Assignment 1: Information Literacy
Anthony Montague
With technology in the auto industry rapidly increasing, the idea of
alternate fuel systems for automobiles is becoming popular. Porsche is now
in the process of creating a new four-door electric sports car capable of
producing around 600bhp and launches from 0-62mph in under 3.5 seconds.
The Porsche Mission E concept car is also predicted to have a battery life of
over 300 miles and charge to 80 percent in about 15 minutes. Not only will
this new car be fuel efficient but is loaded with new technology that
recognizes which dial or gauge the driver is focused on and then highlights it.
This new vehicle is predicted to run in the price range of 100,000. (Rix,
2015)
To search for articles on the implementation of alternate fuel systems
for automobiles I will be using two different search engines and a series of
key words. For the two different search engines I will be using Google and
Bing. I also used the key words/ terms such as alternate fuel systems, cars,
and electric. From my personal experience I expected Google to provide a
variety of more relevant articles then Bing. While searching on Google with
the my key words I immediately found a more recent article that also were
filled with more meaningful information such as how a fuel cell vehicle works
and what exactly is emitted from the car and how it is safe for the
environment (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, 2015). Searching on Bing, I found it
difficult to find recent articles that had more valuable information then
simply explaining how an electric car is run off batteries. Although after
several pages I found an article that did explain the brief history of electric
cars and how they will impact the future by emitting less harmful fumes (A
Student's Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicles - Electric Vehicles, 2002).
Since I found that the article from Google contained a higher quality of
information, I will be analyzing it a bit farther. While this web article does not
specify the exact date of publication, it does state that the content was last
updated April 7, 2015. After reading this article it is clear that it is relevant to
my topic of alternate fuel systems for cars by explaining the technology of
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. While the authority of the article is unclear due
to the lack of an authors name I do believe this information is accurate. The
accuracy can be proven due to the fact that the information being provided
is from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Clear purpose of this article was
to inform readers on a new way to fuel cars that is both environmentally
friendly and practical. This article mainly states facts and none too few
opinions so the article is without a doubt objective.
Using the CCBC Library databases I was hoping to find more reliable
information that would also be relevant to the topic of fuel efficient cars. I
have found that the database EBSCO has a wide variety of topics and a very
user friendly advance search process, I decided that it would be the perfect
1
Assignment 1: Information Literacy
Anthony Montague
database to access quality journal articles. In hope of finding articles that
were of the same topic that I searched for through Google and Bing, I
decided to use similar key words: alternate, fuel, systems, cars, and electric.
For me I personally still prefer to find my information using a search engine
like google over a database. While both articles I found through EBSCO
contained quality information with plenty of support I felt as if some of it was
a little out dated. The article I found using Google on fuel cell cars was up to
date with the most current technology for alternate fuel systems in cars
while the more recent article I found using EBSCO didnt really state any
major breakthroughs with new technology but simply explaining what could
be an option or talked about hybrids which in my opinion are not current
enough. As far as timeliness and ease of access, I was able to find the
necessary and up to date info easier on a search engine. But I do believe
that using a database like EBSCO will provide information that is more
scholarly and better used for non-current event or rapidly growing topics
especially related to technology.
Works Cited in APA Format
A Student's Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicles - Electric Vehicles. (2002, June 3).
Retrieved from A Student's Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicles - Electric
Vehicles: http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/electric.html
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles. (2015, April 7). Retrieved from Alternate Fuel Data
Center: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/fuel_cell.html
Rix, J. (2015, September 14). BBC Autos: This is Porsche's four-door electric future.
Retrieved from BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20150914porsches-four-door-electric-future
Ren, G., Ma, G., & Cong, N. (2015). Review of electrical energy storage system for
vehicular applications. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 41225-236.
doi:10.1016/j.rser.2014.08.003
Parris, T. M. (2006). Innovative Vehicle Technologies. Environment, 48(10), 3.
Assignment 1: Information Literacy
Anthony Montague
