Bush to lift offshore drilling ban

[SlvrDragon50]

If you drive at 10,000' daily and go offroading frequently, then by all means, go buy an Escape. However, if you drive in the city like a large portion of the population, AWD is just a nicety.

Originally Posted by georoc01

Well, when they start making a Prius with AWD and enough HP to drive effectively at 10,000 feet, I am all for it! I know there is a Lexus RX-400 out there that is, but doesn't get much better gas mileage than the Ford Escape Hybrid.

[OH-JJ]

Originally Posted by aggie99

I am only quoting a CNN article:

Experts say offshore oil drilling would not have an immediate impact on oil prices because oil exploration takes years.

"If we were to drill today, realistically speaking, we should not expect a barrel of oil coming out of this new resource for three years, maybe even five years, so let's not kid ourselves," said Fadel Gheit, oil and gas analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. Equity Capital Markets Division.

Bush lifts executive ban on offshore oil drilling - CNN.com

well I would say look at the source. in this case a finance guy.

I have yet to see any of the news stations ask the actual oil companies themselves. as they are the ones doing the drilling.

From the oil guys I know, they say that right now there are some deep water drill ships ready to go. the rest are loaned out to universities and such do core samples. and alot more that only need the cranes and rigging upgraded to handle the longer drill. for the ships that are ready to go, they can have the first well drilled within 6 weeks.

[georoc01]

Originally Posted by aggie99

Watch the insults, it is the fastest way to kill a good debate and end this thread.

Because there isn't a decent alternative out there for transportation purposes that could be implemented in a shorter timeline. There is a huge infrastructure component that can't be eliminated anytime soon. Heck, E85 is an alternative for many flexfuel vehicles, but how many gas stations around you sells it?

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by BuzzF117

I hear all the talk of hybrids but nobody can answer my question about disposing of the batts im thinking the disposal cost of huge banks of lithium batts would be brutal on the consumer!!! I know as it is now you have to pay a fee for disposing of your lead acid batt when you dispose of it.

You are correct that Li-ion batteries produced on a scale to meet all vehicle demands would cause an environmental issue themselves. The biggest problem is that battery technology hasn't taken a major technological leap for almost two decades (Li-ion was developd in the 70's and first entered the market in 1991). Until the efficiency of batteries increases and cost drops we won't see much past the $100,000 Tesla and glorified golf carts. There are some promising breakthroughs in increasing capacity but I can guarantee these would be accelerated if demand was higher. The Telsa's batteries are designed to run for 100,000 miles. If you take the reduced emmisions over that timeframe (not to mention the reduction in consumable fluids) I am sure the battery greatly wins out ecologically.

[SlvrDragon50]

California is pretty good with the newer gas alternatives. They have several hydrogen filling stations among with some hundred or so cars. Once theybgo through testing it shouldn't be long before it starts spreading.

Originally Posted by georoc01

Because there isn't a decent alternative out there for transportation purposes that could be implemented in a shorter timeline. There is a huge infrastructure component that can't be eliminated anytime soon. Heck, E85 is an alternative for many flexfuel vehicles, but how many gas stations around you sells it?

[ReefHound]

Originally Posted by aggie99

I am only quoting a CNN article:

Experts say offshore oil drilling would not have an immediate impact on oil prices because oil exploration takes years.

You know on it's face that is simply untrue. It takes six weeks for oil to travel from the oilfield to the refinery. The barrel price of oil changes daily, sometimes making huge swings like down $5 one day and up $9 the next. It isn't because six weeks ago production was off or demand was up. It's because the market price is moved by news. Any major development, for better or for worse, is going to have an immediate impact on price regardless of when the actual impact on supply/demand occurs.

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

You know on it's face that is simply untrue. It takes six weeks for oil to travel from the oilfield to the refinery. The barrel price of oil changes daily, sometimes making huge swings like down $5 one day and up $9 the next. It isn't because six weeks ago production was off or demand was up. It's because the market price is moved by news. Any major development, for better or for worse, is going to have an immediate impact on price regardless of when the actual impact on supply/demand occurs.

Honestly it is a reduction in oil prices rather than offshore drilling that scares me more. A year ago when gas prices rose in the summer the sales of large SUV's plummeted, as soon as gas prices went down slightly sales jumped right back up. Did American's really think the gas price hike was over?? I fear off shore drilling will cause the same issue and only postpone the inevitable which we have known for decades.

[georoc01]

Originally Posted by aggie99

Honestly it is a reduction in oil prices rather than offshore drilling that scares me more. A year ago when gas prices rose in the summer the sales of large SUV's plummeted, as soon as gas prices went down slightly sales jumped right back up. Did American's really think the gas price hike was over?? I fear off shore drilling will cause the same issue and only postpone the inevitable which we have known for decades.

Yeah sales went back up, but only after a major price adjustment with most larger suvs being discounted up to $15,000 from what they sold for a year ago.

Meanwhile cars like the Prius are selling at a premium over their asking price, most being sold out prior to delivery to the dealer.

Its a supply/demand issue. Discount the Big SUV enough, and you will find a buyer. And if people really want a Prius, they will pay a premium for them until the supply increases or alternatives hit the marketplace.

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

You know on it's face that is simply untrue. It takes six weeks for oil to travel from the oilfield to the refinery. The barrel price of oil changes daily, sometimes making huge swings like down $5 one day and up $9 the next. It isn't because six weeks ago production was off or demand was up. It's because the market price is moved by news. Any major development, for better or for worse, is going to have an immediate impact on price regardless of when the actual impact on supply/demand occurs.

The average mpg for new cars in Europe is 43mpg, in the US it is 29.3mpg (up from 21mpg due to gas prices and GM shutting down large truck and SUV plants). In Europe in 2007 there were 113 cars that get 40mpg or better (up form 85 in 2005), in the US there are 2 (the honda civic hybrid and Prius) which is down from 5 in 2005.

U.S. 'stuck in reverse' on fuel efficiency - The Driver's Seat - MSNBC.com

[SlvrDragon50]

another thing to consider is the future

I believe that the reason alternativefuels are being pushed so strongly right now is becuase people are realizing how ependen we are on fuel. If we open up offshore drilling and thus increasing supply, the research towArds alternatives will slow down again. When we reach the more major scarcity of fuel after emptying the offshore rigs, the prices on gas will be higher than ever and the fuel alternatives would be nowhere near as developed if off shore drilling cntinues to be banned.