new car theory, page 1

The problem with lasers is getting out more energy than is put in. I think at this point this closest thing we have to that is this... It will be the largest laser ever devised, however scientists are going to use a sophisticated process involving a gold pellet to hope to discover a new form of nuclear fusion which will, then, create more energy than is being put into the system. But noone knows what will happen at this point.

lasers.llnl.gov...

discovermagazine.com...

The big problem with devising a new form of propelling vehicles is obviously phasing them in after the new technology is finally available to the public.. People currently have SUV's, full-size trucks, etc.. and they have invested alot of money in these vehicles. So, the problem isn't just finding an alternative to gasoline, the problem is also phasing in that technology and making it so that there can be fair competition in the market between that same new technology and the big oil companies..

Until any vehicle-based energy alternative can take a foot-hold in the market, any company selling this new technology is going to find itself steamrolled by the oil companies. Therefore, our government leaders are going to have to figure out a way to ensure fair competition so that these new companies don't go under as soon as they begin..

But if gas prices are high enough, people are going to be willing to make that investment and any company that develops and sells such technology is obviously going to be rich and prosperous. That is critical to a healthy economy..

I also think we need to keep the manufacturing of any such vehicles right here in the U.S. and as long as such vehicle manufacturing companies are making huge profits from such new technology it will show to all the other companies that there truly is room here for some form of free market prosperity involved with alternative energy.. Not just the hype and the public support these companies currently get by dumping money into alternative energy R&D, while they continue to raise oil prices and fail to discover any kind of long-term solution that rids us of oil altogether.

It's my view that in the past any alternative to gasoline was probably squashed by the thumbs of the big oil companies who felt threatened. But now, the same big oil companies have no choice but to actually conduct such R&D themselves or be ridiculed. Only now we are up against the wall and are more in need of an alternative than we ever have been in the past.

IMO, any idea is better than nothing. We are going to have to rely on innovation to get through this in the long-term scheme of things regardless of who develops the technology. And it isn't just about getting off of oil and relying on other countries for our energy needs. It is also about being self-sufficient as a country and keeping money right here in the U.S. if possible..

-ChriS