28 April 2007

A Solution to the Energy Crisis

When oil runs out then gasoline cars will be obsolete. It is estimated that natural gas will peak 10 years after oil peaks(1). We cannot use LPG because LPG is made from either natural gas or crude oil. Hydrogen doesn't seem viable either because production of hydrogen requires fossil fuels to drive electrolysis. Electrolysis of hydrogen using renewable energy sources is not practical. To power the world's energy needs you will require wind turbines that cover the world many times over. The closest solution we have is battery powered hybrid vehicles, but even that solution is limited by battery technology.

I have a solution. Trams and trains run on electricity directly, which means there are no worries about energy storage, i.e. no batteries are needed. Hence just radically expand the public transport network to make it more comfortable and convenient and let everyone catch public transport. An alternative is to replace all roads with tram lines. Tram lines will be everywhere, even on your driveway at home. You will have your own personal private tram, which you will use to drive on the tram lines. People who want to go "offroad" will have to use electric vehicles. Private trams can be driven automatically. Once the tram gets into an intersection then its directions are controlled by by a computer for that intersection, which manages traffic flow. Because no one has to drive then there will be no road fatalities. Plus people can do something while they transport themselves, which increases productivity and thereby improves the economy.

Where will the electricity to power the trains and trams come from? The only solution is nuclear power.

1: www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

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