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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 771
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 771 |
40 MPG with today's technology would mean we'd all have to drive hybrid cars like the Prius, conventional gasoline cars with very tiny engines (think 3 cyl. Geo Metro), or small diesels, like the VW TDI. While these cars will suffice for many people, I don't think most Americans would be happy with them. 40 MPG would mean no pickups or SUV's, and where I live, those account for 75% of the vehicles on the road. I think the answer lies in alternative fuels, such as CNG or hydrogen. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of natural gas reserves, which would allow us to make the easiest conversion to non-petroleum powered vehicles. Electric vehicles aren't really practical until someone develops a truly long range battery pack. Hydrogen shows promise, but its going to take years of development to get the vehicles and the infrastructure in place. And remember, the big boys in the oil companies like their fat salaries and aren't enthusastic about the country weaning itself of its oil dependence.
-Mark-
'99 Mystique LS, totally original (including the original water pump and the premium stereo)! Bought new in December 1998 for $21,000.
208,000 miles
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 389
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 389 |
99 Contour SE
-Front oval mesh grille
-tinted windows
Future:
Custom exhaust
CTA intake.
thats pretty much it
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,807
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,807 |
You guys are just starting to catch up to what we pay here. Europe is another story.
99 CSVT Green/Tan
# 84 of 2760
Built on Wednesday, September 30, 1998
15.376 @ 92.00 MPH Stock
75,000Km
96 Contour GL
2.5L V6 ATX 170,000Km
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 123
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 123 |
Gas here is a $1.67 for 87
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,220
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,220 |
Quote:
If we drilled into the Alaska reverse we would see gas prices drop. Which in turn would give people more money to spend on goods which would then help the economy.
Prices wouldn't change at all.
If our supply increased, dropping prices, 1 of 2 things would happen making everything balance out in the end:
1> The recent trend of some people towards fuel-conservative cars would change, increasing demand and raising prices back to what they are now.
2> OPEC would respond to our increased domestic output with higher prices on thier fuel. And, no matter how much we pump out of Alaska, we'd still need a LOT of their fuel. If we drop our imports of their fuels in half, and they double the price we pay, it would be a wash. They will maintain the revenues that they always have, one way or the other.
Even if we only need 10% of our oil from them one day, they'll just charge 10 times as much as they do now for it, so it'll all come the same in the end.
OPEC are just playing the capitalist game of supply and demand and it sucks when someone beats you at your own game. It's our own damn fault from becoming so dependent on something that we simply can't provide for ourselves.
Even if by some miracle would could pump all our own oil, the price for us to do so domestically would be so high that prices would change very very little.
Drilling into Alaska has no economic signifigance at all -- only strategic.
2003 Mazda6s 3.0L MTX
Webpage
2004 Mazda3s 2.3L ATX
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 323
CEG'er
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OP
CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 323 |
USA consumes 20 Million Barrels A Day!!!  Says we might see prices as high as 3.50 a gallon this summer. You cant tell me we arent going to run out soon, especially when that number will rise dramatically since the population will triple soon.We are so dependent on oil its not even funny, for EVERYTHING!!! I honestly think its to late, or very close. Check this site out, its very disturbing and very realistic. http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.netMatt
'97 Pumice Zetec Sport- 'At least its not a geo!'
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 233
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 233 |
Where may "here" be? In San Francisco, even the cheapest station nearby (Arco) is 2.09 and rising (that's for regular unleaded). Some dumbo Shell stations are charging $2.49 for regular unleaded. 
Just a plain jane '96 LX V-6 here...
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,228
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,228 |
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,220
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,220 |
Quote:
By the way to the person talking about waiting till the other countries run out of oil. Remember back in 70s they said by 2000 all the oil would be gone, now they say 290 years. They keep finding more and more oil all the time.
The oil is there. The Earth produces oil every day.
The problem is that, after you reach a certain point (a point that we have passed some time ago) oil becomes more and more expensive to pump from the Earth.
There will always be oil. The question is, does it matter if it's there if it costs $500 a barrel to retrieve it?
2003 Mazda6s 3.0L MTX
Webpage
2004 Mazda3s 2.3L ATX
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,960
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,960 |
Originally posted by Beachboy:
40 MPG with today's technology would mean we'd all have to drive hybrid cars like the Prius, conventional gasoline cars with very tiny engines (think 3 cyl. Geo Metro), or small diesels, like the VW TDI. While these cars will suffice for many people, I don't think most Americans would be happy with them. 40 MPG would mean no pickups or SUV's, and where I live, those account for 75% of the vehicles on the road. I think the answer lies in alternative fuels, such as CNG or hydrogen. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of natural gas reserves, which would allow us to make the easiest conversion to non-petroleum powered vehicles. Electric vehicles aren't really practical until someone develops a truly long range battery pack. Hydrogen shows promise, but its going to take years of development to get the vehicles and the infrastructure in place. And remember, the big boys in the oil companies like their fat salaries and aren't enthusastic about the country weaning itself of its oil dependence.
Yes, Americans 'happiness' is the most important thing in this whole situation ....
Have you ever been to Europe ?? How many hybrids do you think they drive over there ?? How many 3 cyl cars do they drive ??
There is nothing wrong with SUV's & trucks when they are used as work vehicles. Mom's using it for the school run doesn't cut it. Even my Duratec is OVERKILL as I'm the only one driving the car. My last car (in Europe) had a 1.2l engine. It got 35mpg and the only time it felt slow was on the highway. The fact it only had a 4 spd didn't help that either.
Bless our servicemen & women overseas.
L.Cpl Ian Malone, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, R.I.P.
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