[SGVLUG] [OT]Hybrids and trains (was fuel prices and the dollar)

[Christopher Smith]

Yeah, just like it was during our last energy crisis. :-)

As the price of petrochemicals goes up, so do the options for oil and 
gas producers. If the prices get much higher, Canada may become the 
richest source of oil reserves in the world within a few years. Not to 
mention that wind power starts to become a really nice alternative to 
coal/gas/oil, reducing our need to consume it for power generation.

--Chris

Dan Borne wrote:
> Well quite soon oil production levels will fall; it is reaching its peak.
>
> 2008/5/14 Christopher Smith <x at xman.org <mailto:x at xman.org>>:
>
>     I blogged about this phenomena a fair while back:
>
>     http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-NGG_XKMyebVXpbF6EpCU?p=193
>
>     That said, oil production levels aren't growing too quickly these
>     days, so energy conservation measures (particularly significant
>     ones, like driving less and/or driving more fuel efficient
>     vehicles) really are the most effective way for us to alter the
>     supply/demand situation in the short term. In the long term, you
>     need some other source of energy (see:
>     http://google.org/rec.html) to become more cost effective than
>     petrochemicals to really have a lasting impact.
>
>     --Chris
>
>     Dan Borne wrote:
>
>         I would be willing to bet that that is so (especially in Los
>         Angeles) but I mean does converting ever car into a hybrid
>         really do much in terms of energy savings? I would be willing
>         to bet that in a sort time the energy consumption of the world
>         would soon reach pre-hybrid levels.
>
>
>
>         2008/5/14 Rae Yip <rae.yip at gmail.com
>         <mailto:rae.yip at gmail.com> <mailto:rae.yip at gmail.com
>         <mailto:rae.yip at gmail.com>>>:
>
>
>            Don't forget regenerative braking; this is a big win for
>         hybrid and
>            electric vehicles because it saves wear and tear on the
>         brake pads as
>            well as improving mileage.
>
>            So even if the Prius loses 1/3 of the energy it stores in the
>            batteries, much of that energy would simply have been
>         discarded in a
>            regular car - 100% loss!
>
>            Naturally, you don't something for nothing. As people have
>         said,
>            there's added weight. But I doubt the auto makers would add a
>            component that wasn't a net gain, and the real world data
>         bears it
>            out.
>
>            In stop-and-go traffic (is there any other sort in LA?),
>         I'm fairly
>            certain hybrid vehicles are more efficient, no matter how
>         well you
>            follow your car's fuel consumption map.
>
>            -Rae.
>
>
>
>