...Abstract Most vehicles that use gas function using compressed natural gas (CNG). The safe nature of natural gas has given it preference over other engine driven fuel. One very important factor of following alternative fuel vehicle technology is to control the effect of emission on the environment. Natural gas vehicles do not emit toxic gases like other fueled engines. Natural gas vehicles emit clean gas, have a very clean internal combustion, and emit very few pollutants. The gas emitted by vehicles using natural gas constitute clean air to the environment and clean air standards in most big initialized cities like the United States. Natural gas vehicles burn cleaner than traditionally fuelled vehicles because of the compound composition of natural gas. Natural gas does not emit much of toxic gas; it releases little amounts of propane, ethane, and butane when used in vehicles. The environmental hazards caused by natural gas vehicles are a lot less than those running on traditional fuel vehicles. Table of Contents List of Tables 3 Executive Summary 5 Introduction 5 Problem and Opportunity 5 Purpose 5 Background 6 Sources 6 Scope 7 Structure 8 Key Terms 9 Methods 9 Results 10 Conclusion...
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...of the passenger vehicle fleet by 2030—approximately 30 million electric vehicles. The technology itself is not in question—many of the global automobile companies are planning to sell plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and/or battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2012. The key question is, will Americans buy them? The answer depends on four additional questions: 1. Is the cost of purchasing and operating an electric vehicle more or less expensive than the cost of a comparable conventional gasoline-powered vehicle? 2. Are the comparative costs likely to change over the next twenty years? 3. Do electric vehicles provide the same attributes as conventional cars, and if not, do the differences matter? 4. Will electric car owners be able to access the electricity needed to power their vehicles? This paper attempts to answer these four questions. There are two basic categories of electric vehicles—electric vehicles (BEVs), which run solely on the electric energy stored in the battery, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which operate on both a rechargeable battery and a gasoline-powered engine. With both types of vehicles, the...
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...Research Process The ultimate goal of the student data collection is to determine the average monetary expense of furthering one’s education for one calendar year. The subjects of this paper are students of the University of Phoenix’s Bucks County Campus. The cost of obtaining a higher education at this university is approximated by using a focus group, consisting of four learning team members. Constructs, such as tuition cost, travel expense and resource expense data from each subject will be explored. In order to effectively measure the information obtained from the focus group, controls are implemented on the data. This study assumes that each student travels to and from the campus twice a week. The first trip is made to attend class and the second trip is made so that each student can participate in a physical learning team meeting. Since the duration of each class is five weeks in length, the analysis used is based on 10 trips to the University of Phoenix campus. Each student will complete 10 courses per calendar year. The distance involved in traveling to the campus will be measured by mileage, price of gasoline, and tolls. Another measurement is tuition cost per course. The constructs for the tuition cost include tuition reimbursement and out-of-pocket expense. Travel expenses were calculated based on current gasoline average cost of $2.69 per gallon. Mileages per gallon calculations were based on 17 miles per gallon of gasoline from participant’s home to the...
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... Business Economics GM545 Session-July 2012 Dvkelley@yahoo.com Exercise 1 Everyone’s Gasoline Problem In 2003 average gasoline prices in the city of phoenix was a $1.52 and peaked to $2.11 per gallon. On July 30 a pipeline rupture, due to slow repairs, reduced the supply of gasoline causing dramatic price increases. With only two sources of gasoline, one from west Texas and the other from the west coast, phoenix was forced to pay the increased prices from west coast suppliers. Resorting to the consumers determinants of supply, preference would have to become a big constituent to make consumers adopt other modes of transportation. ” In the short run, a gasoline price increase of 10 percent would reduce consumer demand by just 2 percent, according to these studies. This suggests that gasoline prices in Phoenix would have had to increase by a large amount to reduce the quantity of consumers’ purchases by 30 percent, the amount of lost supply. Extrapolating from above, prices would have to increase by 150 percent. Phoenix prices did increase substantially – by 40 percent – but remained far below a 150 percent price increase, because Phoenix gas stations had succeeded in obtaining some additional gasoline supplies from the West Coast (Gasoline, 2012).” The law of demand states that price increase causes consumers to buy less which affects the determinants. The affect on the consumers normal...
