Why can`t (our country) with all its technology (we can put a man on the moon!) come up with an alternate fuel

Answer 1

I would say Paul's answer is very good and level-headed (best answer).

To add to his answer:

Truth is that petroleum and its products have a very high energy density. The trick is to find alternate fuels that can compete with that high energy density and use technologies that preserve our fossil fuels (hybrid cars is a good example). We have these technologies now, it is just going to take a little while before they can be easily and efficiently implemented world-wide.

Also, we can use more electricity from the power grid to power transportation vehicles and other petroleum-using devices. It is more economical for a large power plant to use massive amounts of an alternative fuel than a single individual car. Also, power plants can regulate their gas emissions easier than individual cars. Plug-in hybrids and other technologies are poised to do great things (see PopSci article linked below).

Answer 2

We have a number of alternative fuels available to us already including ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, hydrogen, biomass, etc. To say that the government and/or oil companies are keeping them under wraps is misleading. It's really a matter of infrastructure, the US national energy distribution system is based on petroleum products and the electrical grid. Untold billions of dollars have been invested in this infrastructure and a similar investment will be needed to make many of the alternative fuels work.

There is also an underlying economic consideration - alternative fuels have historically been much more expensive to produce than oil. That part of the picture is changing as oil prices skyrocket in the face of increasing demand from China and others while alternative fuel production becomes ever more efficient. What we're likely to see is a gradual conversion to more efficient cars and appliances and use of regionally specific alternative fuels and power generation.

Answer 3

Actually, we have many times. The big oil companies buy the rights to "develop" them and that's the last we ever hear of them. In the early 1950's a man designed a carburetor that got over 100 miles to a gallon of gas. Standard Oil bought the rights so they could develop it further. It never came out, so the inventor built another one, and Standard Oil sued him. He counter-sued and won, but the final result is that we still haven't seen the 100mpg carb.. The same thing has happened with alternative fuel sources. Those with the money to "develop" are also the very groups trying to keep us in fossil fuel.

Answer 4

We will soon only if the States willing to pay money to the Canadians and exchange for 'oil sands'. This oil sands are oil that freezes together with sands in the snow in a small town of Alberta. The Canadians are digging it up as of right now with tons and tons of oil sands. They use seperator or refinary to seperate the oil from the sands that freezes under snow. Also the workers there are making a lot of money for driving those big dirt-remover-truck. I believe 120,000 Canadian dollars per year. But the trade-off is the freezing temperature and the Sun only comes out what less than here in the States. But the critics are complaining that the refinary will pollute the air and will incinerate the ozone layers as time goes by. This t.v. journalism was air on Sunday the 25th on '60 minutes'. It was a great piece of journalism.

Answer 5

There are a number of alternative fuel sources, but none so economically feasible as oil. Too much money to be lost to let us take on a new cheaper source as of yet.

And foe cluelessbtd above, Hydrogen does not occur alone anywhere in nature, it has to be produced using some very specific processes. The sheer volume of cells needed to provide enough energy to run all our cars on the freeway right now would be a daunting task that would require many, many thousands of acres of cells. Honda is one of the largest developers of the system used to create hydrogen, and you should do some research on it. Very interesting to say the least.

Answer 6

There is an alternate fuel, ethanol, but not all cars can use it. Plus, the oil companies are obviously making $ from us buying all this gas so why change anything. I think that all of us consumers need to get together and just for one day not buy any gas and see if that makes a difference.

Answer 7

We have come up with many alternate fuels. The oil companies don't want to admit it, because they want more money.
1. Hydrogen
2. Solar
3. Wind
4. Methane
5. Alcohol
6. Propane
7. Used Cooking Oil

Answer 8

We actually do have an alternate fuel. It is in fact, more powerful than gasoline. I'm talking about liquid hydrogen. The only problem is getting it to the public safely, considering that it must be kept extremely cold to remain in its liquid state, and is otherwise explosive. Hydrogen powered cars have been developed, and safe means of fueling up, but now they just need to find a way to get it into the public gas stations successfully.

Answer 9

Whoever come up with a alternative fuel will be bought out and sworn to silence.

The oil companies can't have that happen. You know how much money is in the industry.

Answer 10

He have alternate fuels for decades....as a mtter of fact most cars in the early 1900's and late 1800's used ethanol. It's all political, I wouldnt stress about it though