I took the bus to work today. In this neighborhood, the buses are electric. In this neighborhood, the electricity is produced by turbines on hydro dams.
Electricty won't move freight from point-to-point very well, but rail uses vastly less fuel per ton, and ships are even more efficient.
When the cost of fuel is high enough, there will be a switch back to rail and decentralized local warehousing - a lot like things back in the 60's and 70's. Fuel consumption will plummet, although things will cost more.
In the fifties, GM bought a number of railroads and shut them down - the commuter line in Los Angeles for instance. It might just be time to dust off the old plans and make them the new plans.
Cheers
JJ
Electricty won't move freight from point-to-point very well, but rail uses vastly less fuel per ton, and ships are even more efficient.
When the cost of fuel is high enough, there will be a switch back to rail and decentralized local warehousing - a lot like things back in the 60's and 70's. Fuel consumption will plummet, although things will cost more.
In the fifties, GM bought a number of railroads and shut them down - the commuter line in Los Angeles for instance. It might just be time to dust off the old plans and make them the new plans.
Cheers
JJ