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...Pricing Dilemma: Why is diesel more expensive than gasoline? Problem Definition In this research we will be looking to find out why is diesel fuel more expensive than gasoline despite historically being cheaper to produce. This paradox did not exist prior to 2004 but after that year diesel retail prices became consistently higher than those of gasoline,. As we look at different aspects of this situation we will uncover that there are several main reasons for that: 1. Transition to cleaner diesel fuels made the production more expensive. 2. Global demand for diesel fuel is very high and the refining capacity is tight. 3. There is a difference in terms of on-highway fuel tax between diesel and gasoline. 4. Variability in terms of raw material prices. Another important part of this paper will be the analysis of the competitive landscape in this industry. We will discuss how the competition might be affecting the prices of both types of fuels. The role of costs (supply) Upstream Petroleum industry can be divided in two major segments: upstream and downstream. The value chain for petroleum products consists of the following stages: 1. Prospecting and Extraction 2. Downstream Refining or Importing of Road Fuel 3. Wholesale Transportation and Bulk sales of refined products 4. Retailing The main determinants for prices are cost of crude oil, refining, taxation and profit margin. While different sources report different percentage contributions...
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...AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOREIGN OIL An Issue Paper Presented to Professor Sheila Christensen Professor of Marketing Utah Valley University For Management 2200 By Greg Gossard July 30, 2012 Executive Summary Over the past few decades, in the United States, oil is the primary fuel consumed by most vehicles on our roads and in our air space today. It is estimated that two-thirds of the oil used is due to the transportation sector. This report will examine the pros and cons of the need for alternate solutions to the ever increasing reliance the United States has on foreign oil. There are practical alternatives and solutions that the United States could implement in the short run, and especially in the long run as well. The idea of domestic drilling, along with natural gas, and plug-in hybrids are definitely worthwhile options to look at for an alternate solution to the dilemma of oil consumption. While some may argue that these other sources are not consistent enough or wouldn’t be efficient resources for alternative energy, there is enough evidence supporting claims to the contrary In financing research projects exploring alternative energy, the U.S. would easily be able to use all of those resources of energy to remove our dependence on foreign oil consumption. On average, the U.S. spends about one billion dollars per day on foreign oil. That adds up to be thirty billion on average per month, and over three hundred and sixty billion annually. This is a gross and unnecessary...
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...Research Paper on Hybrid Cars The cars we use all over the world are detrimental to our Earth’s environment. In the United States, air quality often fails to meet federal standards. Air pollution, water pollution, global warming, and ozone depletion are some of the problems we face each day that reflect the consequences of our actions. The cars we drive emit exhaust gas, whose harmful elements cause acid rain and global warming. As a result of growing environmental concerns, the US government has been trying to resolve these problems. One such solution is the Hybrid car, which can save resources by giving off less emission. However, among the many benefits of Hybrid cars, there are also some drawbacks as well. Hybrids still exhaust some emissions, and their large batteries require frequent replacement. Now, fortunately, many companies are thinking of ways to improve Hybrid cars because if we don‘t stop driving gasoline powered vehicles, the earth’s resources will be destroyed. Driving a car is the worst pollutant. Despite attempts to make engines more fuel efficient and the increase in antipollution devices, emissions from passenger vehicles are increasing in Canada and the US. The main cause of this problem is that cars are getting bigger and consumers are driving pick-up trucks and sports vehicles instead of smaller, lighter passenger vehicles. The average new car in 2001 consumed more fuel than the average car in 1988. In 1987 cars averaged 25.9 miles to the gallon in...
