Will we have a breakthrough alternative to petroleum any time soon? Or ever we become independent of oil?

Question

Will we have a breakthrough alternative to petroleum any time soon? Or ever we become independent of oil?

Answer 1

No.  There is simply no other form of energy that is as concentrated and portable..

Answer 2

We don't need a breakthrough.  The necessary technologies to make us independant of oil alreay exist.

Specifically--though this is by no means a complete listing:

>we can expand mass transit, shift to electric cars (current models have a shorter range, but still mmore than  enough for urban driving)

>For some limited purposes, we can still use gas-poered cars--but those could get about twice the mpg they now get.

>solar, wind, and possibly nuclear enrgy can provide electricity not only for cars, but to replace fuel oil fo rheating and coal for producing electricity.

All these are CURRENT technologies--that cost no more than oil or coal energy production (and less in most cases).

There's plenty of other technologies current under development as wel--but what I've listed could cut our use of oil a good 80%.  Or more.  The notion that "some great breakthrough " is needed--or that not using oil is somehow a matter of great expense or sacrifice--is amyth created by the oil companies to forstall changesthat will make them obsolete.

Answer 3

We have for about 25 years now but they are owned by the oil companies.  How do you change an economy based on oil without going back to square one?

We have already found that using particular radio frequencies through...yes...salt water can make it burn.

Who cares about the planet anyway?  It will be fine.  It's our dumb species thats got the problem.  Who else loves the fact that the smartest people on the planet have rejected but the most basic of technology so their future generations, and our species, will have a chance to survive?  Last time I checked that was still the most important aspect to all life.

Answer 4

We don't need a breakthrough.  Electric cars are already a viable technology, and some really nice ones will be available starting around 2009.

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx...

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/04/03/...

http://phoenixmotorcars.com/

Answer 5

Mother nature is recycling the Corbin into fossil fuels as fast as she can.

Answer 6

We might come up with alterantives that will start to catch on,  but we will Never become independant of oil.  ALL plastics contain oil.  look around you and count how many things DO NOT have plastic in them...  Not many I bet.  Oil is used for much more than just fuel in our vehicles.