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  •  I think it could be done... (none / 0)

    Nearly 70% of petroleum is consumed by the transportation sector in the US.  With technology that exists right now, the average fuel efficiency could be increased by something approaching 100% by switching to lighter vehicle construction, smaller cars, much more emphasis on diesel and widespread use of hybrid technology.  If plug-in hybrids were to be widely adopted, the potential for a several-fold improvement exists.  However, a big shift to higher efficiencies would likely be offset by more driving unless fuel prices were kept high.  

    The intrinsic nature of Power is such that those who seek it most are least qualified to wield it.

    by mojo workin on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 10:01:23 AM PDT

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    •  Switch from long haul trucks (none / 0)

      to trains. That would help a lot. Trains can run on diesel or other fuels (coal would be horrible, but possible), they're pretty flexible that way. Trains can haul a lot more than a truck. A LOT more. They can stop along the way and unload cars, pick them up on the way back.

      So if you were shipping to Philly from the midwest or west coast, you could have one train haul freight for anywhere along the route, and drop off/pick up along the way.

      That has to be better than one truck load at a time.

      Convert/retool as many trucks as possible to biodiesel. That would help too.

      The means we need to start constructing biodiesel plants now. NOW.

      by mmacdDE on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:45:30 PM PDT

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      •  Trains aren't quite so simple (none / 0)

        There are only so many miles of track extant, building more through places they are needed could be quite a problem and very expensive.  

        There is already a great deal of freight moving by rail, including intermodal shipments (trailers that stack on a set of wheels and then get pulled by a regular over the road semi) and the cost per mile is substantially lower than using a truck.  BUT it takes 1-3 days longer in transit and is subject to congestion at the relatively few unloading points.  It also is more susceptible to service disruptions (lots more roads than rails in the country) and can cause product damage (whole lot of shaking goin' on).

        I personally think that higher fuel costs may lead to a reversal of the mega-warehouse model.  More manufacturing sites in more places with smaller output equals less transit.  With diesel at $2.79/ gal it makes sense to ship things from China to Florida.  How about at $4?  $8?  $10?  At some point the financial benefits of mass production get eaten up by transit times and transportation costs.

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        by WI Deadhead on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 09:26:21 PM PDT

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