Abstract:
The world is currently using an unsustainable system of meeting its transportation
needs with oil. This system is taking a toll on the world environment and on global politics.
The physical availability of oil is the system’s most immediate problem and will most likely
bring about a transition away from oil dependency. As a solution, the world should replace
oil with electricity by replacing cars that use gasoline with cars that use electricity from a
battery. Other alternatives, namely ethanol and hydrogen, present a step down from
petroleum in terms of sustainability. While electric cars present challenges that can be
addressed, their improvements over gas cars justify a very optimistic outlook for the future of
transportation. The transition to electric cars has started to occur and will accelerate in the
immediate future.
