Thursday, October 21. 2004
This seems important - We are in an economic bubble caused by
oil. The least important contribution oil makes to this economic boom is
allowing us each to tool around at 70 mph (113 kph) with a couple of
empty couches strapped to our backs. - Other contributions oil makes to the
bubble include abundant fertilizer and pesticides for huge crop yields,
concentrated energy to turn iron into steel and sand into computer chips. It
is the raw material for making plastics, which are used for everything from
food storage to medical services, just for starters.
A question to the mathematically inclined
Assumptions
- everyone in the U.S. has a hybrid vehicle
- Each vehicle has two square meters (2.2 yds) of solar cells on
its roof.
- Some conservatively estimated percentage of vehicles will be out under
the sun during peak solar hours.
- Some conservative and currently doable efficiency numbers for cell
conversion and storage conversion.
- Cars are intelligent enough to manage their energy storage in such a way
that they will have capacity in which to store the cell's peak-time output (or
use it directly if the car is moving).
The question:
How many barrels of oil would be saved per day?...
Think about it.
- Millions of square meters of solar cells,
- all producing energy that will go directly to offsetting fossil fuel
consumption (that includes oil we use to make plastics, fertilizer,
pesticides, and so much more).
- Not one square inch of those solar cells will be covering any vegetation
or marine life that would not have otherwise been covered.
What if we cover road-sides,
or even roads with
extra-durable solar cells?
This seems like a win-win for everyone don't you think?
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