Conservation: 80% of Oil is Waste (green to grey/yellow)
We know we can move a ton 423 miles using one gallon of fuel (diesel). Yet in 4 billion of the 8 billion miles Americans drive daily in congested, repetitive travel we move a person 18 miles using one gallon of fuel. There is no energy crisis; there is a waste of energy crisis. Ending the waste, ends the crisis, ends Global Warming and ends Peak Oil. We need a better know-what. |
The following chart shows sources and uses of power. Power generatiion infrastructure (orange) is 69% inefficient. Oil and transportatioin at the bottom is 80% inefficient. Protected from competition by government policies, these infrastructures represent 100 year old know-how.
Oil prices will stabilize as efficiencies reduce demand; inflation will be suppressed. Decreasing oil imports will help the trade deficit and strengthen the dollar. Jobs created by re-tooling to sustainable infrastructure and lower costs will enable people to afford both their house payment and getting to work.
Why move a ton to move a person?
A waste is so great, it is changing the climate.
Waste indicated in Livermore graph accepts that moving a ton to move a person is appropriate.
Greater efficiencies are practical by challenging the assumption we must move a ton to move a person. This is illustrated by Parasitic Energy Consumption (PEC), a ratio of power required for a trip.
PEC illustrates the waste of massive vehicles in stop and go traffic.
"Beam me up Scotty", moving only what you want to move non-stop is perfect use of energy. It has a PEC equal to 1.
Increasing Parasitic Mass (vehicle mass) and Stop-Starts increases relative waste.
PEC based on a 200 lb passenger- Trains/buses
- PEC = 290
- 3 tons of vehicle
- 10 starts
- Cars
- PEC = 275
- 1 ton vehicle
- 25 starts
- JPods
- PEC = 4
- 450 lb of vehicle
- 1 starts
- "Scotty"
- PEC = 1
- 0 vehicle
- 1 starts
Relative waste of massive vehicles in stop and go traffic
Calculations of fuel efficiencies and DOE Energy Use
| MODE | BTU's per passenger mile |
| Car | 3,512 |
| Bus | 4,235 |
| Commuter Rail | 2,996 |
| JPods | 412 |