Alternative technologies for transportation have been out for about 30 years. The oil companies stopped their widespread use for a reason: to prevent them from infringing on their profit base.
Yeah, but they also always lacked power and speed and that helped keep the technology less preferable to the consumer. I'd have no problem driving a fusion like the one that they just tested.
Brazil's already got cars adapted for using sugar-based ethanol. They expect the whole country to be converted within a decade. No dependance on oil whatsoever. But the US has problems because the oil companies exert so much influence over the government and the corn farmer lobbyists want it to be a corn-based ethanol which is several times more expensive than a sugar-based one. With internal problems like this, watch the rest of the world sweep past the US in the not too distant future as our country gets bogged down with excessive stupidity.
The newer hydorgen fuel cells BLOW AWAY ethanol technology and EMIT WATER VAPOR!! Try that on in a global warming debate. There will no doubt be time and obstacles between now and mass production/use of this, but with all the BS the US has been through in the middle east and the effects of global warming and its planetary impact? Better days lie ahead, after we go through the **** necessary and caused in the transition:good