| If you live in the United States, then you | | | | to build cars. It is extremely strong. In |
| are well aware of the increasingly high gas | | | | fact, it is 5 times stronger then steel and 2 |
| prices. With no reprieve in sight, | | | | 3 lighter. Lighter cars mean the need for |
| individuals are looking for ways to save at | | | | less fuel. Manufacturing a car from carbon |
| the pump. They have tried a plethora of | | | | fiber would reduce that vehicle's weight by |
| things, including purchasing hybrid vehicles, | | | | 60%. As this relates to oil, cars would |
| converting their engines to run on water and | | | | require 30% less fuel. This would |
| other alternative fuels. Some car | | | | automatically reduce an individual's budget |
| manufacturers have made baby steps to address | | | | for gas by 30% without making any changes. |
| the problems. Designing and rolling out | | | | Imagine if car companies would begin using |
| smaller cars that are more fuel efficient and | | | | this material to make cars and then uncovered |
| the manufacturing of hybrid vehicles have | | | | an affordable, alternative fuel source. The |
| been the few ways that car makers have | | | | gas crisis would be over! |
| attempted to address the problem. | | | | |
| | | | High fuel prices are not only affecting |
| Prices at the pump are so high due to the | | | | individuals at the pump. It also takes oil to |
| increasing cost of oil. There was a period in | | | | fuel electricity and keep homes warm and |
| time where the West was the predominate place | | | | cool. Many Americans have seen an increase in |
| on the planet where a large part of the | | | | their electric bills. |
| population people had vehicles. Today that | | | | |
| has changed. Developing and advancing | | | | However, the increasing costs to keep cars |
| countries are seeing more of their citizens | | | | running has risen to extreme levels and is |
| purchase cars. This means that there is a | | | | expected to continue to rise. As a result, |
| greater need for oil and gasoline in other | | | | driving habits in America will have to change |
| countries. This drives up the price of oil. | | | | if nothing else does. Car manufacturers can |
| Oil is a finite resource and this fact also | | | | help alleviate the problem by developing |
| makes it much more expensive. | | | | lighter, stronger cars that go further on |
| | | | less fuel. One way to do this is through the |
| To fight rising oil costs, our country must | | | | use of carbon fiber to make cars. The |
| make some changes. Finding an affordable | | | | material is extremely strong, durable and |
| alternative fuel and then setting up the | | | | light, which would reduce the fuel |
| infrastructure to support it, is one way that | | | | consumption of the automobile by 30% without |
| this problem can be addressed in this | | | | taking anything else into consideration. This |
| country. The continued manufacturing of | | | | would be helping Americans financially and |
| small, fuel efficient cars is another option. | | | | our planet as well, because of the lower |
| One alternative that has not gotten much | | | | amount of emissions released into the |
| press is the use of carbon fiber. | | | | atmosphere. By manufacturing cars from carbon |
| | | | fiber, greenhouse emissions would be reduced |
| Carbon fiber is a material that can be used | | | | by 10%-20%. |