It is not a topic that emerged recently, that ofpollution caused by cars. Long before the 1973 oil crisis, it was understood that exhaust gases were harmful to human health and the environment, but a real movement was not yet born capable of challenging the use of cars and testing to convince producers to be less polluting. So, fifty years ago the debate was already ‘heated’. But what did they say then? Were motorists aware, aboard cars just presented such as the Fiat 128 Sport Coupé (pictured on the cover), that the emissions could be of tremendous impact?
In an article that appeared in the press on December 11, 1971, we wondered what the car of the future could be, in exchange for the generation of cars that could be purchased at the time. This is the premise: “The man realized a little late that in the race for well-being he was destroying the world and himself, at first slowly then with an increasingly accelerated pace. Now he runs for cover trying to save what can be saved. Of the sources that pollute the air, the car ranks third in the ranking of responsibilities with domestic heating and smoke emissions from industrial plants“.
Oscar Montabone, Fiat deputy general manager, designer and head of the research and design group, tried to see clearly. Explaining to the newspaper the steps taken by the brand to solve the pollution problem. This is the summary: “Fiat has set up a research department where, with tests for the abatement of exhaust gases, especially carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, studies and research are carried out on new means of propulsion. The question is this: will the car of the future be electric, turbine powered, steam powered? This is no joke: the force of the steam that moves the locomotives will also be able to move the cars. Let’s say, at least trucks and buses. Projects and tests are underway: an 850 with an electric motor has been running for some time, but the problems it encounters are of two kinds: weight, low speed and very low autonomy. At a speed of 65 kilometers per hour its range is 60 kilometers. Studies are therefore aimed at increasing speed, finding new types of less bulky and more resistant accumulators, fast recharging systems.“.
Montabone said: “An electric car will be considered truly acceptable if you can have batteries that are the same, such as footprint, quantity and duration of energy that can be supplied, to a full petrol tank and can be loaded in a corresponding time. Until then, and it is not a matter of days or months, the propulsion will remain on petrol“. Fifty years later, there are electric cars capable of achieving the same range as thermal cars. But a perfect technical balance has not yet been found on the charging times.
Oscar Montabone (1913-1986) joined Fiat in 1937, at the Aviation Engine Office, and in 1946 he moved to the Vehicle Design Office, of which he then assumed the position of Deputy Director. From 1956 to 1962 he was director of the Simca Technical Center in Argenteuil. In 1962 he became an applied engineer in the Fiat general management, for the coordination and development of vehicle design. In 1965 he was appointed co-director of Fiat’s automotive projects and studies department, in 1970 deputy general manager and in 1972 head of the central research department. In 1975 he ceased active service, but continued to work as a consultant for the Fiat group. He was president of the CUNA (Technical Commission for the unification of motor vehicles), of the SASN (Experimental Autopiste Company of Nardò) and of the FEEMAS (Research Group on Air Pollution, composed of Fiat, Eni, Esso, Mobil, Alfa Romeo).
#Cars #environment #debate #electricity #years #FormulaPassionit