How Long For Oil And Gas?
General Motors recently made a television commercial featuring their GM Volt vehicle.
The commercial is famously known for telling the oil companies that the "relationship is over".
Speaking of the relationship between their cars and using gas as the preferred energy source.
Technology may be a ways off before car makers can truly say the relationship is over but it does raise an interesting argument.
How long will it take for oil and gas to be phased out as the source of fuel for the vehicles we drive? As gas approaches $4 and $5 a gallon this question becomes more and more important.
Another reason this question is important is because analyst say we are reaching what is known as "peak oil.
" That is the economies of the world demand more oil than what can feasibly be produced by oil cartels.
Once peak oil is reached and it can no longer be expanded in dimension markets for oil and gas will shoot through the roof.
It will be a scary world.
So what can be done to avoid this fate? Oil and gas has to be cut off as the supply choice for vehicles or at least subsidized by a serious contender.
Of all the technologies in the pipeline electric powered vehicles seem to be the next generation.
As several car makers near or have released electric powered vehicles this idea continues to expand.
GM has already released its electric hybrid vehicle known as the Volt.
Under the Chevy brand the Volt can go 35 miles entirely on an electric charge that is the equivalent of paying on average $1 per gallon.
After going 35 miles the Volt switches to a gas engine.
Nissan is releasing the Leaf.
This is an entirely electric only vehicle.
It has no tail pipe and no gas tank.
Instead it is power by a battery that can go about 100 miles on a single charge.
These are good developments for those not benefiting from high gas prices.
It means that we are moving in a direction away from oil.
As electric vehicles ramp up in production and people buy them oil consumption could slow in some countries.
Within 10 years electric vehicles could significantly be the catalyst for changing dependence on oil.
Electric companies would benefit from extra business.
While there are many choice for alternatives it is vital that the alternative be plentiful and available.
The commercial is famously known for telling the oil companies that the "relationship is over".
Speaking of the relationship between their cars and using gas as the preferred energy source.
Technology may be a ways off before car makers can truly say the relationship is over but it does raise an interesting argument.
How long will it take for oil and gas to be phased out as the source of fuel for the vehicles we drive? As gas approaches $4 and $5 a gallon this question becomes more and more important.
Another reason this question is important is because analyst say we are reaching what is known as "peak oil.
" That is the economies of the world demand more oil than what can feasibly be produced by oil cartels.
Once peak oil is reached and it can no longer be expanded in dimension markets for oil and gas will shoot through the roof.
It will be a scary world.
So what can be done to avoid this fate? Oil and gas has to be cut off as the supply choice for vehicles or at least subsidized by a serious contender.
Of all the technologies in the pipeline electric powered vehicles seem to be the next generation.
As several car makers near or have released electric powered vehicles this idea continues to expand.
GM has already released its electric hybrid vehicle known as the Volt.
Under the Chevy brand the Volt can go 35 miles entirely on an electric charge that is the equivalent of paying on average $1 per gallon.
After going 35 miles the Volt switches to a gas engine.
Nissan is releasing the Leaf.
This is an entirely electric only vehicle.
It has no tail pipe and no gas tank.
Instead it is power by a battery that can go about 100 miles on a single charge.
These are good developments for those not benefiting from high gas prices.
It means that we are moving in a direction away from oil.
As electric vehicles ramp up in production and people buy them oil consumption could slow in some countries.
Within 10 years electric vehicles could significantly be the catalyst for changing dependence on oil.
Electric companies would benefit from extra business.
While there are many choice for alternatives it is vital that the alternative be plentiful and available.