) recognizes the following as alternative fuels (http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/cai/afv.pdf): alcohol fuels such as methanol (methyl alcohol), denatured ethanol (ethyl alcohol), and other alcohols, in pure form (called neat alcohols) or in mixtures that contain no less than 70 percent alcohol fuel; compressed natural gas (CNG); electricity; hydrogen; liquefied natural gas (LNG); liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); coal-derived liquid fuels; and fuels other than alcohols derived from biological materials, like soybean, rapeseed, or other vegetable oil-based fuels. ambient air outdoor air aquifer underground water supply, often tapped for domestic use atmosphere the whole mass of air surrounding the Earth BTU (British thermal unit) a unit of heat equivalent to the amount needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water (at sea-level pressure) 10 degrees Fahrenheit; approximately equal to the heat given off by a wooden kitchen match battery a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy bicycling moving from one place to another by pedaling a two-wheeled vehicle biomass organic materials, such as plants, garbage, manure, or wood, which be used as a source of renewable energy such as methane, methanol, and ethanol bus a large vehicle that can carry many passengers, usually along a regular route car a four-wheeled vehicle for passenger transportation, propelled by an engine carpooling an arrangement by two or more people to travel to and from work, school, or other activities together in one automobile chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) any of several simple gaseous compounds that contain carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen. They are used as refrigerants, cleaning solvents, and aerosol propellants and in the manufacture of plastic foams, and are suspected to be a major cause of stratospheric ozone depletion. 1
congestion the condition resulting from filling a street or freeway to excess with traffic; the condition of being overcrowded or clogged contaminant an element or pollutant that soils the air cost the amount of money needed for payment EV (electric vehicle) a car, bus, van, or motorcycle with an electric motor that is powered by electricity stored in a battery, flywheel, or fuel cell efficiency ratio or work done to energy consumed; usually expressed as a percentage. A well-tuned gasoline-powered vehicle is usually rated at 15 to 20 percent efficient. electricity a form of energy that is used for lighting, heating, and running forms of transportation emission a discharge or release of pollutants into the air, such as from a smokestack or automobile engine environment the combination of all external conditions and influences relating to the life, development, and survival of all living things ethanol a carbon-based liquid fuel used as an alternative fuel in vehicles. It is an alcohol and can be produced by fermenting corn or other feedstocks which have a high sugar or starch content. Fuel tanks must be 50 percent larger than a gasoline tank to achieve a similar range. flywheel a mechanical device that stores energy by spinning an object at very high speeds fossil fuel coal, oil, and natural gas made from the remains of ancient plant and animal life fuel cell a unit that converts a gaseous fuel, such as hydrogen or methanol, directly into electricity. Fuel cells are about 2.5 times more efficient than internal combustion engines. fumes smoke, vapor, or gas, especially when irritating or offensive gasoline a volatile flammable liquid made from a refined form of crude oil; currently the most commonly used fuel in vehicles generator a device used to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy greenhouse effect a temperature increase which results from light energy passing through a material such as glass and changing to heat energy which cannot escape. Certain atmospheric gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane, and other greenhouse gases cause this same effect. Many scientists are concerned that an increase of CO 2, from burning fossil fuels, will increase the Earth s temperature, causing flooding, crop failures, and extreme weather effects. grid a network of transmission lines, substations, distribution lines, and transformers used in transmitting electricity from power plants to users growth an increase in size, weight, power, etc. 2
heat a form of energy which results in higher temperature, expansion, or evaporation; a function of temperature and volume hybrid electric vehicles vehicles that have both an electric motor and a small fossil fuelpowered internal combustion engine generating electricity, or a fuel cell. The fossil fuel-powered generators run at constant speed so they are very efficient; hybrid vehicles usually complying with the ULEV (ultra low emmission vehicle) specifications set by the state of California. hydrogen a gaseous fuel produced by passing electricity through water, or by reformulating a carbon-based fuel such as natural gas, methanol, or ethanol. Burning hydrogen produces heat and H 2 O. Using hydrogen in a fuel cell produces only electricity and water, making it extremely clean. internal combustion engine a device in which the fuel is ignited and burned within a combustion chamber, producing mechanical energy kinetic energy energy in use, producing motion, heat, sound, or some other form of energy LEV low emission vehicle as defined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) lanes divided sections of a roadway wide enough for a single line of cars mechanical energy energy in the form of motion or rotation methanol liquid carbon-based fuel used as an alternative fuel for vehicles. It is an alcohol and can be produced from natural gas, coal, or wood. Fuel tanks must be twice as large as gasoline tanks to achieve a similar range. natural gas (CNG) a combustible gas, usually found in association with petroleum, composed primarily of methane non-renewable a resource that, once used, is not replaced in a relatively short period of time, sometimes described as a person s lifetime. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, and uranium are non-renewable energy sources. ozone an odorless, colorless gas that is formed when pollutants react with sunlight; a major component of smog particulate matter specks of solid matter, including dust, smoke, fumes, spray, mist, and fog photovoltaic cell (PV) a device that converts light directly into electricity. Photovoltaic cells produce direct current (DC) and are sometimes referred to as solar cells, photovoltaic, or PCs. pollutant something that contaminates an area (such as an environment), especially with man-made waste pollution impurities in air, water, and land that create an unclean environment potential energy stored energy, as in a battery, weight lifted and ready to fall, fuel, etc. 3
production prototype a product, or car, which is being considered for mass production propane a heavy flammable gas composed of petroleum and natural gas quad a quadrillion BTUs; 10 15 BTUs; a very large quantity of energy range the distance an electric vehicle can travel before the batteries need to be recharged or that a gasoline-powered vehicle can travel on a tank of gasoline renewable energy any source of energy which is replaced in a relatively short period of time, sometimes defined as a person s lifetime or less ridesharing an alternative to traveling alone; carpooling, vanpooling, using transit, walking, or biking savings an amount of money not used or put aside for a specific purpose; discounts solar car, solar/electric car, or solar-assisted electric car an electric car whose batteries are charged wholly or partially by electricity produced by photovoltaic cells (PV), which are installed on the car. PV panels can produce enough electricity to travel 5 to 250 miles per day. The range is dependent upon the size (square feet) and efficiency of the PV cells, and the efficiency of the car itself. Commuter cars typically gain 5 to 15 miles per day, while some racing cars can travel 250 miles on a sunny day. solar cells see photovoltaic cells solar electricity electricity which is produced by the light of the sun. The photovoltaic cell is the mechanism used for the electrical generation. solar energy energy which comes directly from the sun. Solar energy can be used to heat water, heat air, or generate electricity. Solar energy is also the source of wind power, hydroelectric power, and animal and human energy. solar thermal energy solar energy received as light and stored in the form of heat stratosphere the layer of air that extends from about 10 to 30 miles above the surface of the Earth sustainable sustainable practices are those that meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources are those that do not deplete resources or pollute the Earth. Sustainable transportation systems are those that are powered by sustainable energy sources. tires a rubber tube filled with air, fixed around the wheel of a vehicle to facilitate rotation torque a force that produces, or tends to produce, rotation and the measure of the effectiveness of that force transit buses, trains, and subways used by the public 4
transmission the gear system of a vehicle which transfers energy from the engine to the axle to move the vehicle troposphere the innermost part of the 12-mile layer of air encircling the Earth ULEV ultra low emission vehicle as defined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) vanpool using a van to carry seven or more people to a destination walking moving from one place to another on foot ZEV zero emission vehicle as defined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 5