At what $/gallon would it slow you down?
Not just a B-van question. I've been looking thru videos on RV's overseas. Of course they are much smaller due to fuel costs, road conditions and land values, among other reasons, I'm sure. It's ki...
Forum Discussion
Belzar wrote:
I fully expect energy prices to double or triple over the next decade based on world demographics and economic growth. Those billions of people in the developing world are buying cars and air conditioners and everything else that we enjoy in the developed world, just like we did as our economies developed back in the 20th century. At current fuel prices, the up charge to go for diesel over gas is about even (balancing up front cost vs fuel savings and slower depreciation). If one recalculates based on expected future higher fuel costs over the next 10+ years, the investment in a more fuel efficient vehicle is easily cost justified.
You obviously get it Belzar. Everyone wants to live like we do, but the question is, can the world sustain it? Can the world sustain 5 billion people living middle class suburban lifestyles like we do now here in the States?
I think that eventually, environmental concerns (whether real or imagined) will cause political change which will drive the change away from fossil fuels. Pollution is a huge issue overseas as it is, so there will be pressure, I'm sure to "do something" and keep domestic stability. There's a big summit coming up where the world community is expecting some kind of progress on emissions. Who knows if this will be the one or not.
I was listening on Kramer's show last night an energy company CEO was talking about oil and alternatives. He was pretty much saying the algae technology (algae can be made to secrete pure diesel fuel that doesn't need further refinement) works and costs about the same as petroleum does now. The problem, like with most alternatives, is infrastructure. They have to get the goo from where it's farmed to where it can be used. I suppose that is a big hurdle. There is probably more to it than that though, as I've heard it's difficult to produce at industrial scale.
But it does give you hope that there is something down the line, as we humans almost always figure a way out of whatever dilemma we have.
