Electric cars: their potential impact upon the sustainability of the UK's energy and transport industries

Below are all the assignment information and hope to get a good essay on that thanks. UNIT CODE: 6F5Z2005 UNIT TITLE: Natural Resources & Pollution TITLE AND NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENT: Assignment 1 Electric cars: their potential impact upon the sustainability of the UK's energy and transport industries WEIGHTING 50% Electric cars: their potential impact upon the sustainability of the UK's energy and transport industries Introduction and concept: In this assignment you are going to analyse the potential impact of increasing numbers of electrical vehicles in the UK. Electric vehicles may soon become competitive with Diesel engine vehicles for the general motorist, i.e. for both domestic and light industrial use. Prepare a report making a quantitative comparison of the sustainability implications for the UK of these two classes of vehicles over the next 20 years. Your assignment The aim of this assignment is to discuss the potential impact for the UK of increasing numbers of electrical vehicles. This scope of assignment embraces the concepts, principles and material discussed in all of the autumn term's lectures. A potential assessment strategy As a starting point, you may assume that - because of fuel costs and changes in behaviour due to environmental concerns - annual mileage will not exceed 15,000 km per annum per vehicle (perhaps rather less for electric vehicles). You will need to decide upon the likely rate of annual uptake of electric vehicles. You may wish to consider:- - The likely availability and cost of diesel or bio-diesel fuel vis-à-vis electricity. - The possible (future) primary sources of electricity in the UK. - The implications for the national electricity supply mix, (both technological and geographical) should substantial market penetration by electric vehicles occur. This may also affect retail pricing strategies. - The likely availability and cost of other non-renewable resources required for the manufacture of any such vehicles. - The possible implications of such market changes on the UK's CO2 emissions, and on local air quality. - Possible changes in people's attitudes to power generation and consumption. - Anything else you consider relevant. Remember (a) that the point of the exercise is to look at the relative sustainability of the widespread use of these two classes of vehicle - the various issues listed above should be considered in this light - and (b) that a quantitative analysis, albeit approximate, should be attempted wherever possible:- I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind... William Thomson (Lord Kelvin), May 1883 Assessment criteria / Marking scheme / Grade descriptors: Please read and adhere to the guidelines in this assignment sheet. The overall assignment marks will reflect the grade descriptors found in the 2nd year student handbook. The assignment structure should include an introductory section (10% of marks), a discussion (70% of the marks), a concluding section (10% of marks) and a Harvard formatted reference list (10% of marks) corresponding to your source citations. Your fully referenced assignment will make full use of the available academic literature and appropriate internet and data sources. It will be well written and argued, include as appropriate energy consumption and generation scenarios. Your assignment will link implicitly to the core material of this unit's term 1 lectures. The overall assignment marks will reflect the grade descriptors found in the 2nd year student handbook. Resources and Starter References: Refer to the additional material appended below and to reading lists and the supporting unit web site at https://moodle(dot)mmu(dot)ac(dot)uk Word limit: Coursework that exceeds the stated page limits will be penalised according to the following scheme: - If your work exceeds the stated word limit by more than 10% your mark will be reduced by 10% (ie one degree class). - If your work exceeds the stated word limit by more than 30% your mark will be capped at 40%. Assignment 1 (Portfolio) submission method: To be submitted via the Faculty Assessment Posting Boxes near the JD Student Hub. WORD LIMIT: 2500 (excluding references, tables and figure captions) WORD PROCESSED: YES DATE SET: 4th Oct 2013 SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wed 29th January 2014. Work submitted later than this will receive 0% (zero %) Your fully referenced assignment will make full use of the available academic literature and appropriate internet and data sources. -It will be well written and argued, include as appropriate energy consumption and generation scenarios Note (a) the point of the exercise is to look at the relative sustainability of the widespread use of these two classes of vehicle - the various issues listed above should be considered in this light (b) a quantitative analysis, albeit approximate, should be attempted wherever possible:- I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind You will need to decide upon the likely rate of annual uptake of electric vehicles. -How much fuel is needed? DVLA site has useful info -What are the differences in manufacturing / design constraints between diesel & electric Electric cars: You may wish to consider - -The likely availability and cost of diesel or bio-diesel fuel vis-à-vis electricity. -The possible (future) primary sources of electricity in the UK. –Renewables -Wind (off shore & on shore) -Biomass -Biodiesel (and associated agricultural issues, cost, availability) -Solar PV -Hydro (tidal and pump storage) –Fossil fuels (coal, gas) –Shale gas –Nuclear power (see additional slides) -uranium exchange -the geographical nature of the supplies even if not a rare mineral -plant costs / unit energy cost continues to rise -Life cycle analysis – technology dependent (AGR vs PWR) -Decommissioning –Fusion (its likely time scale) –UK Government / EU Regulation The implications for the national electricity supply mix, should substantial market penetration by electric vehicles occur. – Consider technological issues –Geographical issues –How this may also affect retail pricing strategies. -The likely availability and cost of other non-renewable resources required for the manufacture of any such vehicles. -The possible implications of such market changes on the UK's CO2 emissions, and on local air quality. -Possible changes in people's attitudes to power generation and consumption