Prepare for the Worst

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

This is not about saving gas money.

Thu, 05/15/2008 - 14:11 — justjohn

"A rusting Exxon oil tanker, abandoned in the desert being passed by a camel caravan", -CC'd by azrainman    So it seems that I've had more and more conversations with people while biking around northern VA that start out like this, “So your biking around to save gas money?”

    To which I usually answer something pretty consistent with, “No, not really. While it does save money by not using gas to get around, I haven't ditched my car, which is necessary to save a lot of money by bicycling. I bike mainly because it seems to be a better use of my body, has less of an impact on the environment than driving. And in the back of my mind I'm really very worried that a worst case 'peak oil' scenario would leave me unprepared to support my family if I didn't do this regularly.”