by basil_hayden » Thu 07 Jun 2007, 09:59:54
Well, I'm the lone biofueled car voter, here's why.
I happen to have a 2-week old baby in the household right now (GF's daughter's son).
Assuming driver's licenses work like they do now, he'll be eligible to drive in 2023. Of course, he'll have to make it through the beginning stages of the dieoff, but let's assume i have enough support in place to get him to 16 years of age.
Also, I'm in America, where the car represents freedom, like the gun does, and face it - neither are going away no matter what you want to happen.
The next point would be that from the perspective of efficiency, nothing beats liquid fuel. Electric cars are a waste (or they'd already be here), gases are not dense enough.
A further point would be that cellulosic ethanol or biodiesel is within our grasp, as opposed to fusion reactors which have been the joke of the last half century.
Taking all of this into account, by 2023, whether TS has HTF or not, it will be well on its way, starting with the poorer countries. Less people means more resources available for the rest. At some point, a balance may be struck that allows biofuels to be produced in an economically and environmentally responsible way.
To me, this adds up to the kid driving a biofueled car in 2023. Of course, it may have to be four wheel drive due to the lack of road maintenance by then, and he won't be driving anywhere near the miles I currently drive, as things will be more localized.
If you asked me what his kid will be driving, well I'd have to vote for horse, bike, grave posts, or other kids around a turnstile, as suggested by others.