Electric cars, though certainly not developed enough for mass production, are a potentially viable alternative for short-distance travel, which is what most of us probably use most of our travel time doing. (I have no statistics to back this up.) I've seen parking meters with extension cords hanging out of them in the interior of Alaska, which people use in winter to keep their batteries charged and their engine blocks from freezing solid. There's no reason we couldn't use such a system to power and recharge communter vehicles.

Mr. Goodstein points out in the article that he already drives a hybrid car. These changes will have to take place on an individual level, with enough individuals creating a demand for automobiles that will save oil for more important things, like drugs.

The battery problem is a biggie, but perhaps it could be dealt with. It certainly won't be if there's little effort expended on it.

Those could easily be "nuclear-powered". The nuke stays in the plant, the electricity comes over the wires.

I also regret the loss of the electric trolley system that used to follow the roads around here, and in other parts of Pennsylvania. It's not too late to restore those either. Forward-looking city and town planners will understand that they may not pay in the short run, but in the long run it will be better to have the infrastructure to absorb transportation problems created by the loss of "unlimited" oil.

We will have a patchwork solution to replace the monolith we now have, that's for sure.