If every car became electric today, what percentage of the world's oil consumption would be eliminated?

Question

BTW, I came across this company today. Looks really cool!!!
http://www.teslamotors.com/

Answer 1

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Sadly, there is no way to make this happen so quickly. There's lots of activity in electric car research right now, so we will begin to see a few practical electric vehicles become available in the next few years. Examples:
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From Europe: The Electric Mini - does 150 mph!
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/the_hybrid_mini.php

From China: The Happy Messenger - only costs $10000, goes 150 miles per charge:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/12/chinese_ev_comp.html

Also from China: the BYD car, designed to be affordable, with a 250-mile range:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106930

The GEO EV, from Korea. It goes 155 miles on a three hour charge:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200505/18/200505182238171109900090609062.html

Also from Korea. The ENERGINE Electric-Pneumatic hybrid.
It runs on air and electricity. No gasoline:
http://www.energine.com/e_main.php

From Japan. The Subaru R1E. Charges to 90% in 5 minutes, costs under $18000:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8995780

Also from Japan. The Mitsubishi Colt EV, with advanced lithium-ion batteries:
http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1269.html

An imported chinese car, hopefully to be available here next year:
http://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html
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The above is only a partial list - I could post 20 more. What will happen, if any of these cars catch on, is the petroleum industry will slash the price of gasoline to keep us all hooked. There is so much profit in gasoline, that I believe we will be amazed at how low the price can get. But as oil runs out, gasoline will slowly fade. I'm afraid the process will take decades.
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Answer 2

42% as that is the percentage of oil that is converted to gasoline. However the oil industry would find a new use for it soon enough. Until we end the use and need of all fossil fuels every drop that can be extracted will be used up.
So the reality is we likely would see no overall change in oil consumption, only a change in what it is refined into.

Answer 3

I don't know, but it would be huge. Everyone reading this should really consider buying an electric car on your next car purchase. We really need to become independent of oil from Venezuela and the Middle East, because one day they will cut us off, causing a lot of chaos and make us vulnerable to a take-over. Our whole military is run off of electric. Seriously consider this.

Answer 4

the reality is that they wont let that happen and havent let that happen for many years ... im not convinced that only 42% is used in autos ... its got to be way higher than that and its a major source of revenue for govts.

Answer 5

100%!!!!!!!!!!!!