There have been several important developments in the energy market as a result of stubbornly high gas prices over the last few years.
First, there is the hybrid vehicle. For those who haven’t explored this, the hybrid automobile runs on both a gasoline engine and an electric motor, in one car. Thus, the word hybrid. Most vehicles on the road get poor gas mileage especially in stop and go traffic – something like eight to twelve mpg. The hybrid, on the other hand, uses its electric motor under these conditions and gets five times that. Hybrids can use a smaller more efficient gas engine, because if more power is needed than the small engine can produce, the electric motor comes on line and both respond to the consumer mashing on the gas pedal.
I know a couple who owns a prius. They have gotten 50 and 60 mpg both in town and on the highway. The gas mileage in hybrids really is that good.
As a result of their popularity, work is ongoing to improve these vehicles and noises are being made about a car in the near future that gets 100 mpg.
Secondly, there is biodiesel. This is vegetable oil produced from a variety of sources including soybeans, and used McDonalds frying grease. In 1999 about 500 thousand gallons of biodiesel was produced in the U.S.A. this has exploded to 250 million gallons produced in 2006, and will at least double again to 500 million gallons in 2007. Exciting research is being conducted into making biodiesel from algae, the fastest growing plant in the world. Huge ponds will soon be built in desolate areas that will produce a steady supply of green slush that potentially will produce all the diesel America needs and at a competitive price.
Thirdly is ethanol. Attempting to produce ethanol from corn is dumb, and has driven the price of corn through the roof. But just recently, a scientific breakthrough has occurred that will increase the energy density of ethanol by 40% and encourages production from other plants than corn. Information about this is on the net.
And lastly is the led (light emitting diode). If you look at stop lights, you will notice they are no longer a single red, orange, or green lamp, but many closely packed little lights (led’s). The bulbs have been replaced because led’s use much less electricity and last a long time. Also, tail lights on trucks, and some new autos are using red led’s. Research into how to make white led’s that aren’t so expensive is on-going and very exciting. But it will be several years before we see led light bulbs, other than in flash lights, that can compete in price.
I hope our Congress, with its glorious 14% approval rating doesn’t screw things up with its latest energy bill. Things are going well and we will soon be free from foreign oil if they will just leave the markets alone.
Grimgold