What to do with cars after oil runs out

What will we do with 700 million petrol-driven vehicles when oil is no longer affordable?

The question has been nagging at me for ages, and comes to mind every time I squeeze through too-tightly parked cars on London streets (eg, whenever I step outside the house).

So far, I've come up with the idea that many such vehicles might be converted into fairly secure housing for chickens, while spare windows and windscreens could be used to glaze ad-hoc greenhouses, and possibly even homes.

The most usable parts, surely, will be the chassis and the wheels, which should prove a) not too heavy to be drawn by a horse and b) much more comfortable to ride on, thanks to the inflated tyres, than old-fashioned wooden wagon wheels.

I'm delighted to show the results of similar thinking by John Vincent, an extraordinarily talented all-rounder living in the Orkneys, who made this trap himself to use with a neighbour's horse. Do let me know if you have any other ideas.

Comments

[David]

A remark to the comment Posted by: peter worby
Yes it will
You obviously haven't a clue what you are talking about.Shale doesn't contain oil it contains only Kerogene not oil and bitumen as to go through a pretty effty processing and then diluting it with normal oil.
Industry puts world reserves at about 1200 GB although energy watch group thinks it is only about 2/3 of that number britain as reserves of about 7.5 GB that is hardly infinite.

[Anna Mäki]

Here´s an idea.
http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuva:Lehm%C3%A41.jpg

[peter worby]

oil is NEVER going to run out.There is an almost infinite supply of oil in shale and bitumen,of which there is an enormous amount under the uk,especially the south coast..its more expensive to refine,but when you consider what we are under ransom for oil from opec then maybe is time to change NOW

[Rocky,West Mids]

Politicians didn't decide there should be mobile phones or the internet. A new solution to cars can come if motor companies dont't get into a mess over alternative systems (no Blueray/HDVD nonsense please). How about - charging points in car parks, solar cells on every roof, fuel cells to store the solar electricity for night-time, etc. Infrastructure can appear quickly if there's a pound to make - where did all those mobile masts suddenly come from? We need a group of bigshots to make the decisions and get it done (Branson your hour could have come!)

[Roland Latour]

Lots of SUVs will be taken off the road. There will be *great* demolition derbys until they all get recycled at the wrecker's yard.

[John, Sartell, MN, USA]

Pass air over Baria (Barium Oxide) heated by concentrated sunlight and you get Nitric Oxide, disolve it in water you have Nitric Acid, add limestone and you have Calcium Nitrate (fertilizer). In the 1980's someone came up with a flat plate reactor that made air and water into Amonia gas, Amonia plus Nitric Acid equals Amonium Nitrate Fertilizer.

[John, Sartell, MN, USA]

Long steep hills could have a moving electrically powered tow chain to tow heavy cars to the top of the hill like a roller coaster does.

[John, Sartell, MN, USA]

Have any of you ever been to Winipeg, Manitoba, Canada?
Parking meters there have electrical outlets for headbolt, tank, battery and dipstick heaters to keep cars starting at -40 C/F.
Why not have parking meters with outlets that sell recharges for electric cars?

[Pete]

Vehicle put to alternative use near where I live in China: http://petejones.fotopic.net/p45841278.html

[John, Sartell, MN, USA]

In the 1970's hippies cut up car roofes and hoods (bonnets) to make Geosisic dome parts.
Radios and batteries make home entertainment systems.
Alternators can make wind turbines.
Old cars with rabbit and chicken cages can become lightly heated greenhouses (glasshouses).
Seats can become chairs and couches.

[Eddy]

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

Yes oil is running out - fast. Phil, where do you think the power will come from to charge 700 million electric vehicles?

Steve, I would not like to be in your shoes when peak oil starts to bite.

I'm stocking up on tinned and freeze dried food, learning how to grow my own food in my garden. This country was only able to support a few million people before oil-based fertiliser, pesticides, transport etc, and now there are around 60 million of us. Things may get a little unpleasant.

[phil durrant]

if the question was meant to be serious it's obvious really...electric vehicles will develop to the point where they will do 2 or 300 miles between charges and motorway services will offer 15 minute recharge whilst you have a cup of coffee...might even improve safety as driver will have to stop 15 minutes every couple of hours for a recharge! Engineers and entrepreneurs will always find the answer...the engineers will get the kudos and the entrpreneurs will get the cash...the hedge funds will then rip us all off...plus ca change as they say in Redcar! the electricity will be produced 70% nuclear with the balance renewables including micro power from waste

[Charles Bockett-Pugh]

Use horses to pull them to the top of long hills, like Haldon Hill near Exeter. You could then have a competition to see who could freewheel the furthest, or just sell rides to people.

[Steve]

Will any of these vehicles even be around in 300+ years when the oil runs out? Assuming it even runs out that quickly.

[JAKE]

IT'S OK, WE ONLY HAVE 70ISH YEARS TO WAIT BEFORE UNUSED CARS RUST SO MUCH TO BECOME UNRECOGNIZABLE!

[Jill]

Use them as green houses and grow tomatoes in them.

[JFEvans]

Whilst on the ross of Mull I saw a car being used as a kennel for a pair of cheery looking collies

[Jason DeMott]

I have wondered the same. There's always the Cadillac Ranch concept. www.libertysoftware.be/cml/cadillacranch/crmain.htm