Oil Depletion Map

Government Accountability Office (GAO) presented a report to congress in Feb-2007 outlining the problem of peak oil, listing various predicted dates when oil production will peak, listing programs that might mitigate "worldwide recession" caused by oil shortage, and their expected shortfalls in achieving that goal.

http://www.hubbertpeak.com/US/GAO/GAOPeakOilReport20070329.pdf (82 page pdf, 1.1MB download)

I think all the hoopla over global warming is crazy considering how much more serious oil depletion is. The problem that needs to be solved has been stated, in various forms, many times before. It is called "Parasitic Energy Consumption". A car that weighs 3000 pounds is needed to move a person that weighs 200 pounds. A typical commute with a modern car and 25 start-stops has a PEC of 275 compared to the energy used by the person if he had just walked the distance. Light rail with 10 start-stops has a PEC of 310, even worse than cars.

http://www.solarevolution.com/PRT/jpods/EnergyNeutralTransport20070119.pdf (2 page pdf download)

I don't know if J-Pods on elevated rails are the answer, but those solar cars look like they are on track. I'd be surprised if the PEC of solar cars and bicycles is more than 2.0. And since bikes are so popular why can't we buy cars that just move one person? Why is "4-passenger capacity" so popular? Maybe extra passenger capacity should be taxed, with a rebate only for people with kids.