The Digital Artefact focused on decarbonisation, with this theme having a direct correlation with cars. Within this report the findings will be present, as well as the overall thoughts of ways in which the environment can be improved.
The main focus of the Digital Artefact was to find a better alternative to electric cars through the case studies of current electric cars, in particular Tesla’s. The methodology was action research, to find an action to the research being discovered. A key limitation within the digital artefact was being motivated to write blog posts and tweets about the topic due to the distaste of the overall topic and time constraints. However, a success which was seen was the ability to find information on electric cars, and the alternative which was being pitched, hydrogen cars.
To start a Digital Artefact, it was imperative to research what ‘decarbonisation’ is, and according to Volkswagen AG it means to ‘reduce carbon’. On the topic of car brands, it was also key to find out which brands are working on electric cars, and it was no surprise to see that Volkswagen, Porsche, Tesla, Toyota, and Hyundai already have or are working on electric car alternatives to petrol cars.
As we delved deeper into the research, it was critical to investigate the various automotive companies that are trying to move towards a more sustainable future. The main brands which emerged during the research conducted were Volkswagen, Porsche, Tesla, Toyota and Hyundai. These companies have already made electric cars, but only Toyota are on the right track in regards to Hydrogen models, which is established in the digital artefact and is spoken about.
The key action was to invest Hydrogen cars, which is a new and exciting initiative that has not been fully discovered. During the early stages of the digital artefact, the electric cars were discovered, and then the use of hydrogen cars was suggested. What does a hydrogen car look like? Well, this AI generated picture depicts what a hydrogen car looks like, and suggesting the futuristic background it seems like AI think hydrogen cars are an idea for the future. However, with the research provided in the digital artefact, hydrogen cars are the way to go over luxurious electric cars.
In terms of future cultures, the Digital Artefact needed to spread its horizons so that the methodology of hydrogen cars becomes a well-known phenomenon, so I took to Twitter to tweet about the future of cars.
The above tweet recently caught the attention of 50 individuals, where the underlying message touched upon a crucial subject that demands attention. The tweet, which delves into deep action research, discusses an action that could completely change the Australian transportation industry – the introduction of the first-ever hydrogen car in the country, the Toyota Mirai. Electric cars are incredible innovative devices, however, they come with a hefty price tag and are actually worse for the environment. Therefore, in order to fulfill the ultimate goal of decarbonisation, hydrogen cars need to be a more affordable option. The tweet emphasised this very point, striving to encourage more discussions on this digital artefact. While there was no active engagement on the tweet, its presence caught the attention of a group of people, hopefully allowing for those people to reflect on the future of cars, and the introduction of hydrogen cars.
The success of the digital artefact can be chiefly attributed to the extensive action research conducted during the course the project. Through analysis and examination, the project was able to uncover a vast amount of information and material that could be effectively conveyed to its intended audience and spark a conversation on decarbonisation. A crucial aspect of this research involved seeking out authoritative sources and expert opinions on the topic under investigation.
In the course of research, it was discovered that there were numerous websites that reviewed a wide range of vehicles. Notable among these sources were Which Car?, CarsGuide and CarAdvice, all of which provided valuable insights for the digital artefact and sparked opinions on specific electric cars. This discovery not only enriched the Digital Artefact project, but it also aided in shaping my own research. Ultimately revealing that while there was a safari of material available on electric cars, while there was limited information on hydrogen-powered cars.
This fascinating observation of hydrogen cars speaks volumes regarding the direction of the world and its future. By implying on the need for a better alternative to electric cars, the project was able to fill a critical gap in the current debate on decarbonisation and its corroboration with transportation. This discovery also highlights the importance of research in driving innovation, and depicts the true impact the digital artefact along with the content created can have in changing the world as we know it in conjunction with the research that comes with it.
One of the primary limitations discovered during the research weeks was the limited availability of information on hydrogen cars. This “lack” of research made it challenging to gather the insights and data needed to fuel the Digital Artefact. This lack of information was intertwined by an overall distaste for the Digital Artefact topic, rendering the entire project more of a “chore” instead of a passion. If there was more flexibility and creative freedom to explore whatever was wanted for the Digital Artefact, it could have been a more inspiring and fulfilling experience, and the actual ‘action research could have been achieved.
After conducting further action research, it became clear that hydrogen cars are currently in much smaller numbers compared to electric cars, with only 15,000 registered in the United States alone. This finding highlights the need for continued innovative development in the field of transportation especially in regards to the topic of decarbonisation. While the world predominately talks about electric cars and their ‘so-called’ impact on our environment, we must not forget about hydrogen cars, which not only have a cheaper consumer cost but can travel further and utilise water rather than the controversial use of lithium found in electric cars.
With this knowledge, the digital artefact’s trajectory was to use the action research conducted to promote and educate the public on the use of hydrogen cars rather than their electric car counterparts. This plan was executed by curating a series of engaging blog posts and thought-provoking Twitter conversations to ignite advocacy for hydrogen cars. By raising awareness of the advantages of hydrogen vehicles over their electric counterparts, the aim is to spark the attention of the car manufacturers and people, whilst also paving the way for a more sustainable transportation system which involves hydrogen. Through the research methodologies used it is clear and undeniable that the future of transportation lies in hydrogen and it is time we recognise this potential.
Despite the limited amount of content available seen in the digital artefact, the research seen in as well as the produced material show the powerful advocacy for the really small hydrogen car movement. The abundance of action research conducted provides further validation and truth as one of the successes of the digital artefact. With the corroboration of reliable statistics and sources, the culmination of the project’s efforts to raise awareness for hydrogen cars shows as an incredible display of its relevance in today’s world and to the fight against the issue of decarbonisation. The main success of this project has been exemplifying the innovation of hydrogen cars as well as encouraging more focus on improved hydrogen car research and development.
Conclusively, although the digital artefact was not something that was a passion nor enjoyable, it provided some excellent action research in the better alternative to electric cars. Using the theme of ‘decarbonisation’, sources, and both blog and Twitter posts allowed for the idea of hydrogen cars to be further evaluated and expanded through the digital artefact.
In conclusion, while the creation of the digital artefact may not have been a passion or source of enjoyment, it actually provided a fantastic opportunity for action research in the realm of transportation. Through the theme of ‘decarbonisation’ with the corroboration various sources and social media platforms like blogs and Twitter, the concept of hydrogen-powered vehicles was thoroughly evaluated and developed. The digital artefact allowed for the gathering and analysis of key information and insights, offering a glimpse into the world of eco-friendly transportation. By pushing the limits of what is currently known and engaging in thoughtful analysis and reflection, we are able to take important steps towards building a cleaner and more sustainable future for all. This future looks like hydrogen power cars and the gradual implementation of these in battle of electric cars. Overall, the digital artefact served as a valuable tool in further expanding the understanding and knowledge surrounding sustainable transportation.
REFERENCE LIST
CarAdvice, 2023, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.drive.com.au
Carsguide, 2023, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.carsguide.com.au
J, Voelcker, 2022, Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles Everything You Need to Know, Car and Driver, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a41103863/hydrogen-cars-fcev/
Volkswagen AG, 2023, Decarbonisation – Simply explained, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/stories/2019/03/decarbonization-what-is-it.html#:~:text=The%20term%20decarbonization%20literally%20means,a%20CO₂%2Dfree%20global%20economy
Which Car, 2023, viewed 29th May 2023, https://www.whichcar.com.au
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