The Oil Drum

We cannot win by oil rules. So change the rules.

Apply the concepts of distributed collaborative networks to our energy and transportation networks. The internet does this in our communications networks. The Germans are doing it in their energy network with their solar lifeboat policy

In transportation networks, remove the Parasitic Mass, congestion, power with solar collectors and apply networks. They become more durable against the postulates of Olduvai. A distributed collaborative network does not collapse as our current monolithic centralized system. We can no longer avoid pain but we can survive.

Besides these networks provide a 65% cost and 96% energy cost savings. Exploiting a cost savings is something people can accept event if they cannot accept Peak Oil, climate change and Olduvai.

The basic mechanics were recommended by US DOT in 1975 (PB-244854) as a way to permanently prevent future oil embargoes.

Morgantown was built in response to that oil embargo. It has since delivered 110 million injury-free passenger miles.

Cabinetaxi was also built. Unfortunately neither system was ever taken to the next iterations of distributed collaborative computer networks. Such networks and micro computers did not exist at that time.

They exist now and are expanding. ULTra is building at Heathrow. MISTER building in Poland. Vectus is building in Sweden. PodCars is raising a $1 billion fund in Sweden/California. JPods will open March 1, 2008 at the Mall of America.

Acceptance and action on Peak Oil will only happen when people see they can do something about it. There is hope.