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...price for a gallon of gasoline rose to over three dollars a gallon (Freeman 1). The United States has seen almost every commodity rise due to demand or inflation over the years but gasoline is near the top when it comes to such an extravagant leap. It has been argued that our nation is dependent upon oil from terrorists and that the money is even used to fund Iran’s nuclear program (Freeman 3). Becoming a nation that is energy independent could help de-fund terrorist organizations and significantly bring down the cost of gasoline. David Freeman writes, “The good news is that the technology is commercially available today to convert the superabundance of renewable energy into electricity and other usable forms to power our high-energy lives” (103). Oil is the major fuel source in the United States and a large amount of oil is hidden under the ocean floors (Woodside 5). Many energy experts and environmentalists question whether it is cost effective to drill miles beneath the ocean floor as well as the effects it might have on the atmosphere (5-6). Another option for America’s transition to oil independence is reverting back to the original diesel engine, invented in 1900 (62). Woodside writes, “Peanut oil and any vegetable oil can be refined to run automobile engines or furnaces” (62). With so many other alternatives to traditional oil, it’s a wonder why America isn’t working harder to become energy independent in regards to oil and to lower the cost of gasoline in such a poor economy...
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...As gasoline prices increase and the environment becomes unstable, people will begin to look for other modes to power their automobiles. One of those modes is know as hybrid power. A vehicle is considered a hybrid when it combines two or more sources of power. For example, a mo-ped (a motorized pedal bike) is a type of hybrid because it combines the power of a gasoline engines with the pedal power of the rider. Hybrid vehicles are an alternative being used to decrease the emissions of vehicles and to decrease the amount of fossil fuels being used. Hybrid vehicles also cost less to operate because of the decreased fuel usage. The gasoline-electric hybrid car is a cross between a gasoline-powered car and an electric car. Hybrid vehicles are all around us. Most of the locomotives we see pulling trains are diesel-electric hybrids. According too How Cars Work, Cities like Seattle have diesel-electric buses these can draw electric power from overhead wires or run on diesel when they are away from the wires. There are two kinds of hybrids. The parallel hybrid has a fuel tank which supplies gasoline to the engine. But it also has a set of batteries that supplies power to an electric motor. Both the engine and the electric motor can turn the transmission at the same time, and the transmission then turns the wheels. In a parallel hybrid, both the electric motor and the gas engine can provide propulsion power. The other type is a series hybrid. In the series hybrid the gasoline engine turns...
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...……………………………………………………………………………….. | 9 | References …………………………………………………………………………………………….. | 11 | Introduction Overview Cousin Edgar needs to understand/decide if he should invest in buying two gas stations. He must consider the high costs of pursuing this idea on business and to try to recover his costs quickly. If the cost of gasoline is taken as a measuring rod then he needs to understand if he can earn enough to recover the costs of investing. Starting a gas station business can be one of the best decisions Cousin Edgar can make as an entrepreneur. He can either set up new gas stations or buy gas stations for sale. If he decides to buy one then he must have some knowledge about how to buy a gas station and if he is planning to set up new gas stations on his own then he is going to need to do some serious research as to how he can go from start to launch. He needs to consider doing lots of research and checking out numerous gas stations for sale before starting up. One of the first steps is to choose a location and find a property. It is important to find a location with the necessary driver demand for fuel and convenience store items is probably the most vital step. Gas station requires a high start-up costs and operating costs, with a high volume of sales, or it will...
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...Introduction In this paper is analyzing the business idea of cousin Edgar to invest in four gas stations in U.S. After conducting researches and analyzing information, there are factors that Cousin Edgar might need to consider before the investment and start up the business. Firstly, the country’s economy health needs to be examined, whether the microeconomic factors, such as the level of demand in gasoline, monthly and a year and the factors that influencing supply of gasoline. Subsequently, macroeconomic factors determine the business idea in producing high profit, and also determining the business span in the short run or even in the long run. Macroeconomic analyzes in oil price According to The World Bank (2014) the total macroeconomic impact of the U.S. oil and natural gas industry is significant. Moreover, the industry was directly and indirectly responsible for over $1 trillion of value- added, or 7.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Essentially the estimation that the oil and natural gas industry’s total impact on labor income in 2009 was $534 billion (including benefits), which flow to 9.2 million Americans in jobs directly or indirectly in the industry or in jobs supported by those in the industry. In 2007, it is estimated that the industry directly and indirectly contributed approximately $280 billion of revenue to federal, state and local governments. The industry’s impact goes beyond the operations of the companies actively engaged in exploration and...
