I heard a recent article on NPR that talked about the enormous investment in alternative fuels taking place. A good chunk of the money that had been pouring into the high tech sector in the decade from about 93 to 03, has moved into alternative fuels.

There is a patent on a car engine that burns hay, invented by some engineers in farmland. Their biggest concern for mass production is how to distribute the fuel to drivers.

Currently there is also in existence right now, a car that runs on water. It used the H in H2O, and it’s only emission is water, which drips from the tailpipe. It’s MPG on water is multiples ahead of fossil fuel engines. Refueling is as simple as pouring an 8oz bottle of water into a spout inside the cabin – you could travel across the country without ever exiting the car. Water is available anywhere. It’s patent owner is in talks with the major manufacturers to mass produce it, but that’s a way off in the future.

According to the article, there are no less than 20 different continuously reproducable fuels being tested for automobile engines, with various patents on some. Mass production and availability to the public is a ways off, but they should be here in time for when the last drop of oil is pumped from the ground. Obviously the closer we get to outrageous (unmanagable) oil prices, the more the emphasis on alternative fuels will grow. Gas-Electic Hybrids already crowd the streets and that trent will continuue. Future automobiles will most likely be “Water-Electic Hybrids” or some thing similar.

The main point is, we’re already addressing a solution to the impending oil crunch, and it won’t be bicycles. We’ll still have our monsterous SUVs, you just might have to shovel a bail of hay into them to get to the mall:)