When gas runs out completely, what will happen to us? Do you think they are moving fast enough on el vehicles?

Question

We seem to have few, if any, affordable electric cars out now. Most cars out, that the middle class could afford, are uglier than sin in design, and go about 80mph maximum. I guess we could always return to horses for a while until the car companies pull their heads out of their butts...but how long would that take after the last drop of gas falls?

Answer 1

Electric (or solar) cars are not the only "alternative fuel" vehicles out there. A couple of weeks ago at the British Auto show was unveiled a 100% ethanol-burning car. A car that runs on 100% corn-fuel!! AND it generated 500 horsepower, and could also run on regular gasoline. So, if we get the infrastructure up and running, ethanol could easily eliminate our oil dependancy! I said IF. Don't hold your breath, it'll probably be the last possible minute before we run out of oil, if the oil tycoons have anything to do with it. LOL

Answer 2

Well first of all it's a long ways away before "the last drop of gas falls" and before that time occurs we will be far more advanced in ways of transportation then simply oil and gasoline. I think the recent gas crisis has made people much more aware that we do need to find alternative fuel methods. The problem with gas is not that it in danger of running out however it's more that the price of it has become so substantially great it's hard for people to afford it anymore. The greater part of the world is basically run by the oil companies seeing that it is the basis of transportation and without it transportation is nearly impossible and all other methods just not nearly as efficient. Since the oil companies can make the price of oil just about any price they choose that is exactly what they have started doing gradually raising oil prices to ridculous amounts. People have begun to realize the necessity of using alternative fuel sources and eventually a more efficient cheaper fuel source will be made.

Answer 3

A hundred years or so ago, the world ran on whale oil. They were in danger of killing off all the whales, and everyone was saying the same thing about whale oil as they are now, until someone discovered that the toxic muck that was oozing out of the ground (petroleum) could be used in place of whale oil, and that's where we are now.

At current consumption rates, there is over 100 years of oil, not counting the reserves that have not been discovered yet.

Also, they are opening up old wells that they thought were empty, only to find that they somehow filled up again. They speculate that there is a deeper source that they never knew about.

The car companies will not build electric vehicles until the market is big enough to support it. Demand drives supply. This is fine, don't worry. We'll have a new energy source in plenty of time.

If the USA would set a national goal to convert 2% of our vehicles per year, in 50 years we would be completely off oil, and there would still be at least 50 years worth of oil sitting in the ground.

Answer 4

Actually the electric car has been around longer then we think. I was just talking to my Dad the other day about it. I asked him when cars first came around, he said early 1900's. I said wow so cars really haven't been around for long and we already have the technology of electric cars. He told me that one of the first cars that were made were electric cars. (This tells me that we have been working out the bugs all this time.)

So I think in time we will see alot of electric cars. When that is I have no idea. In the beginning it will be costly. That is only because there are only so many to be bought and the need for them are high. Once they are common the price should drop. (I hope)
I am afraid that the gas prices will go up and up and up and for those of us who don't have an electric car will suffer. (Horse and buggy maybe?) It would make sense the less gas needed in America the cost would go down, but I just don't see that happening.

Funny story..
My Dad's Great Grandpa was the first person to drive a car in his county. There were others who drove but not many. When the cars would break down the guys in their horse and buggy would pass them yelling "Get a horse".

His Great grandpa lost control of his car and headed for the ditch. Out of natural reaction he pulled the steering wheel right out of the dash board and said woh. (like one would do with a horse and it's reins.) He still hit the ditch.

I really don't think we will run out of gas. I do believe it will cost so much that we won't be able to afford it at all. Either way it sucks!

Answer 5

Gas wont run out. Gas companies and the people that control the oil fields are just greedy. Thats not going to change. Expect gas prices to go up before they come down again.

You should probibly expect that there will be some regulation by the government that will dictate to the industry how gas and oil products and priced.