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...Business Research Application RES/320 Foundations of Research September 9, 2013 Dr. Elizabeth Frayne Business Research Applications Research is an essential activity for businesses of all sizes. It is necessary to collect as much data as possible to make sound business decisions. The primary goal of the business research process is to generate valuable insights about a company that can produce growth in shareholder wealth. The main steps covered include research question development, research design, survey, and the final data analysis. Throughout this paper, the focus will be on the research methods of Exxon Mobile Corporation. Create a Research Question The first step in the business research process is to identify goals and outcomes that will lead to prosperity for the organization. An effective business research question should have the ability set the foundation for future data gathering activities. Research questions can be related virtually to any business area, such as customer service, competition, employee relations, etc. The question should seek an answer to a potential weakness within the company. Once the question is answered, it will allow the company to make better business decisions (Baruch, 2008). As one of the largest oil and gas producers in the world, Exxon Mobile must focus on goals that will help the company maintain dominance within its industry. Research questions will be related to competitor analysis and global market conditions...
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...protect our environment from humans as well as our property from the actions of others that may be trying to cause harm or destruction to it, but they are not authorized to do anything about the misuse of the environment. I personally think this is hogwash and we as Americans deserve a government that should be able to protect our environment from the people who are intentionally destroying it at all times. Our Environment can only process so much of what we as Humans throw at it. If we do not change our ways, it will not be very long before not only will the human race feel the multitude of the effects but so will our wildlife and nature. The Hybrid car has been found to be a very beneficial and crucial development for our environment. Research has shown that standard cars...
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...Viability of Adding Alternative Fuel Vehicles to Lotus Rental Car Fleet The focus of this paper is to estimate the importance and feasibility of adding alternative fuel vehicles to the Lotus Rental Car fleet. This paper is addressed to the Chief Financial Officer. There are many types of alternative fuel vehicles (AFV); however, this paper will be focusing on hybrid vehicles. The discussion will cover the overview of existing operations, the advantages and disadvantages of adding AFV’s, the summary of the examination, and the recommendations on why and how it should be implemented. Current Fleet Status The Current fleet size for sister companies, Alamo, Enterprise and National, carry nearly 450,000 cars combined that achieve 28 mpg or better. The introduction of EPACT in 1992 introduced AFV’s into the US market, where they were mainly used by government agencies. The common term used to describe AFV vehicles is light duty vehicle (LDV). In addition, federal fleets are required to use dual-fuel vehicles unless a waiver is granted. Because of high oil consumption in the US transportation sector, concerns about national energy usage began to rise. This raised many questions regarding the resulting environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. An example of this was in 2008, when it was estimated that the transportation sector emitted 1,930 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which represents a 33.2 per cent share of total carbon dioxide emission from all sectors...
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...1 – Everyone’s Gasoline Problem: We are all familiar with fluctuating prices of gasoline at the pump. Why does this happen? Research the recent history of gasoline pricing in your area, and attempt to relate any fluctuations you observe to documented supply and demand factors outlined in our book. Be sure to cite any references used. Fluctuating gas prices are caused by a number of factors. The combination of the price of crude oil and the cost of producing and marketing gasoline have greatly impacted the fluctuation of gas prices that we experience on a daily basis. Crude oil prices are determined by worldwide supply and demand, with significant influence by the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) as they determine how much oil to produce and sell to other countries. The more crude oil OPEC chooses to produce and release, the lower the price. With an increase in worldwide demand for oil, including unexpected demand growth in China, India, and other fast developing nations. These nations have experienced a tremendous growth in the number of citizens who have access to automobiles, and their billion-person populations have a strong impact on the amount of crude oil needed in those parts of the world. Seasonal changes can have a serious impact on gas prices as well. Gas prices increase greatly during the summer and holiday seasons because American’s travel increases during these times. For example, the American gas demand increases by 5% in the summer season...
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