Automotive Industry Trends

Two comics I'd suggest to everyone:

http://www.stuartmcmillen.com/comic/energy-slaves/

http://www.stuartmcmillen.com/comic/peak-oil/

They give a great illustration of humanities ability to waste energy, and the dwindling supply of that energy.

Maybe Ford is the first manufacturer to step out of a market that essentially should not exist?

What effect would $100.00 (or more) per gallon of fuel have on the automobile industry? It would also affect every other industry relying on petroleum products (pretty much everyone/everything).

Just use electric vehicles, right?

Sure, but how will you mine, refine, process and transport the materials needed to create the vehicle, batteries, roads, and related products when fossil fuels are suddenly too expensive?

Such a great comic

So then what do you think the solution is, Fred?

I believe we (as a species) will continue our race to the top until we run out of fuel and crash back to the ground. We've had a century of living like royalty, and I doubt enough people will scale back enough to make a difference.

If there is a solution it will likely involve making a large impact on everyone's wallet before everyone starts to take notice.

I have no misconception of how unpopular this "solution" would be, but what if some amount was added annually to the price of "fossil fuels". let's say the increase resulted in a $2 rise per gallon of fuel each year, every year. This would also extend to other resources like natural gas, and coal.

Every year the price of fuels and all associated items and services increase. The protests and riots would be off the charts. Would the benefits be worth it?

What's the first rule of Fight Club again...?

Rule 1: No singing