Can we really replace oil as transportation fuel?

Question

Can we really replace oil as transportation fuel?

Answer 1

sure eventually but its seems like most sources ultimately uses some fossil fuels whether its oil, natural gas, or coal. and electric car uses electricity which ultimately uses mainly coal to generate, hydrogen fuel cells usually uses electricity for electrolysis of water which ultimately uses coal too, compressed air cars need an air compressor and so forth. the thing we are trying to do is find the most efficient means of using fossil fuels because as of right now a regular gasoline car is about 15% efficient and a hybrid gas/electric car is about 30%

and people wake up water is NOT a fuel source. no cars run off of water. cars may use hydrogen to create electricity with a fuel cell which we can get from water but you dont just put water in a car and go

Honda already is launching a hydrogen car this summer

hydrogen cars are one of the least efficient alternative fuel sources

and dont get me started on corn ethanol

one suv with 100% ethanol(from corn one of the least efficient ways of getting ethanol) would use a years supply of corn.

http://www.economist.com/research/articl...

also the royal society of chemistry said that a flight from london to new york would require a year supply of corn from 30 soccer fields

http://www.rsc.org/AboutUs/News/PressRel...

Answer 2

Yes, we can replace oil. The question is whether or not it is affordable. At present the replacements cost as much as or more than oil. Eventually we will go that route regardless of price. As mentioned above, there is hydrogen. That is working well. But a better solution for the time being might be corn. It's been shown that a gas-like fuel can be had from corn and this works in cars with only minimal overhaul of the engine. Some of the other, better methods of running a car would require a completely new type of engine. By that I mean we would have to come up with something to replace the internal combustion engine.

Answer 3

yes... in fact some cooking oil are used as fuel in some cars. and the vehicle that uses water as fuel..

the possibilities are endless

Answer 4

Yep.  Build overhead wires along our highways and transport people and goods via trackless electric vehicles.  The existing power grid could provide the energy quite readily, there'd be no pollution, no new roads would have to be built, and the technology already exists.  The roads could be used as they always have been, as well.

Answer 5

Can we? Yes, we are capable of ending our dependence on oil.

Will we? Not until the big oil company's with their BILLIONS in quarterly profits stop paying off the engineers and designers to STOP making things run on alternative fuels.

Answer 6

Not at the rate cars are being built.  It would cause serious quality of life reductions in developed countries to replace oil.

Answer 7

Sure. Buy a horse.

Answer 8

Absolutely.  There have been solutions for years, but we just don't have the infrastructure in place or the right cars on the road to support them.  Hydrogen may be the best solution.  You could easily just put a pump at all the BP filling stations for instance.

Answer 9

Yes, we can..  There are many alternative fuels.  The problem is cost, safety and infrastructure.

Hydrogen.  Very VERY DANGEROUS!  I wouldn't trust my neighbor to fill her car with compressed hydrogen.  A tiny leak or spill can cause a huge explosion.  Not to mention we would have remove all (Electrical Static Discharge near the filling station and cars) sparks and install rubber mats.

Natural Gas.  It is already here.  But there are enough filling stations or fuel for every car on the road.

Methane,  a good source and will reduce global warming as methane is 4 times worse of a global warming gas as CO2.  But no infrastructure or technology (Fuel cell would work well with it).

Ethanol,  Possible if it is not produced from food.  The problem is that there aren't enough land on this planet to support all fuel usages.

Electric powered,  Battery is the main limitation.  Until we have a huge breakthrough, it won't happen for a while.  The key is recharging speed for extend ranges.

Answer 10

Sure we can.  General Motors is testing a fleet of busses in the Washington, D.C. area RIGHT NOW that run on fuel cell technology.  What do they use for fuel, you ask?  WATER.  What do they produce for exhaust?  STEAM.  If GM can jump on their horse and start mass-producing cars that run on fuel cell technology, in about 10 years GM could be right back on top of the world auto market.

Answer 11

No we can't.  We would have to cover the US in corn to produce enough ethanol.

Answer 12

Why should we. Mother nature with the aid of plants recycle the CO2 into oxygen and saves the C for it's food. When the leaves die they wash down the rivers to the delta where it will deteriorate into oil & gas.

Answer 13

yes, other countries had developed water powered cars and right noe electric but how long do you think we'll go with water... water is scarce enough and if we use it it won't last very long...