Getting autos off of oil
...I'm starting to think that the transition away from oil does not totally depend on fuel efficiency and electric cars. The dramatic increase in accessible shale natural gas reserves makes cars converted to natural gas another way people can adjust to declines in oil production. While the converted cars have downsides (e.g. conversiion costs, shorter range, and less trunk space) conversion of a car to run on natural gas is far cheaper than conversion to run on electric power. Plus, natural gas conversions will have bigger driving ranges and electric cars. We aren't going to witness mass conversions to natural gas without a big rise in gasoline prices happening first. But once the gasoline prices get high enough expect to see a big movement to convert existing cars to run on natural gas.
While shopping for a Honda Fit for my daughter, I saw a natural-gas powered car in the showroom. You can get a device with it that automatically refills it overnight from your household gas supply.
Website here.
Bad news is that non-home refill stations are still few and far between, but if you're in the kind of market niche where you'd be commuting to work then recharging at home, this could give you more range at less cost than a pure electric. Of course, the costs involved would buy a LOT of gasoline.
