Comments on: Crystal Ball Gazing https://www.privatefleet.com.au/blog/home/crystal-ball-gazing/ News and views about cars in Australia Fri, 19 Jun 2020 16:05:21 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.5 By: Philip https://www.privatefleet.com.au/blog/home/crystal-ball-gazing/#comment-764 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:40 +0000 http://blog.privatefleet.com.au/?p=232#comment-764 Yes Alan (comment 2) I agree. The folly of Electric is that it is no big benefit unless we also have solar for the car charge & Geothermal or Nuclear for base load. On-board energy storage and energy efficiency are the key to future success.. So will direct electricity storage (Battery) or Hydrogen (fuel cell) be the dominant technology? The battle has just started…

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By: Steve hathaway https://www.privatefleet.com.au/blog/home/crystal-ball-gazing/#comment-763 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:21:55 +0000 http://blog.privatefleet.com.au/?p=232#comment-763 Whatever new technology is used one thing is clear the old internal combustion engine has had it’s day. Regardless of the environmental issues – the design is over acentury old- we need Asia-pacific, the US & Europe to work on a 21st century equivalent of the “Manhatten Project” (google it) to urgently develop an alternative, the current auto makers and fuel companies need to be on-board – they will still have a business – the advantage is that we will no longer be held to ransom and see all our hard-earned beeing squandered by the OPEC nations to build artificial islands and Ski-slopes in the middle of the desert. Peak Oil is here the time for action is NOW.

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By: Etica https://www.privatefleet.com.au/blog/home/crystal-ball-gazing/#comment-762 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:10:46 +0000 http://blog.privatefleet.com.au/?p=232#comment-762 Well petrol has been a convenient tax source for General revenue.
Government will need to bring in a breathing tax to compensate, for more efficient cars.
Oops…..wasn’t that what the Emissions Trading Scheme was all about.

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By: Bruce Robinson https://www.privatefleet.com.au/blog/home/crystal-ball-gazing/#comment-761 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:52:50 +0000 http://blog.privatefleet.com.au/?p=232#comment-761 Global oil shortages, Peak Oil, are like to have an enormous impact on the motor industry. CSIRO’s Future Fuel Forum had one scenario of $8/litre by 2018, if Peak Oil occurs within five years (as is quite probable), and if all the promised alternatives and more efficient cars do not miraculously happen.

A car being bought now is very likely to still be on the road when Peak Oil arrives. Peak Oil is the time when the rate of the world’s oil production reaches its maximum and then starts the inevitable final decline phase. My estimate is at circa 2012 (+/- 5 years). Preparing in advance for fuel shortages, rationing and very high prices is likely to be a valuable precaution.

Bruce Robinson
Convenor,
Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil
http://www.ASPO-Australia.org.au
08-9384-7409

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