Automobiles, energy and environment after 2005.

This paper considers changes that might occur in the world car fleet after the year 2005 by examining sociological and environmental trends and by evaluating the available technical solutions. The problems caused by car driving are outlined. Technical solutions using different fuel/engine combinations are discussed including a) gasoline, natural gas, methanol and hydrogen in 4 stroke engines, b) diesel engines, c) biomass fuels, d) 2 stroke engines, e) gas turbine engines and f) electric propulsion. The author concludes that city traffic will be self-regulating and that electric propulsion will be increasingly used.