What will happen as far as our fuel?
- Thread starter GP44
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horseless carriage
Well-known Member
Looking up early 2026 data, the current oil crisis, driven by significant Middle East conflict and supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz is accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, particularly by making the total cost of ownership more attractive and increasing consumer pump anxiety. As fossil fuel prices soar to record highs, inquiries for EV's have surged in Europe and Australia, with used EV searches rising by nearly 30% in some regions.
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
A couple of decades ago, my brother told me we have enough of an oil supply right here in this country and he didn't understand why our supply wasn't tapped to prevent the so called "shortage". This is from Bing search:
"The United States produces roughly 13.6 million barrels of crude oil per day, consumes about 20.5 million barrels per day, and holds over 83 billion barrels in proven reserves."
@horseless carriage Hopefully those buying electric vehicles will see their batteries last a very long time because I have a friend who owns one and she said it costs $20,000 to replace an EV battery! The cost depends on the model of the vehicle and could be much lower at $5,000. Still.....! In addition, according to Bing, the average cost for insurance is $2,723 annually, about 11% higher than for gas powered cars and repairs average $6,066.
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Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
It’s a definite possibility.
A temporary fuel shortage or some sort of long term rationing won’t have much of an impact on me.
The real impacts for me will be in the form of higher prices on almost everything or downward pressure on the financial markets that impact my income from investments.
This is just another in the long line of temporary man made problems that we have all managed to survive during our lifetimes.
We’re old, we made it, you can’t scare us and you can’t shut us up!
A temporary fuel shortage or some sort of long term rationing won’t have much of an impact on me.
The real impacts for me will be in the form of higher prices on almost everything or downward pressure on the financial markets that impact my income from investments.
This is just another in the long line of temporary man made problems that we have all managed to survive during our lifetimes.
We’re old, we made it, you can’t scare us and you can’t shut us up!
Our Property Management added to their website a Volunteer/Need section. We can check that where residents who can't drive
here can post a date they will need a ride to Dr, or grocery store and those who can help them can post they will take them.
So we now check that when we plan or are going into town and offer a ride. Some are even taking it a step further and taking turns
going on shopping runs. It's working out pretty smoothly so far.
horseless carriage
Well-known Member
The UK does have oil fields but they are under The North Sea. There again, we are sitting on an estimated 180 billion tons of coal. so.........
No oil? No problem, steam cars, get shovelling that coal.
Better hope that your source for recharging the EVs isn’t fossil fuels.
Data Centers are being built all across America and they consume huge amounts of electricity at a time when electrical power is already strained.
My oldest son is into solar and although he doesn’t have an EV he has enough solar power to charge one.
Is that a chop choo car?
horseless carriage
Well-known Member
I think it's a faux, doctored photo. It is amusing though.
I knew a guy once who was talking about magnets as a power source for cars.
You know, when you place 2 magnets positive to positive and it pushes?
I thought hmmm I can actually see where it could maybe work but wouldn't
you be dragging anything under you metal that was loose?
That would take 2 very powerful magnets for the rate of speed drivers use now days.
You know, when you place 2 magnets positive to positive and it pushes?
I thought hmmm I can actually see where it could maybe work but wouldn't
you be dragging anything under you metal that was loose?
That would take 2 very powerful magnets for the rate of speed drivers use now days.
MACKTEXAS
Well-known Member
No. Far more oil is produced in this country today than 50 years ago.
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
I would like to see water powered vehicles.
Was Stanley Meyer a kook or was he on to something?
The mysterious death of Stanley Meyer and his water powered car – The Classic Car Trust
Was Stanley Meyer a kook or was he on to something?
The mysterious death of Stanley Meyer and his water powered car – The Classic Car Trust
Europe could run out of jet fuel in 6 weeks, IEA chief tells AP
Source: CNBCPublished Thu, Apr 16 2026 7:22 AM EDT Updated 5 Min Ago
The International Energy Agency’s head warned Thursday that Europe maybe has six weeks left of jet fuel as the airline industry continues to grapple with headwinds due to the Middle East crisis.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the Strait of Hormuz blockade will result in “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” in an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday.
“In the past there was a group called ‘Dire Straits.’ It’s a dire strait now, and it is going to have major implications for the global economy. And the longer it goes, the worse it will be for the economic growth and inflation around the world,” he said.
He added that the broader economic impact includes “higher petrol (gasoline) prices, higher gas prices, high electricity prices,” with some parts of the world “hit worse than the others.”
