Both Qatar's oil minister and the head of OPEC can see oil hitting $200 a barrel before the end of the year and one analyst says gas could reach $7 a gallon within four years. That could mean cataclysm for the global economy.

wired


Now this doesn't make me happy....mbf

Sorry Ray, but I don't think some Middle Eastern chap that lives in a 200 room palace gives a flying "bleep."

It really is all nonsense. Suspect that gas will dump down to a $1 or less, if the the world unifies, and gets their acts together. There are other modes of fuels that can be used, together with public transportation that would eliminate much of the congestion on the highways, and streets today. One day fuel cells will be sold in a six pack-not unlike brew, only difference one is plugged into the car, other you drink-don't get confused! Honda and other manufacturers are producing these cars, and some are on the road today-all need a better infrastructure to service them, and reduce cell costs downward. So, other than in a sandwich even baloney can be sliced extra thin-just ride a bike, or better still stay at home, and do a victory garden-would make your grandparents smile.

That really is all nonsense. IF the world unifies? And gets their act together?
very highly unlikely, too many "where's mine? " people, too little to go around.
barring world wide economic colapse ($7 gas could do it) we'll probably never see gas under $2-3 again. if we're really lucky (and use as little as we can) hopefully most of us won't see gas above $4 this year.

This isn't the first time i've heard this. At this point im tired of hearing people bitch about everything. There will never be change unless the people want change... but people are to LAZY to create change..

I'd be happy to see gas down to $3.

The economy would be completely dead before that happened. We are damn near in a economic disaster now...no end in site though.

I would expect gas prices to fall a bit right aroung November...right before the election.

Hmmm ... Gas is a product-goes up/down! Silver up to the extent that people sold their family silver products for big bucks at one time. The metal market, food markets, and so on, all have these big price sale issues at one time or another. An example, now the family home is on the block for whatever the marketplace can get-high price-low price, in many instances 25%, or less for those that lost their butts-or worse. Yes, can see prices at a $1, or less-remember not long ago there was posted an article that some heads of state in the Middle East, e.g., the Saudi, wanted assurances from us (Social Security of sorts) when an alternate fuel came into use instead of gas! Story easy to check out.

Which is why we need to quit f00kin' around with alternative fuels that power internal combustion engines and come up with something completely different. Once we have a fuel source that threatens to slow down production of and replace internal combustion engines, I can guarantee the price of oil will fall like a rock... back to those $1 per gallon of gas levels (at which point I will drive my Jeep for a month straight).

All of these 'alternative fuels' (i.e. ethanol, alcohol-blends, bio-diesel, propane, et al) do nothing but give petroleum-based fuels some friendly competition - and at these prices, OPEC can handle losing 10% of the market to them because face it - none of the proposed solutions will have a viable infrastructure in-place (along with impact on our economy or way of life) for several years. We're too flaky when it comes to making a decision on the 'next best technology practice' for anybody to be threatened by anything new we come up with. We also need to muzzle the greenies until after the next new personal vehicle power source/propulsion system - they do nothing but hold us back when it comes to technological advances.

IMHO, Hydrogen is our best bet for the short-term. Along with a couple of major leaps forward with electric motors and magnetic propulsion.

I'd honestly like to see some kind of vehicle with a sealed micro-nuclear reactor for an engine - but privately-owned vehicles would be impractical, considering the potential for a major disaster at the hand of some SUV-driving soccer-mom on the phone.

Or maybe a recirculating steam-powered rotary engine - just need a tank of water and a super-hot heat source for that... (that's where the micro nuclear reactor comes in...). Instead of pushing/pulling a piston with steam, why not keep the rotor constantly moving in one direction - seems more efficient to me... less wear on the parts, too. Of course, you'd have to find a way to keep the water from freezing in the colder climates.

I also think DARPA needs to quit f00kin' around with 'autonomously guided' vehicles and put some 'reward' money towards new small-scale power source/propulsion solutions.

Mister 4X4, an excellent, refreshingly optimistic post! Have checked into a few current methods that are available now, and that may soon be in production. The hydrogen fuel cell is a great contender, and Honda, and perhaps a few others, e.g., BMW-(has about ten cars in service now on trial in the United States for about 18 months) all are seriously into this energy source, with trials set by Honda for July 2008-model of car now in Honda line-up on line. California is making a push for this fuel source, i.e., with planned fuel stations for some highways.

The Atomic powered car has been a dream since the 1950 ties-unfortunately, radiation containment costs exceeded what engineers had theorized about initially. Do think this is a very viable way to go with different atomic fuels that are being worked on today, and are currently in process, e.g., one new fuel (small pebble configuration) is being principally addressed by China, with the United States and Canada as partners in this enterprise-for more information Goggle this article, about a year old, and was posted on 4peeps. These atomic pebbles are to be used in many different types of units, and equipment-automotive included, particularly because of safety issue concerns-lower radiation rates. Below, is an article that goes a little more into various fuels for autos-but is primarily concerned with Hydrogen as an energy source.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_vehicle