A Hybrid Motor Without Heavy Metals? The Honda Creation Car Mechanic Students Must See
In the midst of the charm of our modern world, it can be difficult to question the benefits of innovative products. However, there are two sides to every story, and hybrid cars and gadgets unfortunately have a dark one. Hybrid engines in particular use large amounts of ‘rare earth metals,’ which are not only running out, but are extracted and processed is ways that damage the environment. Honda is making great strides in developing a hybrid engine that doesn’t use any rare earth metals, which is an automotive game changer, and could lead to a much better planet in the years to come.
Car Mechanics Might Know Why Honda Looked Past ‘Rare Earth Metals’
There’s always a flip side to the coin, and when it comes to ‘green’ vehicles, the flip side can be particularly bad. It turns out that some of the components that make up ‘green’ engines are ‘rare earth metals.’ Rare earth metals are chemical elements found in the earth’s crust that have unique magnetic and/or electrochemical properties that make them ideal for use in high performance gadgets. Processing rare earth metals, which are used in regular hybrid engines, is a pretty dirty process and can lead to the contamination of nearby water supplies, amongst other issues. The process of producing one ton of rare earth metals produces 2,000 tons of toxic waste. No wonder Honda is trying to move away from using this type of metal! When you begin your auto mechanic career, hopefully you’ll see many more vehicles with the new Honda hybrid engines.
Auto Mechanic School Students Need To Check Out Honda’s New Engine
Recently, Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co. has co-developed a hybrid electric/gasoline engine that doesn’t use rare earth metals; the car mechanic community should be seeing these new hybrids on the road soon. Honda began its search for how to wean itself off rare earth metals about a decade ago, and it seems that finally the company has made some great strides in making it happen. The new method for producing the electric engines utilizes magnets from the Daido Steel company, which cost 10 per cent less and result in a product that is about 8 per cent lighter. In the long term, Honda is aiming to produce new-energy vehicles—including fuel cell vehicles—that will account for two thirds of its line-up by 2030. Although the engine is a great leap forward, it does still use the rare earth element neodymium.
Although hybrid engines have been cleaning the air by limiting CO2 emissions, harvesting and processing rare earth metals that are used to make these engines create a wide array of problems for the environment. Honda’s new step towards a rare earth metal free engine could be a great leap forward in sustainability.
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