Why hasn't a company or anyone invest in fuel alternatives in the future?

Question

Russia has fossil fuel stored away since the cold war and perhaps beyond. You already about the middle east. As seeing that gas prices is now over 3 bucks a gallon, I don't see why someone hasn't come up with alternatives such as soy bean or making biodiesel more consumer friendly. Fossil fuels won't last forever. Hyrdrogen may be a good source but hard to keep it pressurized and cooled. There has to be some other viable fuel source. How far do you think electric cars can go? We will have a fuel shortage at the end of our life time for us thirtysomethings. Does anyone have any answers?

Answer 1

1st of all there's plenty of oil, it's the refining capacity that's driving up gas prices.  There hasn't been a new refinery built in the US in years.  They keep blaming Katrina for cutting refining capacity.  Europe was rebuilt faster after WWII than that refinery in Louisiana.  I heard today that the profit on barrel of gasoline was $30.00 per barrel.  Why would any company look for alternate fuel technology when they're printing money with the current system.  In the 70's (yeah, I'm old) during the oil embargo people refused to buy gasoline and set their thermostats lower to conserve.  Wonder of wonders, prices came down.  No one today wants to sacrifice and, as long as you pay the oil companies will be more than happy to take your money!  So, you get people to stop buying SUVs and pick up trucks they don't need and get people to make a few less trips per week and the oil companies will cry uncle.  

BTW, how many SUVs have ever been off road?  How many pick up trucks in Chicago or New York or Boston and their suburbs have ever hauled a load or plowed a road?  We are owned by the advertisers who convince us that we need these inefficient automobiles to assuage our need to be "Country".

Answer 2

although its true that fossil fuels wont last forever. however; there is alot more oil that they want u to believe. If the big oil companies was to come out and say there's plenty of oil. they would loose the ability to sucker ppl. if they keep gettin ppl to believe were low in oil then they can justify the high prices. but there is alot more oil out there than you think. a fuel shortage in our life time is a myth. oil is the leftovers from dead animals and plants of millions and billions of years ago. even if everyone flew the space shuttle to go down the street or down to the store for a gallon milk. we would still have oil for along time. do u actually think that the big oil companies are being honest with us. they problably know of oil reserves that they havent told the feds about. contrary to public belief its the ppl that owne the oil fields around the world that set the prices for oil. they have found many alernate fuel supplies solar isnt good enough yet to take the place of gas. there are private companies;government that do research and even the oil companies. because even they know that one day in the far far off future oil will be gone kinda. they are going to wanna corner the market.

so technically crude oil is actually a never ending resource all organic matter has the possibility of turning into oil

Answer 3

I recently saw on "fifth gear" programm an electric car that was really fast and looked stunning. I think this is the future, as you can generate your own electricity from wind or solar power, and more people would have these things for their home electricity in the future anyway, so apart from the cost of materials for the solar sells and wind turbine there would be no cost for fuel. The only thing is that since it's something relatively new - they are not that affordable at the moment for the general public. (Maybe the electric car manufacturers should start offering a solar chargers or wind turbines with the package:-).

But otherwise I think it's just not profitable for anyone to invest in development of new fuel technologies, because main investors in it are fuel companies, like BP. and they are only investing into it because they are afraid that they will be out of business if someone developes new fuel. And since they are doing quite good out of selling curent fuel - they are not willing to give up positions. Never know how the market would turn out with new fuels...

Answer 4

There is a company U.S Sustainable it makes bio fuel out of soybeans and is production right now they say that they can have the U.S, foreign oil free by 2009 and it will run in any engine . But of course the big oil is fighting it and our politicians are blocking their permits. It will help all of america but it won't make them money. I think it is so sad that they put their bank accounts ahead of ALL AMERICANS. The web site is

http://ussec.us/about.html

There is a video from a conference, where they are running several different engines for about four hours and every engine did fine.

Answer 5

Daimler- Benz is at an advanced R&D stage with their Jatropha seed diesel. Jatropha grows in arid or semi-arid zones and is non-competing with food crops. It does not need much water.

Answer 6

The company i represent has a patent on a hydrogen fuel cell that increases milieage by 50-100% [e-mail] for the details.

