New Dawn in Automobile Industry: Air and Electric powered cars.

Automobiles are self-propelled vehicles used for transportation. History of automobiles date back to the 15^th century, when interaction between Portuguese and China brought about advancement in technologies. By 1600s steamed powered engines models have been developed, but the first full sized steam powered engine automobile was developed by Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. Thirty-eight years later Francois Issac de Rivaz designed the first car powered by an internal combustion engine fueled by hydrogen and finally in 1886 the first petrol or gasoline powered automobile the Benz Patent-Motor was invented by Karl Benz.

With rapid progress achieved in the 20^th century and lots of innovations in the 21^st century, electric and air powered were invented to minimize the social and economic costs of using gasoline which has become major problems in our 21^st century urban centers.

AIR POWERED CARS

A compressed-air vehicle (CAV) is powered by an air engine, using compressed air, which is stored in a tank. Instead of mixing fuel with air and burning it in the engine to drive pistons with hot expanding gases; compressed-air vehicles use the expansion of compressed air to drive their pistons.

Air powered engines were first built during a period of experimental daily use in metropolitan street transit during 1880s and 1890s by companies organized by investors and air car advocates such as General Herman Haupt.

Post World War II, the air engine development went down as a result of great development in the crude oil sector, but due to oil shortages in the 1970s, air powered cars gained attention again and a few companies started showing interest.

As a result of the rekindled interest there came different designs for the air powered automobiles; conventional, hybrid, closed cycle, and free range air cars, as well as conversions for existing engines.

How it works?

A compressed-air vehicle (CAV) is powered by an air engine, using compressed air, which is stored in a tank. Instead of mixing fuel with air and burning it in the engine to drive pistons with hot expanding gases; compressed-air vehicles use the expansion of compressed air to drive their pistons.

ELECTRIC POWERED CARS

ELECTRIC POWERED CARS

Electric Car, automobile propelled by one or more electric motors, drawing power from an onboard source of electricity. Electric cars are mechanically simpler and more durable than gasoline-powered cars.

Electric cars were first built in the 1800s by France and Britain; America started developing their own electric cars in 1895. In the United States in 1899 and 1900, there was a great sale in electric cars. Recently there has been campaign against environmental pollution and the use of engines that causes degradation of natural habitat, this and the search for a healthier life in cities has led to the increased demand for electric powered cars.

How it works?

The electric motor gets energy from a controller, which regulates the amount of power—based on the driver’s use of an accelerator pedal. Pure electric cars, run only on batteries and need a charger to replenish the battery's power from an electrical outlet. The electric car (also known as electric vehicle or EV) uses energy stored in its rechargeable batteries, which are recharged by common household electricity.

Availability: Currently zero pollution AIRpods by MDI are available, and there lots of promises from manufacturers like Tata and there is more to come before the year runs out.

Electric cars dominated the recent Paris Motor show with Volkswagen AG and Mercedes-Benz, leading the change in the industry. Currently electric cars available include Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S P90D – Ludicrous, Honda Fit EV, Chevrolet Spark EV, Kia Soul EV and a whole bunch of them, with more to come.

AIR POWERED CARS

ARE YOU SAYING WE SHOULD ADOPT UNITARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT?

This was one of the questions a student from the audience asked one of the speakers on day two of the last Annual Economic Students Conference in OAU. 

He asked because the speaker mentioned that the number of states in the country should be reduced, explaining that most of the states cannot generate enough income for themselves.

We should first understand that Nigeria, might be called a Federal Republic, but we don't practice the principles to the letter. Federalism is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and a number of regions.

Before military rule in Nigeria we had three major regions, during the military era States were created, with last ones in 1996. Military Government, disregards the constitution and separations of power, so state creation was a bit easier and arbitrary.

One important factor they failed to consider then was credibility of those States, many a time they claimed it was for developmental purpose. Of course one the advantages of Federalism is the autonomy enjoyed by the regions, which aids the development of the regions at their own pace.

Earlier, I said we don't practice Federalism to its letter, and the major reason is how power is shared between our levels of Government in Nigeria. 
In Nigeria, states cannot exploit their own resources. Most of the resources can only be exploited by the Federal Government. Too many resources are wasting away because FG, won't exploit them and states aren't constitutionally allowed to.

Nigeria States, don't have autonomy over crucial sectors to their development. An example is the power sector; States don't generate their own electricity. While some have coal deposits, they must still depend on the national source. If Federalism had been practiced to its letters, and the states are allowed to source for power on their own, many of our States would be developed more than they are today.

By the last week of every month State Governors with their delegates run to Abuja for allocations. In true Federalism, it should be that the States contribute to the central government purse and this is why I think many of the states should be merged. 
These States are not autonomous in that they cannot survive without FG's allocation. Hence in reality Nigeria Federalism is more of a Unitary System, where the regions cannot do anything without the Central Government.

Finally, even though States creation or merger is a rigorous process with our rigid constitution, we can start the process today. Ultimately, States that cannot generate enough IGR to pay her civil servants should not be allowed to continue. Also, states should be given more autonomy so they can actually develop on their own.

This Article was originally published on Jan 21, on Victor Awotidebe's facebook page