What do you consider the best alternative for oil to be?

Question

Out of all the alternative options we now are considering for replacing oil as our main source of energy, which ones do you think is the best?

Answer 1

The question is very generalized. I do not believe oil is our overall main source of energy. For example we use comparatively little oil to produce electricity. I think oil based products will always rule the road for vehicles. The main thing we must do is use less raw material. This can be accomplished through more efficient engines. (Remember that many cars had better fuel economy 30 years ago.) Raw material usage can also be improved by vegetable oil refining which could greatly supplement fossil fuel. After all it is replaceable! Concerns about poisonous exhaust can be alleviated through improvements in refining and engine efficiency. Alcohol can be produced from most any cash crop. Much can even be produced from produce leftovers. Alcohol-mixed gas burns cleaner! We need to improve mass transit options. They should be alternatively powered. Why does Japan have the fastest most fuel efficient train?
The biggest thing that must happen is a change in our politician's reliance upon oil-based income. Our government officials are so financially connected to the oil lobby that improvements can never happen. When the government stops favoring oil and gives private incentives to wean the nation from it, new systems will develop. Scientists will create improved fuels and engineers will create better engines. Alternatives cannot be explored unless it is financially viable to do so.

Answer 2

Methane, beyond a shadow of a doubt. It's clean, it's cheap, and renewable. Best of all, we could easily convert the cars we're using now. Everyone who was in Australia during WWII has told me the same thing my dad did. All the cars and trucks ran on methane, because the Japs controlled the sea lanes and they couldn't get any oil through. If they could do it over 60 years ago, there's no reason we can't do it right now! Europe is doing it right now. The Swedish automaker Volvo has marketed methane/gasoline hybrids in Europe since 1995. The Volvo 850 model cranks out 140 hp on methane, quite respectable considering the fact that even conventional Volvo's aren't race-cars. The mileage is comperable too, about 150-180 miles to tank of methane, about 180-210 miles on tank of gas. However, methane is 20-60% cheaper than gas, depending on how much governments tax it. It also cleaner, having 25% fewer carbon emissions than gasoline. With methane we could all reduce our "carbon footprints" 25% right here and now, not 15 or 20 years in the future as our government is talking about doing -- maybe! Best of all, methane is distilled from manure, which is s-h-i-t, so we have an endless renewable supply. If you're Green, ya gotta love methane. It's some really good ****!

Answer 3

You don't say what you mean by "best" but here goes.

Right now nuclear is the only alternative that could replace a major part of our use of fossil fuels in the short run.

Solar can help nuclear, and has promise for the future, but the technology needs a lot more development.

Wind and biofuels can also help, but probably will always be minor players.

Fusion is a hope for the distant future.

Answer 4

SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil) it can be used to produce bio-diesel, but it's also renewable (grown by the farmers in the midwest).

Answer 5

Sensible mixed-use city planning.
We have cars and burn gas because we don't live near where we work.

Answer 6

electric vehicles