Could technology for electric power and new fuels make gasoline obsolete?

Answer 1

New technology AND alternative fuels will and do replace gasoline already, but I don't think GAS will ever be obsolete until we run out of it.

I have personally experimented with E85 vs GASOLINE.
In my experiment, I drove a 2005 Ford Flex-Fuel Explorer for a week using regular unleaded gas.
Then I drove the same vehicle on a tank full of E85 fuel.

I only lost 1 mile per gallon(but my performance, or horsepower was increased) with the ethanol & I paid 50 cents a gallon less for the E85 !!!!

The more we use & improve alternative fuel production, the less expensive it becomes.

Ford has also produced the 1st hydrogen fueled 'people mover' vehicles & they are being used & researched now in Florida.

Ford is also working on a flex-fuel Hybrid, combining electric power & alternative fuels will have alot of impact on future energy & transportation.

With devepment of alt. fuel infrastructure, and alternative energy sources, I think, OPEC will someday be begging for $20 a barrel instead of the currant $70-$80 .

I only hope that day comes in my lifetime. Untill that day comes ...I , for one, will continue to support alternative fuels & energy.

I hope one day to see a photo of an American President holding hands with an Illinois Corn Farmer, instead of last years photo op of G.W. Bush holding hands with the Suadi Prince !

Answer 2

Trick here is to find an energy source that can produce the amount of energy that petroleum can for the same cost. Look at this example. Let's say that a gallon of fuel can get a 2,500lb vehicle from point A to point B which is about 15 miles apart in about 15 minutes. This is certainly a test standard that almost any modern vehcile can accomplish. The current cost of gasoline is about $3.00 a gallon. Can an alternative fuel or power source create enough energy to accomplish our test standard? If this is true, what is the cost to create that energy?

This is the big problem. There are no alternative energy sources that can accomplish the 'test standard' for anywhere close to the $3.00 cost. If we every figure out how to accomplish this, then yes... gasoline will be obsolete. However, keep in mind that new technology brings in new challeges.

Years ago the nation relied on various power sources to generate electricty, coal, fuel oil, hydro electic, natural gas, etc. Scientist were looking for a cheaper alternative to power generation that would use less fuel (ie less cost) to generate the same level of electrical power or higher. The 'solution' was nuclear energy. But, as you know, that opened a whole new set of problems.

This energy question has been ongoing for years.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

thats the whole point petroleum ( gasoline included) is a resource that wont last forever, given gas prices we are starting to see that teh demand is outwaying the supply.

It does all comeo down to electricity be it pwering batteries or splitting water to make hydrogen gas. As of right now though there is no feasable option

on just a side note E85 alcohol is a big mistake with E85 alcohol you can expect only 70% less milage from yoru car instead of gas. so though we wont be relying on petroleum we will be paying more per mile.

Answer 4

Of course. All that will take is $6 per gallon gasoline and it will happen overnight. The truth is that right now, gasoline is still the most cost effective way of powering a vehicle.

Answer 5

Yes...And its still driven by greed by most corporations to see it fail.

Answer 6

not completely.