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You think it can’t get any worse, but each trip to the filling station you see a higher price posted on the sign. One tank now sets you back a ridiculous sum of money. Is there any way to fight back? Many Americans are quickly realizing their first line of defense is to achieve the best fuel economy possible.
America’s guzzling of gasoline has many negative consequences. Not only does it serve to quickly drain your bank account, it does so to the wealth of the entire nation. Being a net exporter of oil, America essentially is draining its national treasury by sending hundreds of billions of dollars abroad. One noted financial expert recently asserted that it was the greatest transfer of wealth the earth has ever seen.
Most associated with the oil patch do not see things changing. Peak oil is upon us with most of the easily accessed reserves tapped. New supply must come from highly remote and difficult environments. Many include politically sensitive areas like Anwar and the intercontinental shelf.
Exploration in such places is highly expensive. Proven reserves mostly reside in places which entail international political risk. Many of America’s entanglements arose from necessity of a free flow of oil. Even with increased crude oil supply, our nation’s refineries are inadequate to meet increasing demand. A new one hasn’t been built in over thirty years.
The burning of fossil based fuels also releases massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The more carbon based fuels we burn, the worse it becomes. Inefficient, low mileage vehicles are great contributors to this phenomenon which is called global warming. So, with all these problems, are there solutions?
Increased efficiency through higher mileage is universally recognized as a positive step. Many options are currently available in the marketplace. Most simple is just to make the car smaller. Smaller cars obviously get better mileage. Also available are hybrids which increase efficiency through a recharging battery.
On the horizon are other cutting edge solutions. One is a hydrogen fuel cell. With this technology, it is theoretically possible for us to run our cars on water. If not fully, others are exploring mixing this technology with the combustion engine to increase mileage obtained up to fifty percent.
Whichever the solution, the time has come. With skyrocketing gas prices most of us do not have a choice. There are many options to explore to seek the best fuel economy possible. Your bank account and planet both depend on it.
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