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In all of the discussion on this subject, there is no mention of utilizing our greatest talent - the good old American talent for inventing a new and different solution to any problem. First lets look at the history of this problem:
Come on folks, is gas the only thing that can be compressed and detonated? Does history elude all of us - cars once moved quite speedily on steam power! The Stanley Steamer beat all comers in the early days of transportation with a very crude form of controls and safety.

Do you not remember the hubbub a few years back when a perfectly functional engine was shown about that operated on a gas similar to freon. Its tremendous ability to expand drove the pistons of a standard v-8 engine. It is unfortunate that this system was developed when gas was 25% of its present price and there was no incentive to develop it further.
Hydrogen has been bandied about as the newest and best alternative to gas driven engines. It is possible, according to media articles, to have a car that functions on petroleum products and/or hydrogen at the flip of a switch, depending upon the availability of either fuel. Folks that would like to develop hydrogen are immediately flogged with the old story of the billions it would cost to develop an infrastructure so you could pull the family jalopy into a service point and fill up.
This is largely a hoax - we did it for petroleum products and the present system of service stations exist because they are profitable. Who believes hydrogen would not similarly be profitable and developed as resources permit? Hydrogen is environmentally friendly - produces only water as a by product of its use.
Battery driven (or electrical) cars are on the highway now and will increase over time. Mostly you see them as "hybrid" gas-electric vehicles. Why not increase this option and decrease production of gas only driven vehicles. How do you accomplish this? You provide tax incentives for the electrical car and dis-incentives for the gas burner - works like a charm. One or two more break-through in batteries abilities to hold a charge,quickly re-charge and be safe - and we are there.
This is just a sampling of the many things that are available as alternatives to the present petroleum complex control of our lives. We need to shut up our whining and roll up our sleeves, and do what we do best in America - innovate, invent-!

Learn more about this author, Fred Tolleson.
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