Oil can't last forever. What will be the next big source of energy?

Question

-Ethanol?
-All Electric Cars?
What is your opinion.

Answer 1

-----------------
Electric cars are an excellent choice, and a solution to the pollution problem. It's true that power plants also burn some dirty fuel, but the far greater efficiency of electric vehicles means that much less pollution per mile is created, no matter how much coal is burned. Gas engines are only 25% efficient - electric motors are 95% efficient, and Li-Ion batteries are 88% efficient. Sending fuel by wire (the electric grid is 95% efficient) is also far more efficient and cost-effective than sending gasoline by truck to your local gas station.
*
A new battery technology for electric cars has recently emerged, lithium-ion. And many new electric cars are now in development, that promise to solve the typical 'electric car' problems. We may even start to see some of these cars in the next year or two. A sampling:
*
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. It can charge in 20 minutes, and is priced under $20k.
http://aftermarket.autoblog.com/2006/10/12/mitsubishi-looks-ahead-with-an-electric-i/

A chinese EV slated for import to the USA next year. It gets 200 miles/charge, and costs $28,500.
http://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html

The Tesla sports car:
http://www.teslamotors.com
*
And if you don't want to wait - and if you don't mind not having the very latest technology, there are many small entrepreneurs doing electric car conversions right now, that you can buy for as little as $5000. Details are on this page:
*
http://squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car/
*
-------------------

Answer 2

I hear a lot of good things lately about coal. The technology is coming along to convert coal into a clean-burning fuel. Currently, that process is still really expensive. But, from what I understand, there's enough coal in the ground here in the USA to last us another 250-300 years at our current rate of consumption.

Ethanol is a good choice too, but it is not capable of generating the same horsepower per gallon that gasoline is, and still costs a lot to produce too. I like it because it's renewable, and it keeps our farmers working though.

All electric vehicles, it this point at least, are just impractical. The American way of life would have to undergo some major changes before an all electric car could take us the distances that we drive. In other words - say bye-bye SUV!! Hello micro-compact car.

One thing's for sure - As Middle-East oil markets continue to clamp the vise on our economy, America will have to find a way to become more self-sufficient to survive in the future.

Answer 3

there's a fabrication company that makes the "Attack Roadster" it uses a 150hp diesel mated with a 200hp electric motor. It hit's 0-60mph in 4 seconds and runs off of some kind of soybean extract.

Right now I would say companies aren't advanced enough to produce a single cost effective, safe form of fuel replacement (Ethenol needs other addative, hydrogen is unstable, pure electric doesn't have driving duration). So my guess is hybrid cars will eventually take over or at least be the next step IE: electric paired with some other manufactured fuel type.

Answer 4

Look at this, Brazil a country with 200 million people uses ethanol in 85% of their automobiles, now the next source in the future could easily be either electric or nuclear fusion..☺

Answer 5

You've hit on one, kind of. Ethanol is a form of biomass energy. Two other potential energy resources are solar and wind. Willey Nelson just made public his involvement with a biomass company. One of the problems with biomass energy is growing it then processing it cheaply and efficiently. Hemp or marijuanna is one of the best potential candidates for such a process because of it's quick growth rate and ability to be easily processed. The draw back here is the governments restrictions on any legitimate uses of this plant.

Now solar energy has some untapped potential as well. Collector cells are becoming increasingly more efficient as are the storage cells (batteries). The obvious downside here clouds=no juice.

Now combine wind with solar power and you might have something. Most of us have become aware of the huge "wind farm" sprouting up seemingly over night on farm land across the country. These modern montrous wind collectors have opponents that herald there estetic, visual pollution on the scenic country sides and their potential to cause avian deaths.

Atomic energy is still in the picture as well which might eliminate everything in the wrong hands. Some scientists refer to this as something they wish we could uninvent.

Answer 6

Ethanol and bio diesel. Especially bio diesel, the engines were originally designed to run on vegetable or peanut oil. Or, harness the sun better, its an incredible source of power.

Answer 7

Ethanol = makes your car run like crap
Electric = Been there done that didn't catch on!

Hydrogen = We have a winner!!!!!!! GM already has a working prototype!

Answer 8

NO source of energy can last forever. The universe is finite.

What happens when it runs out of useable energy?

Answer 9

Well. We only have roughly 1000 years of oil within the continental US at the current world consumption rate. So, when the middle east runs out, we better get to work on alternative fuels pretty quick.

Answer 10

Nuclear energy would be the next big source of energy.