Read more: Europe could run out of jet fuel in 6 weeks, IEA chief tells AP
jimintoronto
Well-known Member
Well, actually there IS something that can be done...The Canadian Federal Government just removed the tax on gasoline AND Diesel fuel for 4 months, from April to September. That tax applies in all parts of Canada. The 10 Provinces and 3 Territories may also reduce the Provincial tax charged on gasoline and diesel at the pumps. And of course we all know who to blame for this world wide problem, don't we ? JIMB>
This. It's no longer just about oil barrel and gas prices.
MACKTEXAS
Well-known Member
Rapidly increasing inflation and supply chain shortages are an enormous risk caused by closing the Strait of Hormuz, regardless of which nation is responsible, or their motivations. Contrary to what some would have us believe, it is a no win situation. And the closure isn't just a matter of oil and gas shortages globally, but global food production as well.
Warrigal
SF VIP
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
During WW II petrol driven cars in Australia were converted to run on "water gas" that was produced by passing steam over red-hot coke (carbon) at high temperatures, typically around 1000°C (1832°F). The main chemical reaction is:I would like to see water powered vehicles.
Was Stanley Meyer a kook or was he on to something?
View attachment 498225
The mysterious death of Stanley Meyer and his water powered car – The Classic Car Trust
C + H₂O → CO + H₂
Somehow this reaction, probably as the result of increased pressure, drove the pistons that caused the motion of the car. It is possible that in the future we might have to reexamine some of these earlier substitutes for fossil fuels.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/water-gas-reaction
I think I read that the oil from the US isn't the right type somehow and that we export it and import the better type.
That's awesome. Doesn't Canada have vast amounts of some sort of desirable oil shale stuff, I would have thought they'd refine oil for their own use.
I wish we were farther along in the switch to solar and wind power. When I lived in Nebraska renewables were a big thing "The Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) currently receives hundreds of megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, with significant expansion planned to reach net-zero carbon by 2050. ....wind power accounted for 32% of Nebraska's total net generation in 2024".
So I'm hoping the silver lining of the current situation will be a faster push toward supplying our own energy as much as possible. It must have been 10 years ago I listened to a podcast that said in 20 years more than half (I think, memory not perfect!) of homes in the US could supply their needs from solar panels. I've seen some YouTubes of Florida people showing how much they spent and save from partially using solar.
Even without an oil shortage my biggest realistic worry is that there will be a summer heat wave and simultaneous power outage and I won't have any way to cool off. I wish I knew a way to make my own temporary air conditioning, I've read a fan isn't enough at a certain point of heat + humidity.
George1959
Well-known Member
I read that only 20 percent of the world's oil is transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Thus my opinion is: If there is a shortage, it is created by the oil companies to drive up prices.
Google seems to agree with you:
Asian economies are most dependent on oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with China (37.7% of flows), India (14.7%), South Korea (12.0%), and Japan (10.9%) being the largest importers. Roughly 89% of these shipments are destined for Asia. Conversely, the United States is largely independent, receiving only ~2.5% of its imports through this chokepoint.
Most Dependent Countries (Importing via Strait)
China: The largest recipient, taking 37.7% of the flows in 2026.
India: The second-largest, receiving ~14.7% of the shipments.
South Korea & Japan: Extremely high dependency, with roughly 70–80% of their total oil imports passing through this point.
Other Asian Nations: Combined, other Asian countries account for an additional 13.9% of flows.
Dependent Exporting Countries (Shipping out of Strait)
The Persian Gulf countries are highly reliant on this route to export their production:
Saudi Arabia: ~37% of exports via the strait.
Iraq: ~23% of exports.
UAE: ~13% of exports.
Iran & Kuwait: Also rely on this route for the majority of their exports.
Independent or Low-Dependency Countries
United States: Low dependency (2.5% of imports) due to high domestic production (e.g., in shale oil fields) and diverse supply sources.
Russia: A major exporter that does not rely on Middle Eastern oil supplies.
Canada & Mexico: Low reliance on this specific maritime route for their crude supply.
While physical dependence is low for some, any disruption in the Strait—through which ~21% of global petroleum liquids flow—would cause global oil prices to rise, affecting all countries regardless of their direct import reliance.
KSav
Post hoc Beatlemaniac
- Location
- Northern Plains
I get frustrated seeing a thread like this—where the vast majority of the responses are courteous, respectful and informative—get disrupted by a few either blatant or thinly veiled references to politics—which, as @Matrix has repeatedly made clear, and is noted several times on this site, is off-limits.
There are many forums and discussion boards where political discussions are allowed, and even encouraged, so the flouting of this rule, which luckily doesn't happen often, frustrates me.
There are many forums and discussion boards where political discussions are allowed, and even encouraged, so the flouting of this rule, which luckily doesn't happen often, frustrates me.