So again with this subject. Why are we still using oil? Alternative fuel solutions are right under our noses.?

Question

I mean look at Brazil.

READ THIS! I mean look at Brazil. they have a fully functional society working on alcohol powered cars. Ford and other companies are competeing down there. So the tech is there we just wont use it. All we need for alcohol is plants. Anything green. And you know what they pay for gas? 85 cents a GALLON! sure petrol would still be here. For plastics and other products but think! You could run your alcohol powered car in your garage close the garage door and inhale the exhaust and not die. So i guess my point is practical and helpful to the World. And plants are renewable. That essentially means no more global warming, an endless fuel supply and our imagination as our boundary!

READ THIS! I mean look at Brazil. they have a fully functional society working on alcohol powered cars. Ford and other companies are competeing down there. So the tech is there we just wont use it. All we need for alcohol is plants. Anything green. And you know what they pay for gas? 85 cents a GALLON! sure petrol would still be here. For plastics and other products but think! You could run your alcohol powered car in your garage close the garage door and inhale the exhaust and not die. So i guess my point is practical and helpful to the World. And plants are renewable. That essentially means no more global warming, an endless fuel supply and our imagination as our boundary! and i'm not talking about ethanol. And not just corn ANYTHING GREEN! THAT"S EVERYTHING! ENDLESS SUPPLY!

The cars we drive right now would only have to change in one way! High Compression Cylinders in lamens terms a HEMI! Domed pistons for higer compression just sovled our problems

Also im talking about cars! not other stuff. Alcohol powered cars solves one. Juts on i understand but its more feasible than you think.

Answer 1

Another problem with alternate fuels is the conversion process. A hydrogen-fueled car, that's only waste is water, sounds real nice. But, the cost in power and resources to crack the water and make hydrogen is prohibitive, and often uses oil-fueled power plants.

We can wean America off of oil, but with the love of SUVs, and Americans increased demand for oil, despite the price increase (according to the NBC Nightly News a rise of $50 in 4 years.), Americans are still going to be addicted to oil. At some point though America's love affair with oil is going to change. It had better happen soon, we have the technology, a few people have the will, but the average American just gripes and goes on paying.

Popular science published an article last month listing the top 10 alternate sources of power.

Answer 2

You ask as though it's a simple question.

Brazil uses it's ample supply of sugar cane to convert to ethanol, which it uses to replace ~50% of gasoline use in the country. In the US, this is not feasible, due to the huge demand for gasoline. The US also uses corn as the major supply of ethanol, which only has approximately half the yield of sugarcane - our climate is not condusive to sugarcane. Only a technological advance (cellulosic ethanol) will result in a significant portion of ethanol being used in the US. Even so, although this may ween the country of oil imports, it will not eliminate fossil fuels.

Ethanol, Hyrdogen and other potential althernative fuels currently require large energy input through electricity generated for the large part from coal. Developing nuclear power infrastructure in the US could further decrease demand for fossil fuels, but creates its own waste products and concerns. Although Thorium posses a possible safer, more abundant alternative to Uranium, more development is needed in order for it to become econimically feasible.

Whatever the long-term solution may be, it is clear that conservation must play a prominent role. The US owns 30% of the cars in the world and consumes 45% of the world's supply of gasoline. Even as demand continues to rise in the US, it will soon be outstripped by the raging growth in China and the far east, causing both gasoline demand and prices to increase yet further.

Answer 3

I'm surprised you would ask such a silly question. In my opinion the answer is obvious: oil is cheap and we have the infrastructure to supply it and use it. Brazil's solution creates a new problem. If we use our farms to "raise fuel" we will deplete the soil and create an even bigger environmental problem. Besides it does nothing for the CO2 "problem" and creates it own set of combustion pollutants such as aldehydes from the alcohol. I am always amazed at how liberals think generally only about immediate solutions to problems and not long term with more vision. They tend to ignore unintended consequences.

Answer 4

I live in rural Alaska, where the cost of obtaining/installing alternative energy means grossly outweighs the rising cost of fossil fuel yet, and we're approaching $5/gallon! The cost to the small business in any area of the country is prohibitive, so only government and big business can afford to make the leap yet. As the technology and demand grows, the cost of obtaining renewable energy means will be less expensive.

It would cost me about $40,000 to get a solar roof installed, and take about 27 years before it'd pay for itself, my power bill being $120/mo at about 30 cents/kWh. I've done my math. Likewise, my town's power company is too small to get alternative energy on its own. Our only chance is to qualify for government interest and help. The point is, it isn't cheap enough. Once you have it, you're getting somewhere. What alternatives are you taking advantage of?

Answer 5

The US economy's structure seems to be built on poor choices. Waste creates jobs and money. They can make gum that doesn't loose flavor and tires that don't go flat. Car paint can be made stronger and more durable. Those things don't make a profit. Oil makes MONEY. We are using an increasing amount of alcohol here though, corn and sugar cane are in great production for ethanol fuels.

Answer 6

Because we are extremely integrated into the oil system. With gas stations all over the place it would cost the gas companies too much. If we are going to stop using oil in out cars we will have to find something else to use oil so we don't hurt the oil companies that are so against a phase out.

Answer 7

Oh didn't you know? Ford has already came out with a line of cars that run on (corn& something else) soory don't know exataly what. But It's true and you can buy cars now that run on it so guess we've came a little ways more than you thought. Maybe there's like ford.com where you could get more information. I saw this on the t.v. sorry I don"t remember what show.I wish i could give you more information.

Answer 8

Yes - we should annex Mexico and Central America as 20 new states in the union. They could grow sugar cane, which is the highest yielding crop for ethanol (in terms of energy/acre). They could refine it and supply us at a market price. This would greatly increase their income, reducing illegal immigration and drug crops. The only impediment would be the federal government, the oil and gas industry, and the drug cartels. OK, now we know why we're still using oil . . .

Answer 9

The transition isn't going to be easy for the oil companies and the car companies haven't started really mass producing alt fuel only vehicles at a reasonable price.

Answer 10

These "alternative fuel solutions" are very expensive to create and market. Oil is cheaper and the vast majority of the world uses it. The rest of the world MIGHT get into the idea, give it time.