Comments on: Freedom From Oil

By: air

air — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:02:52 +0000

the only way to do this is to find alternative to oil. Even the government doesn’t want any actions being taken, which will harm its economy.

By: Japhet

Japhet — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 17:23:51 +0000

So I guess the bigger question in all of this is how we mobilize business and coporations to get behind what people actually want. I often compare this all to the Kennedy promise of putting a man on the moon within the decade (which we did in 8 years I believe). Granted there were strands of national security tied to the project (beat the Russians to the moon to prove our technological superiority) but most of the impetus for this dedication also came with getting the smartest people into a room and not letting them out until they had a solution or plan on how to get an American on the moon. And why aren’t our leaders of today willing to take that risk, to make a promise that could make American completely independent when it comes to energy production? Frustrating to say the least…

By: John

John — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 06:44:00 +0000

The solutions are already here unfortunately our eyes are covered. Since the 30’s people have had many devices bought up by the oil companies and shelved. Fuel cell technology is not the solution, as only the rich could afford the hydogren powered cars. We need to convert existing cars to run on water as a Filipino has being doing so for 30 years, or compressed air or any other non poluting methods. So as the cars in India, China and other poor countries can easily be fixed too. This requires people power, and mass conversion which can be done simply overnight to shake the oil companies and car manufactures. So get your spanner out !

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 15:56:38 +0000

Japhet,

Thanks for the artical, about Indy cars using new fuel technology come 2006. Who knows with proper media coverage to get the message out more people will become aware of the alternatives available to gasoline. I believe thare are some people that are not aware of many of the existing alternatives aside from solar, electrical, or hybrid vehicles.

I was impressed with the Flextek engine technology, being able to convert an existing vehicle instead of having to buy a new one doesn’t put us at the mercy of the car manufactures . This gizmo may not work in all climates but in warm wheather areas at first sight it would seem to be ok if fuel was available. I’ll have to ask my mechanic’s opinion. Once again, thanks.

Greg

By: Japhet

Japhet — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 19:33:23 +0000

Greg,
Great point! Funny you should mention that. Check out this article I just saw a few days back on using ethanol in Indy Car engines. Why might this be big? Traditionally, the Indy Car circuit has led the way on automobile techonology and this latest endeavor is nothing short of “wow.”

http://ilikeracing.com/2005/03/ethanol_fuels_i.html

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 14:33:15 +0000

Whatever happened to the turbine engine that ran at Indy in the 1964 500? My understanding is that it could be fueled by grain alcohol and had very few if any toxic emissions. Where has this technology gone? I really would like to know. Is this another place we could look for a possible even partial solution to our oil addiction?

Internal combustion engines can also be re-fitted to operate on ETOH from what I understand. I would rater pay our farmers for their corn than the middle eastern countries for their oil even if it initially cost me more in the refining process. I believe that somewhere along the line after using and working with a process American innovation would make the process more cost effective and efficient. If I am mistaken can someone please set me straight. Thank you.

Greg

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 01:41:57 +0000

I appreciate the comments that others have made, but solutions are not the same for all of us. I was really impressed with the fourth posting (Hugh Webber) because I’m not in a position to use public transportation or walk. I live in the boonies. My neighbors and I are the people who put food on Americas table. I can’t boycott oil. What I need is transportation that doesn’t add to the polution problems, trade deficets, money in the pockets of dictators (or Dick Cheney, George Bush, Kenneth Lay & the likes), or contribute to global warming. Here in Oklahoma, we are increasing our electrical generating capacity in the form of wind energy. Our back up is from relatively clean burning natural gas power plants. I want a car that will take me where I need to go in the local area on electrical power. The kind that the auto makers don’t want to produce and are currently crushing.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 18:36:00 +0000

Guys, I hear a lot of ideas but for the most part ZE vehicles aren’t practical as of yet. They are being worked at but there really is no incentive from a car makers point of view. Everyone talks about liberals this and conservatives that. but in the end I sure don’t see Congress and the House of Reps pushing for a better solution. And if the EPA didn’t take the backwards approach we’d be better off too. The let car makers build the engines they want but put all these gadgets on them the help clean the air. Where’s the method to this madness? More efficient technology in lue of ZE is possible but the hand has to be forced. But it’s the whole political ball game and the clowns we keep putting back in office that won’t change anything. Attempts to raise baseline MPG ratings are always met with force.

Just playing devils advocate. I think everyone is trying to kick the wrong a**.

Johnny

By: Leslie

Leslie — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 12:38:55 +0000

It’s time to ration oil. Conservatives agree that dependence on oil is a problem for national security. Liberals agree that dependence on oil is bad for the environment. This is something we all agree on.

Since we are unable to reduce our consumption voluntarily it looks like legislation is necessary. What was it that Sen. Rick Santorum said about when people couldn’t control their desires? Oil is the opiate of the people. This addiction needs to be legislated.

Gas was rationed during WWII. It is possible.

By: John Thielking

John Thielking — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 00:07:08 +0000

I believe it was at the last Posttcarbon.org meeting I went to in Santa Cruz where Ron Swenson explained in his talk that the technology of solar electric panels has vastly improved in the last few years. It used to be that your typical silicon solar cell with aluminum frame solar-electric panel would take 8 years to produce the same amount of energy in the form of electricity as was required to create it in the first place. This would not bode well for us if we were suddenly faced with no more oil but wanted to convert to solar power. Today, however, the situation has changed. The latest solar panels now require as little as 120 days to generate the same amount of energy as was required to create them. This does not include such incidental items such as batteries and inverters, but it is a vast improvement over the older technology. There would still be a big bump in the economic road if we ran out of oil before converting to solar. But at least now it would not be impossible to overcome this barrier.