In response to the increasing scarcity of oil reserves and the negative impact carbon emissions have on the environment, clean technologies and renewable energy must take priority in research.
Project Ciclar combines clean technology with sustainability to create an environmentally friendly vehicle for selective waste collection. Unlike conventional waste collection vehicles in Brazil, the Electric-powered Lightweight vehicle for selective waste Collection (ELC) is powered entirely by electrical and solar energy, thereby ensuring zero emissions.
Even though ELC is electric, a major concern of the project was to produce a vehicle that would be as energy efficient as possible. By employing an electric motor, ELC reduces the per kilometer cost of operation by approximately 50% in comparison to petroleum-based fueled engines.
With the proper infrastructure, refueling vehicles with electricity rather than gas is both less expensive and more convenient, which should eventually not only encourage but also ease the transition from petroleum-fueled vehicles to electric.
This article shows how it is possible to build a low cost, environmentally friendly vehicle. It explains the environmental impact of different energy sources, specifically petroleum. It compares various types of electric motors and combustion engines to evaluate gas emissions and efficiency. Finally, it compares the effectiveness of a solar panel versus an alternator.