Technology is expensive, and to buy an all electric car or one of the newer hybrid cars for under 15K dollars wont happen for at least 15 years.

Answer 6

We really do not have serious cause to worry on this score. There are still around 100 years (and counting) before gas runs out. Hence we have a cushion of 100 years to come up with a new alternative.
Electric cars have not fully lived up to the promise they once offered even though large amounts have been spent on their R & D. Then you have the problem of disposal of the waste from batteries which can be toxic. Fuel cells hold promise but the most exciting development is fusion reactors which basically imitate the reaction process of the sun (by combining hydrogen atoms to produce helium and release energy in the process). This is a complete conversion of matter into energy with an efficiency of 100%! Also the raw material (hydrogen) is abundant throughout. The energy released can be calculated in terms of the famous Einstien equation - E=MC(squared). As an added bonus, the radioactivity issues in such fission reactions are much much less as compared to the conventional fusion reactors.
However there are serious engineering and technological hurdles before a light portable fusion reactor can be made (one that can be carried in the bonnet of a car). My guess is that it will take anything between 50-100 years before such a reactor can be made as it requires many breakthroughs in materials and technology. However once a viable fusion reactor is made, the energy problems of the the world will be resolved in one shot.
As of now governments are not investing as much as they should on fusion research - everyone is interested in short term. However if the price of oil keeps on moving north, you can expect more by way of funding.
To conclude, there is really nothing to be seriously worried about. In the short run we can always tide over oil shocks. Throughout history the human race has always been able to find a way out - be it controlling disease, population growth.... and now oil.

Answer 7

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If you gotta go faster than 80mph, there's always the Tesla electric sports car:
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http://www.teslamotors.com
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It tops 130mph, accelerates 0-60 in four seconds, and can beat a Ferrari in a race. It gets 250 miles to the charge. And it's not ugly. But it is expensive. If you can wait a couple of years, they plan on releasing some cheaper cars.
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Here's a less expensive electric car - a Chinese import, it gets a 200 mile range, 80mph top speed, sells for $28,500, but not available until next year:
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http://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html
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The reason most electric vehicles top out at 80 mph or so is because they don't have transmissions. Electric motors have very wide powerbands, and can do 0 to 80 mph without a transmission. The Tesla has a two speed transmission to get to 130mph. Probably most EVs will only go 80 mph to save on the cost of the transmission.

Answer 8

First, it will be a long time before that happens, plenty of time for development. Second, it is not just electric cars that are beign worked on. There are vehicles that can realistically run on other fuels, like hydrogen, that have been developped. They are still working out some kinks in the designs and working on marketability, but still. Also, you have high ethanol fuel vehicles now. Eventually we will convert from gasoline to other fuels, it is just an uphill battle with oil and gas companies pushing down from the top.

Answer 9

They are not moving fast enough. This question was on every ones mind in the 1970 gas lines. Shortages are not new, just a way for Oil to make big money. Record profits, like and addict we go to the pumps and give them our hard earned money.

Solutions have been available for years. The government is lobbied not to solve the problem with legislation.

This problem could go away in 5 years! But it will still be around 10 years from now. Because we have to force the right direction here. Hydrogen is the right way. You can make hydrogen from water by putting energy into water. Yes it costs. But when hydrogen burns, you get Water. Clean burning. This is available today, just the infrastructure for Hydrogen 'Pumps', is not.

Answer 10

Gas is a natural resource when it is all gone.Bush better work on something real good cause many people in this century depend on gas to get them to their destination.And horses wouldn't work what if you are late to work or school.A car would get you there a couple of minutes faster.i don't think it is the car companies either because maybe they aren't getting enough money from our government to help us .And know this Alaska s**t then the other gas supply in New Orleans had to be shut down cause of Hurricane Katrina.I would be happy to sit in a car that goes 80 mph then to have to walk or ride a horse 5 or 10 miles.Cause horses cant protect you from the rain and neither can walking.So our government better get there stuff together or all mayhem in this place.