How to Control Vehicle Exhaust Emissions?
3 Answers
Methods to control vehicle exhaust emissions are as follows: 1. The most fundamental and ultimate approach is to change the vehicle's power source, such as developing electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles. This approach ensures that vehicles either produce no or minimal pollutant gases. 2. Improve the vehicle's power system and fuel quality. Using well-designed engines, optimizing combustion chamber structures, adopting new materials, and enhancing fuel quality can all reduce vehicle exhaust emissions, though achieving 'zero emissions' remains unattainable. 3. Employ purification technologies. Advanced exhaust after-treatment technologies can purify the gases emitted by vehicles to minimize pollution. Vehicle exhaust purification catalysts are the most effective means to control emissions and reduce pollution. These primarily use precious metals or rare earth elements as catalysts. Precious metal catalysts, typically made from platinum and palladium, offer high activity, long lifespan, and excellent purification efficiency, making them highly practical but difficult to widely adopt. Rare earth vehicle exhaust purification catalysts are prepared using rare earth elements, alkaline earth metals, and some alkali metals, sometimes with small amounts of precious metals. The rare earth elements used in these catalysts mainly consist of a mixture of cerium oxide, praseodymium oxide, and lanthanum oxide, with cerium oxide being the key component. Due to cerium oxide's redox properties, it effectively controls the composition of exhaust emissions by supplying oxygen in reducing atmospheres or consuming oxygen in oxidizing atmospheres. Cerium dioxide also stabilizes the precious metal atmosphere, maintaining the catalyst's high catalytic activity.
When it comes to reducing vehicle emissions, I believe each of us can start with our driving habits. For example, I usually try to press the accelerator and brake smoothly to avoid sudden acceleration or braking, which lowers fuel consumption and reduces exhaust emissions. Additionally, I regularly take my car for maintenance, replacing the air filter and checking the exhaust system to ensure everything runs smoothly. When going out, I carpool whenever possible or simply drive less—walking or cycling is great exercise too. I find these small actions add up and make a real difference. I've been doing this for years, saving a lot on fuel and reducing air pollution. If everyone adopted these habits, urban air quality would surely improve. I remember a road trip with friends where we carpooled—cutting emissions by more than half—and had a great time chatting along the way. In short, starting small, everyone can contribute effortlessly to environmental protection.
I think addressing vehicle emissions requires a big-picture approach, with a focus on promoting eco-friendly vehicles. For example, more people should drive electric or hybrid cars, as they emit far less pollution, and battery technology is improving, offering longer ranges. Additionally, cities should expand their public transportation and subway networks. When I go out, I often choose buses or cycling, which saves fuel and is healthier. Vehicle emissions cause too much harm to the climate, so I frequently remind my friends to reduce private car usage and support green travel. The government should also increase subsidies and awareness campaigns to make switching to greener vehicles easier. In short, reducing emissions at the source is key.