Answer 7

All I can say it it is every persons job to protect their own energy security to protect their family.  Have energy efficient lights and appliances in your home, and a fuel efficient car in your driveway.  If you can get one that can also run on biofuels.  

This way, when a severe energy crisis hits and prices go way up ($3 a gallon is nothing.  Just wait, you'll see.  Look up peak oil and guess what gas will be in 5 years) you'll be as prepared as you can be.  Part of that preparation means moving closer to work, and fixing up your house so it uses less energy.  Good luck!  Start by telling all your friends and family to sell the SUV's and buy more aerodynamic, more fuel efficient wagons (if they NEED the cargo space) or biofuel capable vehicles that can use E85 or Biodiesel.

Answer 8

i am sure they have but the people that control society will never change until there is a profit to be made

Answer 9

My dad is a retired petroleum engineer/research mathmatician who worked for the U.S.'s largest oil company.

Yes, there is oil, but not as much and of a poorer quality than what oil companies want to drill for. Poor quality oil means more refining and more expense to the oil company. If they can't recoup their investment than they won't drill for it.  

Before Exxon took over Mobil, Mobil was doing experiments with alternative fuels. Exxon cut that program.

There are many factors into why alternative fuels aren't doing better. It involves a lot of coordination between the auto makers, the government and whoever is a distributer of the new fuel.

Answer 10

alternative fuels is all about a cycle of recycling so you would interrupt the cycle if stored.  Electric cars can go far really far 300 miles on Lithium ion batteries of course that will increase over time because cars will get lighter once all the cars are hybrids and electrics.  As of right now you can have an electric car go 150 miles moving at 80 mph, 300miles at 60mph, also the car can go 0-60 in 7seconds and other are faster.

Answer 11

first off there are estimates of around 500 years of oil at current Levels and if we keep on becoming more efficiant , Who Knows.   In the 70's another Oil crisis was at hand and Millions were spent By companies and Individuals on alternatives and as some of them started taking off Oil Prices dropped and these groups LOST everything!    Gas has Been 6-9 $ per gallon in Europe for years and yet they have done Little to create Alternatives.    So $3 is Not gooing to drive Much in the way of Change.  I will tell you this the Market Needs to Drive it NOT Laws.

Answer 12

well because they would have to say to all the people who go to there gas stations or buy cars from them to stop using there old cars or you can't go to this gas station to fill up your car.It would be nice if everyone could agree to that but that is not the way the world works

Answer 13

They have!  Go to www.eagleresearch.com  I reckon you'll be impressed.  I have a hydrogen unit in my car that I bought from Scott Matiz, can't recall the website he has but you can buy such a unit (it makes small amount of hydrogen that is fed into air intake and so supplements the petrol the car runs on) for about U.S. $250 or so.  If you have an EFI car, you also need an EFI enhancer from eagleresearch.com  There's a care now being produced that runs on compressed air!  In spain I think.  Just googe compressed air car and see what you think.  Eagle research has most wide-ranging variety of systems to supplement or replace fossil fuels.

Answer 14

Companies are investing a great deal in fuel alternatives.  These include:

Ethanol and other alcohols

Bio-Diesel

Hydrogen

Wind Power

Nuclear Power

Who told you that they were not?  You need to realize that by its very nature, research of this type will produce more failures than successes and even the successes will take some time to develop to full commercial use.

Answer 15

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Electric vehicles are the future. Take a look at what a couple of modern electric cars look like:

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http://zapworld.com/zapworld.aspx?id=456...

http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet...

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The ZAP-X has a 350-mile range, a top speed of 155 mph, puts out 644 horsepower, charges in 10 minutes, and has a battery pack that should last the life of the car (better than 250,000 miles.) The Phoenix uses the same Altairnano Nanosafe li-ion batteries, and is a real car - being built right now for fleet use. Prices for hand-built cars are $60,000 for the ZAP-X, $45,000 for the Phoenix. These prices could fall a lot when mass-production becomes feasible.

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But you don't even have to spend lots of money if you want to try out an electric car. Freeway-capable EV conversions (normal cars converted to electric) can be found for as little as $5000. Link:

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http://squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car

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This is the kind of electric car I drive. Electricity to drive it only costs me about a penny per mile! More info in that above link.

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