Pros and Cons of the impending change in energy infrastructure

Tue, 07/01/2008 - 16:03 — justjohn

 

Portable Energy Type

Pros

Cons

Biodiesel

  • Nearly equivalent power density to normal diesel

  • Only minor changes in distribution infrastructure are needed

  • Only minor changes in current diesel systems are needed

  • Agricultural basis creates competition for human food sources

  • Diesels in the US are a minority

Ethanol

  • Good power density (80% that of gasoline[roughly])

  • Only minor changes in distribution infrastructure are needed

  • Conversion of gasoline systems is not straight forward but is possible

  • Agricultural basis creates competition for human food sources

  • Substantial expense for upgrading existing gasoline engines

  • Enhanced agricultural/organic technologies needed to completely replace petroleum

Battery/Electric

  • Adequate battery systems exist for most commuter needs

  • Very cheap mileage if charged on grid power

  • Zero emissions

  • Very low maintenance

  • Very high initial cost of systems and conversions

  • Completely inadequate infrastructure in place, could take generations to change

  • Battery technology is not an adequate replacement for many current transportation applications

Hydrogen/Electric

  • Superior power storage to currently used technologies

  • “Safe” emissions

  • Very cheap mileage if hydrogen is hydrolyzed from water with grid power instead of refined from hydrocarbon sources

  • Technology is not feasible yet

  • Infrastructure is almost non-existent

  • Storage technologies not mature yet

Bicycle/Walking

  • Very cheap mileage

  • Makes for a fitter nation

  • Improves quality of life

  • Infrastructure is seriously sub standard in the US

  • Limited effective mileage does not match current population density distribution in US

  • Transport applications are limited by personal fitness

Because whether you believe in it or not, the era of cheap oil is over. All remaining reserves are harder to get, harder to transport or harder to refine, which boils down to higher prices from here on out. And while many well off Americans and our contemporaries may be able to afford the rising costs of portable energy in the near term, what happens when gasoline and diesel keeps rising in cost? Can you afford $20/g gasoline? Right now the poor in America are really suffering from the rising cost of gas, but it's really only a matter of time before the middle class begins to buckle. How will you collect your food and sundries when your daily work commute is already breaking your budget? What options do you have once you can no longer afford to drive to and from work?