robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Last week I saw someone claim that if you keep at the present level of US consumption we have about 200 years worth of petroleum and natural gas in the ground when counting oil sands and oil shale deposits + offshore. As opposed to the 5 years worth that others claim.

I long ago read articles that some scientists think that a lot of the "fossil" fuels are actually created and being renewed deep underground in a chemical reaction. The only true "fossil" fuel is coal. I should probably do some research to find what they have found studying that line of thinking.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

The fact is that no one truly has an accurate estimate of how long fossil fuels will last. The estimate has changed with more rigorous technologies such as fracking and oil shale extraction have come on line. But one thing seems certain, despite the fringe concept that fossil fuels are continuously being formed (which to my knowledge, no real science supports), there is an end to the supply. And as the supply dwindles and production and prospecting becomes more and more expensive, the price will continue to rise, driving consumers to alternatives. Automobile manufacturers see the writing on the wall, thus the fact that they are spending Billions to convert their product lines to EVs. Hint: they’re not doing it out of concern for the environment.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

And the EV's they produce are not designed to be the new "Model T". Prices run $28.000 to $40,000 for the "budget" models and they are tiny and short ranged. No cross country road trips in many of them. And though the batteries are getting better many spend as much time charging as driving. Median income and below will struggle to afford them and anyone who commutes more than a few miles, or traveling sales reps and others who drive a lot will be SOL.

krashdragon

I drive a semi out of Jacksonville Fl and Savannah, Ga to surrounding states. My bosses has a car d he prepays for fuel, its generally cheaper than posted.
I am in the middle of a trip... in my car, thankfully... from Jacksonville to San Luis Obispo, Ca and back. Also went last Nov, back in Jan. Gas prices all over the places, Almost $6 for reg in Ca. $3.78 in Tx today.
Whew....

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

No arguments there - all new vehicles are (too) expensive. Some EVs have ranges in the 200-300 mile range, but I wouldn’t want one as an only vehicle. If it was my only vehicle, it would be a plug in hybrid, but I dread having to replace either of my paid for vehicles.

therwol Loc: USA

If we keep burning fossil fuels for the next 200 years, everyone will be dead from climate change.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Data shows that world oil production has roughly quadrupled between 1960 and 2008, and all of that oil, with the exception of what is used for plastics and similar uses, is being burned and the by products are exhausted into the atmosphere. We are changing a very complex system that we are just barely (with the help of a sizable percentage of the world’s supercomputers) beginning to understand. My sense is that we are playing with fire with the idea that everything will continue as it has in our lifetimes - the climate will not change, sea level will not rise and there will be plentiful, cheap fossil fuel forever. Why else would a substantial percentage of driven vehicles in the US be SUV or crossovers typically driven by one person? Regardless of what percentage you think humans are influencing, the plain, indisputable facts are that there is an end to fossil fuels eventually, and that the climate is changing, the oceans are warming, the polar ice is melting and sea level is rising, so we better adapt and the sooner the better, and I would contend that regardless of the issues with converting to electric vehicles, we better start saving the oil we have left for products made from petroleum and vehicles such as aircraft that are not as easy to redesign for electric power. It’s as if we are in denial, having one big blow out extravagant party before the tab becomes due.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Geez Bob you don't drive enough to keep a car
I bought a Grand caravan in 2019with 24K+ miles on it, now getting close to 75K, I drove almost more miles during covid than I did before, I just avoided people!!!, It was really nice to visit places and have them (most of the time) all to myself, when not there were so few people Social distancing was never a problem.
Oh and Sunday I filled up with gas @ $3.79 a gal. but that price won't last long

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Good luck moving everything to electric power--California doesn't have enough now for its current load, and isn't building much more.

whfowle Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque

Maybe you should leave Hell and move to New Mexico. I paid $3.78 on my last fill up. I see where you don't commute anymore but our commutes are much shorter.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Glad you can afford one! A lot of people can’t. And what do you do about long trips? Some can’t afford the down time while the car recharges.

Triple G

It’s a progressing process.

https://www.schroders.com/en/us/insights/equities/on-a-charge-or-out-of-juice--can-ev-charging-infrastructure-keep-up-with-demand/

Dannj

Well, you could show some empathy for the rest😂

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Since Covid hit, I've been driving a lot less. I'm consciously avoiding driving now, trying to get my monthly mileage lower and lower. My lowest was 143 about a year ago, but I'm always under 400 miles monthly.

Morry Loc: Palm Springs, CA

Gas price doesn't worry me too much also. I have a fairly new 2021 Honda Accord which with a little over 6,000 miles on it. It's giving me a total lifetime (so far) average gas mileage of 43.3 MPG. Yes it is a stop gap until I buy the eventual all electric . . but it's my 2nd hybrid (2012 Prius) and it's roomy, trouble free and probably gets at least twice the average gas mileage an average purchased car today gets (in spite of the occasional criticism I get for liking hybrid cars in today's world) Last time I bought gas here in Palm Springs area at Costco gas and it was $5.40 cents per gallon). If I wanted better MPG I could get it by trying harder. I have attained as high as 73.4 MPG doing this. But certainly this is not attainable with average style driving in average traffic. Consider a hybrid . . . you may like it better than you think.