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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg As prices rise, we will see less SUVs, snowmobiles, homes over 25 miles from work, air travel... (freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/it-wont-be-so-bad-a-qa-with-the-author-of-20-per-gallon)

http://www.youtube.com/v/Ulxe1ie-vEY&hl=en&fs=1Annika Mengisen - BLOGS (freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com) - July 30, 2009

Just recall the changes last summer and consider it continuing to go up and up....long term it will -- Ed.

It’s notoriously hard to predict gas prices. Who would have thought in 2006 that we’d be paying $4 a gallon in 2008? Or, as prices peaked last year, that we’d be filling up for $2.50 a gallon this summer?

That said, civil engineer and Forbes reporter Chris Steiner argues that prices will rise precipitously over the next few decades. (It would probably make as much sense to argue that electric cars will take over and gas prices will fall, but that’s another argument for another day.) In his book $20 Per Gallon Steiner talks about how super-expensive gas would change everything — from the cars we drive to the price of sushi (if you can still buy it at all); whether Wal-Mart stays in business, and how often the average family can afford Disney World (if it still exists).... http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/it-wont-be-so-bad-a-qa-with-the-author-of-20-per-gallon/

Things we may see less of in 20 years

less SUVs, then smaller cars
Small gas appliances like lawn mowers
People buying large home with a long commute
Less air travel, less airlines
Stores like Wal-Mart figuring out ways to have smaller stores close by.
More tollways. :(
less snowmobiles

Hi Chuck:

___The electrification of America's fleet will bring everything back inline somewhat. Shipping goods however will continue to be a problem for well into the foreseeable future unless Bio-diesel subs come about for a much higher percentage of rail shipments.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Electric rail isn't a bad idea :D.

Electric rail isn't a bad idea :D.

Unless you pee on it :eek:


But seriously, who would want to read that? Is $20 a gallon gas a feasable reality beyond a short term blip. Lets imagine we found a terrorist released a little nasty that would make all oil worthless in 2 years. Thats far worse than $20 a gallon.

Well, suddenly governments wouldn't be spending millions or low billions on research (right billions :biglol:); They would spend tens or hundreds of billions on research. About the only other place we would see money going in building an electric infrastructure. New lines, new power sources, new power plants. Yes, the coal would be coming out of ground, yes, every company that could build turbines, PV, or other power sources would be pumping them out. If you can get nukes up and going, you will. Ford, GM, Toyota, etc would go to full capacity to produce EV vehicles to replace the existing ones. Almost every car shop, would be getting in and installing EV kits into existing cars.

Seriously, if we had to, this country could be all electric in 2 years, forget 30. But only if we had to, and not without tremendous cost. We would all be depression era workers, putting in 80 hours a day and doing it just for food. Financial institutes might be paused. No repossessions, no anything. If your technical you help in electronics, if your mechanical, you build motors, if your not useful (in building the infrastructure) you service those who are by growing food, washing clothes (by hand if necessary), and walking resources from where they are to where they are needed.

What we are really talking about it a war status, but a war against no enemy except the limitations that hold us back. Now, when we get back to the idea of $8 gas, we already was that biodiesel was getting very plactical/competive at $4+, so by $8 it can replace oil, you just need to be able to produce enough of it every year to keep up.

I'll be looking for BMW Motorrad to come out with a diesel touring bike with multiple balancer shafts to tame vibration, and a displacement of around 800 cc.

Or I might wind up a grumpy old man stuck at home...:mad:

Harry