Why do we rely on gasoline so much?

Question

If the technology is out there to get us away from it. The internal combustion engine has been outdated for the past 50 years. We actually do have to technology to produce a vehicle that is completely electric and is self sustained. Which means you don't plug it in, or have to worry about running low on power.

If you think I'm crazy, just look at the bullet trains around the world, and you will see what i'm talking about, only in personal vehicles.

I am In the middle of doing some research on this concept, and what I have seen has really opened my eyes.

Can you imagine driving from coast to coast whith out having to refuel?

Did you know, what I have reasearched will give these cars more speed, horsepower, and torque than any car on the market today...

Answer 1

I agree with GratefulDead. It sounds like tin foil hat stuff, but that has to be the answer: big oil interests are buying politicians, in the US at least.

Here's a quote from an Independent Congressman's site

"Instead of adopting these pro-consumer, pro-environment solutions, the House Republican leadership has passed not one but two energy bills that do nothing to lower prices at the pump, are anti-environment, and give billions in corporate welfare to the same oil companies that are bringing in record-breaking profits. "

Answer 2

People like going faster than 35 miles an hour. Also, many of our power plants are fueled with Oil because liberals won't let us build Nuclear plants. All the mumbo jumbo talk about electric and hydrogen cars is rhetoric. We can't make either of those for a reasonable price and the infrastructure just isn't there. I don't know where you get your facts but the internal combustion engine is hardly outdated. You talk all high and mighty about switching to a new type of car but I'm sure your smashing around in an SUV. You guys aren't gonna accomplish anything but good luck trying to change the world. Nuclear Power is the way to go.

Answer 3

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. You need to read more, not just read selectively.

The bullet trains rely on magnets to keep them floating, which in turn reduces friction (but can't do anything about air friction) and allows them to go faster with less resistance. But it still takes quite a bit of power to get them going and fight air resistance.

Did you know that above ~50 mph your car is using almost all of its roughly 200 horsepower just to push air out of the way? Now imagine a bullet train going at 200mph, many times the size of a car.

The combustion engine has not been outdated, the hybrids that "run completely on electricity" need to be plugged in, and the ones that don't need to be have a gas engine.

The ones that are neither at the one person flat solar paneled vehicles that schools build to race for fun and cost millions of dollars to go 25mph.

You said you're in the middle of doing research. Try getting to the end.

Answer 4

We rely on gasoline and its derivatives, not just for fuel for our vehicles, but for dozens, even hundreds of other applications. All plastics, a lot of fertilzers, etc are made from petroleum products. When the oil is gone, no more plastic men, DVDs or pacemakers. No more motorcycle helmets, or football helmets. No more tampon applicators and since we wont be able to grow cotton or trees without fertilizer, no more tampons. No more Lee Press On nails. Jeez Im liking this "We're Outa Oil" thing better and better.

A "completely electric and self sustained" vehicle which "you don't plug it it, or have to worry about running low on power" is one which must then generate as much fuel as it consumes. This is considered a "perpetual motion" machine, and, according to all known laws of thermodynamics and energy conservation, is a mathetmatical impossibility. But since you are quite vague in your claims, it's impossible to discern with any degree of accuracy. And since you failed to include sources for your ideas, I am disinclined to believe your "electric car" miracle.

It also sounds like you're referring to "magnetic-drive" trains. Sorta the same concept being used in modern rollercoasters. Repellor magnets along a track allow the train to "float" to its destination, at astonishing speeds. But those magnets still have to be POWERED. And right now, we hvae coal (a petroleum product), Oil and Nuclear. There are great strides being made in wind and solar power and I hope in my lifetime to see solar panels covering every rooftop in America. Nuclear energy is relatively safe, but to fully implement SAFE nuclear generation, all nuclear generating facilities would have be to located where no people would be affected by a nuclear accident or terrorist sabotage. That would be the closest place around us which HAS no people: The Moon. Of course, this is complicated and incredibly expensive, but would you rather do that or have 6 or 7 Chernobyls, all cooking off at the same time,when all these reactors built in the 60s and 70s start falling apart?

Energy generation isnt really the problem. We have a ton of ways of MAKING energy work. The problem is really one of transmission and storage. How do we get power to people far away with little to no energy loss and still be able to store it there until they need it? Research an answer to THOSE two "concepts" and you could get a Nobel Prize, but please don't waste your time claiming to have a perpetual motion machine.

Answer 5

Gasoline refining is chem 103.........rather simple which is WHY the oil companies have NOT had one NEW refinery built in 20+ years.

They jack up the price based on spectulation and NOT supply or demand.

Anyway as far back as the 1930's a few creative folks here and in Canada seperately developed carbs which got a whopping 100MPG but Ford and big oil quietly bought out the technology.

Answer 6

bullet trains and cars are built completely differently. Bullet trains get most of their power from electrical plates in the bed of the track. To do this on every road in America would not be economically feasible. I can imagine driving from coast to coast without refueling, also i can imagine perpetual motion.

Answer 7

This is definitely the best question I've seen today !!!

Also verrrry interesting answers!

Definitely going on my "watch list"

I don't think there is any ONE answer to this question , but how refreshing to see intelligent people actually researching and giving good advice and opinions,....instead of unqualified & self proclaimed 'experts' that have no idea of what they are talking about.

By the way, Ford has been researching alternetive fuels for years.
First to put E85 capable vehicles on the road, 1995
First 'Fully Hybrid' SUV , 2004-5
First hydrogen fueled vehicle, recently
also in R&D are tri-flex-fuel vehicles & hybrid/flex-fuel

Answer 8

The answer above is true. The oil companies have huuuuge power. If we did run out of petroleum, then they would have to have some control of energy - the idea of zero point energy to them is a revolution. Water fusion is the way to go.

Answer 9

right now the main reason were still on gas ,,is the big oil company,s they control pretty much of what goes on right now,,like you said,,we have had the technology for year,s to do away with it,,but they want to control the price of it,,they also have a lot of pull as far as new idea,s go,,they usually buy out any idea that may hurt sales of gas,,but sooner or later there going to loose the battle,,they have just out priced it so high,,that we can no longer afford it,,at least this is my reason,,hope this help,s.

Answer 10

Times are changing and within 10 years gasoline will be available but not the main fuel for automobiles. Ethanol is coming on fast! And cheap!