Hydrocarbons

Well, I finally decided to stick my neck out.

Long Bets [ 257: Hydrocarbon fuels will be the "fuel of choice" for personal transportation for the next 50 years ]


"Picking up on Danny's argument (#168) about non biogenic sources of hydrocarbons and a belief (faith?) in the market system where higher prices will bring increased exploration for hydrocarbons, I would argue that hydrocarbon fuels will remain "desirable".
The energy density of hydrocabon fuels trumps alternatives for mobile systems.

Note that I'm not arguing about fixed plants, where such systems as fuel cells may well work, only mobile."

I'll add to the argument (later).
Mostly that with the pace of development (slow) in personal transportation, due to the installed base (plant and equipment), as well as the adoptation of technologies such as hybrids, we'll be using hydrocarbon fuels for a long time. Maybe not gasoline, althought this may well be the choice, but bio-diesel, or diesel from Natural Gas are likely.