Will Internal Combustion Engines Become Extinct?

Internal combustion engines are the mainstay of today's vehicles, but with the advancement and increasing popularity of electric cars, some believe these engines will become extinct. Internal combustion engines are currently used in several types of vehicles, including gasoline, diesel, or gas-powered, and there is a hydrogen-powered version that has been developed but is not widespread. These engines are also used in hybrid forms alongside electric motors. In the simplest hybrid type, the electric motor drives the wheels, while the gasoline or diesel engine is used to charge the battery and generate electricity, slightly improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. In another type, both engines are used in parallel in the vehicle, and in the third method, they are used in a combined manner. In the third method, sometimes the gasoline engine is completely off, sometimes it is turned on to charge the batteries, and when the vehicle needs more power, it is assisted by the electric motor: this method will shape the future of the automotive industry for the next 50 years. Currently, some automakers are heavily advertising their intention to phase out gasoline or diesel vehicles and have even specified timelines for this. However, hidden within this advertising is a subtle point; most automakers making such claims do not say they will adopt Tesla's method of using electric motors, but rather that they intend to use hybrid propulsion systems. Despite being used in hybrid systems, internal combustion engines will ultimately last until 2050. Sergio Kozumaki, the head of Toyota's research center, has stated that internal combustion engines will become extinct by 2050. But what will happen to electric vehicles after the extinction of internal combustion engines? The reality is that electric vehicles can only slightly reduce fuel consumption and air pollution if the electricity is generated from fossil fuels, as the electricity produced from fossil fuels is mostly dependent on turbine engines, which have better efficiency than gasoline or diesel engines. On the other hand, lithium batteries in electric vehicles will also contribute to environmental pollution. Another method is the use of fuel cell engines. In fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen is mixed with oxygen from the air, and the result of this reaction is the production of water and electricity. The electricity is used by the electric motor to move the vehicle. However, the biggest challenge facing this technology is the safety and storage of hydrogen at high pressure or in liquid form. Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements in nature. Burning hydrogen produces only water. However, the challenge lies in hydrogen storage. Hydrogen boils at minus 252 degrees Celsius at sea level pressure, making hydrogen liquefaction very complex and costly; compression also requires very sophisticated technology. One practical method is to store hydrogen using hydrides. This method holds great promise for future vehicle use. Fuel cell vehicles do not have the time-consuming charging problem of electric vehicles, but they are also more expensive and potentially more dangerous. But are these vehicles cleaner? In theory, yes, but in reality, no, because although hydrogen is one of the most abundant materials in nature, producing it requires the decomposition of water or gas, which also consumes energy, and if renewable or nuclear energy is not used, air pollution will still be produced.