Quote:
Originally Posted by LarsMac
It's just a matter of time.
Eventually it will become evident even to the lowest of low-brows that petroleum will soon be far too valuable to just burn up in IC motors.
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THAT is what I suspect is the REAL REASON for the sudden initiative to 'ban' the infernal combustion engine.
"Peak Oil" advocates were dismissed when shale oil and fracking came on line in the 2000s. But those methods rely on EXPENSIVE petroleum to support the increased costs incurred. Not to mention, the ecological devastation wreaked by such processes. Ironically, when the price of oil dropped, so did the profitability of shale oil extraction.
Now, our children's children are faced with the consequences of our actions.
Do we "burn, baby, burn" up all the cheap and plentiful oil, leaving expensive and scarce oil for our descendants?
Or do we grit our teeth, kick out the oil/auto/pavement hegemony and GET BACK ON TRACK (railroads, etc)?
It's a matter of fact and physical law, that a steel wheel on steel rail vehicle uses 95% less fuel than a pneumatic tire on pavement vehicle.
If 80-90% of all transportation in the USA was shifted to rail (heavy, freight, high speed passenger, subways, streetcars, funiculars, monorails, etc), the resulting DROP in oil consumption would be significant. In fact, it would be far below current production levels.
And electric traction rail is far more efficient that electric battery powered cars, because of the coefficient of rolling resistance.... won't drag down the power grid.
A single track has the carrying capacity equivalent to 9 lanes of superhighway. A four track urban subway system, like NYC has, is equivalent to a 36 lane superhighway mesh.
The fact that population keeps expanding underscores the necessity to get away from wasteful automobiles, trucks and buses - as shown by gridlock in every major urban center.
The bottom line - a culture that spends more to do less will be superseded by the culture that spends less to do more. It would be wise to mimic the Swiss and their robust network of electric rail supported by other modes (for short trips). Even the Chinese are pouring resources into their rail network, especially high speed trunks into the hinterlands.
Unfortunately, America has been hostage of the hegemony since the 1920s.
"What's good for GM is good for America..."
NOT ANY MORE...
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