The document discusses how while the automobile has benefited society in many ways, it relies on fossil fuels which produce harmful emissions and contribute to issues like global warming and increased cancer rates. However, electric vehicles are developing in ways that could help address these problems, like the Chevrolet Volt which can run off electricity or gas and only requires filling up every 1,500 km with a daily charge. Overall the document argues that improving automobile technology, like developing electric vehicles, may be a way to solve the environmental issues caused by fossil fuel-powered cars.

1. A technology that is slowly destroying our
planet.
By: Kory Moore

2.  In 1885, a German
engineer named Carl
Benz created the worlds
first fossil fuel powered
automobile.
 Carl Benz and his two
partners founded the
largest car
manufacturing company
in the early 1900s which
still holds the same
reputation today, known
as Mercedes Benz.

3.  The automobile has shaped our world as we
know it today, the benefits to this technology are
endless.
 People can now live an hour or more away from
their places of work, expanding large cities at
exponential rates.
 Allows for food and other goods to be
transported all around the world, creating
country to country trade and defining our
buisness and marketing strategies.

4.  People can now travel the world and see
many things that would never be possible
without fossil fueled powered vehicles.
 Created millions of jobs and boosted many
economies over the last hundred years.
 Many countries are build off this invention, it
has basically shaped everything we know
today.

5.  Many people believe that cars are the best
thing that has ever happened to this earth.
Although they have done a lot for us, it
comes at a large cost.

6.  When you are driving your car, the burning of
gasoline creates many harmful toxins and
releases them directly into the environment.
 Some of the gasses that are released into the air
include: carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and many
different carcinogens.
(National Geographic, 2012)
 These gasses contribute to many different
environmental issues, but it also has a severe
effect on our health

7.  Over the last few decades, cancer levels have
risen very quickly. According to the Cancer
prevention Coalition, form the 1970s to the
2000s there was a 24 percent increase in cancer
rates and it only continues to rise. (Cancer
Prevention Coalition, 2003)
 Air pollution levels have also risen significantly in
the same time frame. The carcinogens that cars
produce have been linked to many types of
cancer although it is a main contributor to lung
cancer.

8.  Lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of
cancer and has a less than 50 percent survival
rate depending on the stage and type.
(Canadian Lung Association, 2012)
If air pollution
continues to worsen,
it may aid in the
extinction of humans.

9.  The automobile is becoming just another
money pit, everything about it costs a lot in
this era.
 There is the initial purchase of the car along
with insurance and a warranty, although the
biggest economic issue today is gasoline.
 Due to the lack of gas left from over
consumption, gas prices have risen to nearly
double of what they were only two years ago.

10.  Without gasoline, life as we know it would cease
to exist. Cars would be the most significant loss
due to the fact that we would have no means of
transportation and that would bring almost
everything to a halt. What was only a half hour
drive to work before would be impossible for
most people to do twice every day.
 This really makes you notice how dependant
most of the world is on this single piece of
technology.

11.  Thankfully humans are very good at working
their way around problems that could
potentially kill us. It is the reason our species
has survived this long.
 With the invention of electric cars, we may be
on our way to eliminating this problem
forever.

12.  The idea of an electricity powered car has
been thought about by engineers for a long
time. There have only been some small
advancements in the last decade.
 Recently there have been many new, well
functioning, electric cars being released by
worldwide known automobile manufactures.
For example: the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy
Volt.

13.  The Chevrolet volt is a great advancement in the
engineering of 100 percent electric functioning
cars.
 The volt is a gas/electricity powered automobile
that allows for the driver to choose whether they
want to run the engine off gas, electricity, or
both.
 Drivers have to fill up their gas tanks only once a
month or approximately every 1500 kilometers
with a daily charge.

14.  The automobile is one of humans greatest
inventions, nothing would be the same
without it. Although it needs many
improvements in order to prevent from
permanently damaging our planet or humans
themselves.
 History has proven that humans can navigate
around these issues and I believe that
improving on this technology is the least
harmful way around this problem.

15.  About.com (2012) The history of the automobile. Retrieved on December 4th,
2012, from: http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aacarsgasa.htm
 National Geographic (2012) How does car pollution effect the environment and
ozone layer. Retrieved on December 4th, 2012, from:
http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/car-pollution-affect-environment-
ozone-layer-20133.html
 Cancer Prevention Coalition (2003) Losing the cancer war. Retrieved on
December 4th, 2012, from:
http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/nci/manipulates.htm
 Chevrolet.com (2012) 2013 Volt. Retrieved on December 4th, 2012, from:
http://www.chevrolet.com/volt-electric-car.html
 Canadian Lung Association (2012) Lung cancer, Retrieved on December 4th,
2012, from: http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/cancer-
cancer/treatment-traitement/index_e.php