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