How do we reduce consumption or increase efficiency of petroleum?

Answer 1

we use halogenation to split hydrocarbon chains into the desired length. for example in gasoline, we use octane mixed with other smaller hydrocarbons that are more cost effective but relatively similar combustibility. refineries are able to use this process in lots of different ways to make anything from tar (like how we pave roads) to butane for lighters.

Answer 2

One of the main problems (every foreigner will tell you) is that the US uses an obsolete fuel quality.

The efficiency of a motor increases by achieving a higher compression in a cylinder... which means we want to achieve a maximum pressure... resulting in a maximum torque.

What is the limit to that ? over a certain pressure, regular gasoline will self-ignite and explode violently instead of burning. This is known as "knocking" and is long-term destructive to the engine.

What is a good fuel ? a good fuel is a fuel with a high knocking resistivity expressend in octane index.
Fuel in the US: octane = 83
Fuel in Europe: octane 95-105

The only problem: to get a better fuel qualit, we require a more energy intensive refining process... but it is easier to treat the higher user of energy at some refineries than at any single exhaust pipe !!!

And now even better: diesel fuel is even less likely to explode and therfore can achieve higher pressures. Therefore diesel motors which we commonly use are more performant (especially direct injection)

A lot of new european diesel cars achieve 50MPG and they´re not even hybrid. The next step is to bring the european standard to 120g CO2/km while the US will stay at approximately 300g CO2/km... well above China.

And even more convenient... diesel is very similar to raps oil and therefore can easily be replaced... and rapsoil produces more energy per unit of surface than corn.

Answer 3

Easy, use ethanol. You can grow all the fuel you ever need, it's cleaner, more efficient, and gives some added power back to the farmers instead of to corrupt petroleum rich countries.

Answer 4

Its high time to think which is more in abundunt form than thinking of using the resource which has become a shortage, the best solution is making use of sun's energy which is abundunt and solar energy is more viable than tampering the chemicals.

Answer 5

Cycle. Walk. Use motorcycles. And we have to start using nuclear fuel in aeroplanes, ships and spacecrafts.

Answer 6

by providing quality public transportation system(bus and rail transportation) as in Japan and other developed nations.

Answer 7

electric cars.
ride a bike
walk, get some exercise
lord knows half this country needs it.

Answer 8

use of cng....avoid use of petroleum....