How do you spell Freedom from Oil?

POSTED BY: AnthonyT
UPDATED: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 16:38
VIEWED: 2561
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Hello,

I believe it is entirely possible that we could make a yearly reduction in petroleum use of at least 1% if we tried. That would mean that by the time I die at a ripe old age of 85, we'd be using half as much oil as we use today. That's not sci-fi. No time machine needed. Just some effort and the natural revolutions of the globe.

It also means that by the time my son dies of old age, the world could be using a thin fraction of the petrol we use today. Comparatively, almost none. Were such a modest 1% plan to reduce oil expenditure made, we could eventually cease oil exploration and new drilling. With a continuously decreasing appetite for oil, the existing oil exploitation would service us for long stretches of time.

There is no reason why every vehicle operating in a city can't be electric. That's today, right now. The electrical distribution system is already in place. If your drive doesn't take you 100 miles away from a power outlet, you shouldn't have a problem. Our battery technology, primitive as it is, would suit the needs of most commuters. That having been said, I know that everyone isn't going to buy an electric car tomorrow. But the government can. They could choose all electric platforms for their cars. Natural gas, Hydrogen, or electric for their buses and trucks. There's no good reason not to invest in this right away. Meanwhile, the gas stations can be offered government incentives for replacing 1 of their gas pumps with quick charge stations. No need to wait an hour for the batteries to charge. Get your juice in 5 minutes for 2 bucks at your local Chevron.

Instead of bailing out car companies, offer every homeowner a 90% subsidized solar panel on their roof. It's a better investment of taxpayer dollars, since it's an investment that gets people independent and lowers their cost of living.

Still want to bail out the auto industry? Continue big rebates on zero emission vehicles, and double down on those rebates. Make it crazy for people to buy a gasoline car. The car companies who build lots of electric cars will be the only ones to benefit from the spending spree on free government money. So, change or die.

Offer huge government grants to universities who research new battery storage technologies that improve on what we have. Offer huge prizes for developing the best technologies. Caveat? That tech goes public domain for everyone to use, tinker with, and improve on.

All of these programs would cost trillions of dollars, but it's the kind of investment that improves lives. When was the last time your tax dollars resulted in a 50% decrease of your home electric bill? When's the last time you went a month without buying gas because you could 'fill up' the car in your garage? When's the last time a bus passed you on the sidewalk and didn't leave you coughing in its wake?

It's not just possible. It's bloody easy. And screw global warming. These changes are worthy simply for the improvement in everyone's lives. That's how you sell it. Selling freedom from oil is selling freedom, period. Everyone wants to buy that. I'll take two.

--Anthony


"On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you." --Auraptor

"This vile and revolting malice - this is their true colors, always has been, you're just seeing it without the mask of justifications and excuses they hide it behind, is all. Make sure to remember it once they put the mask back on." --Fremdfirma

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Anthony,

I think these sites are too low. I know we could do it in one year if we wanted to by just refitting all engines, seeing how the man hours involved are less than will be spent on our military industrial complex, and the dollars will be far less than the cost of our wars for the next year. In fact, you could pay for this with a random supplemental.

Yeah, sure, it won't, but I just wanted to set a benchmark.

If the soviets did it, it would be a five year plan.
If a president did it, he would plan it cleverly to go into practice just after he leaves office...

So. Realistically, we don't really need to get rid of oil, we need to get rid of the yahoos doing it, and replaced them with someone competent. We do need to kill coal. Still, I take your point, and getting rid of dependence on oil. Cars:

High powered fuel could increase efficiency considerably. 6% of gasoline goes into kinetic energy. There's a lot fo wiggle room and some very obvious ways of taking advantage of it

Solar cells can produce a large amount of the power needed, reducing the consumption of oil

Reduce the overall power consumption of engines. The pries consumes around 20kw, vs. 5.6for the tesla family car

Heat is trickier, but one way that has often struck me is "stop heating the outdoors." we have a lot of heating schemes here, and the waste is pretty incredible.

Another one: use sunlight. This would take longer, refitting houses, but still could be done.

But more than anything, we need to change our political investment. About a century ago, the PTB decided to create a world energy scheme which required the purchase of a commodity in order to continue to run. The only way to destroy commodity control is to wreck the price. Right now, e anger at BP is actually fueling support for the oil industry by forcing the false shortage, which the industry has been doing for ages.

I'll gnaw on it some more

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Oh, from my mechanic:

A new electric car can do about 280 miles on a charge. The limiting factor is the batteries, the upgrade costs under three grand.

Also, he says just about any car can be converted to electric, and its really not all that difficult. You can take a regular chevy S10 and just put an electric motor in it. If so, that seems a lot cheaper to me than buying everyone a new car.

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Hello,

That suits me just fine. Hell, I always thought pickups were natural choices for electric. Lots of cargo space for batteries.

However, I do think a purpose-built electric car is likely to be much more efficient than a conversion.

--Anthony


"On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you." --Auraptor

"This vile and revolting malice - this is their true colors, always has been, you're just seeing it without the mask of justifications and excuses they hide it behind, is all. Make sure to remember it once they put the mask back on." --Fremdfirma

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Quote:

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Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello,
Natural gas

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Natural gas has the advantage of being abundant right now and it will burn in almost all cars currently on the road. Other technologies will be adopted as they become viable, but if the government gets involved in picking the winners in the alternative fuel race we'll end up with a huge waste of money and an inferior solution like ethanol. Government involvement should be limited to research money for existing companies that can prove to an independent board of scientists that their new technology has promise. We don't need billions of dollar in funding to go to every crazy idea, we need real solutions that can be scaled up fast to make a real difference. If getting rid of oil dependence is the goal then technologies like solar power currently have too high of an initial investment involved to be viable for the masses. Electric cars powered by clean coal and natural gas hybrids make the most sense in the near term and could make a real difference immediately.

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"Electric cars powered by clean coal and natural gas hybrids make the mose sense in the near term and could make a real difference immediately."

Hello,

I don't think the electric cars need to be powered by clean coal. If someone can stick a panel on the roof and charge their car, that's the best possible solution.

That having been said, I think powering an electric off the grid, any existing grid, is better than operating millions of little combustion engines.

I like natural gas. I also like Hydrogen, though I think the technology isn't there yet. Electic makes me all tingly because it grants the possibility of energy independence. No other fuel is free after the initial investment in infrastructure. I could drive everywhere I usually go, all year round, and for free... If I just had an electric car and a solar panel.

--Anthony


"On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you." --Auraptor

"This vile and revolting malice - this is their true colors, always has been, you're just seeing it without the mask of justifications and excuses they hide it behind, is all. Make sure to remember it once they put the mask back on." --Fremdfirma

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There is no such thing as clean coal.

And everything you said is valid, Anthony, but how do you convince people to DO IT?! When you've got people still convincing themselves that oil is infinite, you havent even begun the job of moving away from it.

I'm sorry, I just don't that kind of faith in mankind.


Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

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