Oil puts cars on the spot

Journal Article · Thu Nov 08 04:00:00 EST 1979 · New Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5530014

Norman, C; Flavin, C; Brown, L

The car came of age in an era of steadily expanding world oil production and declining real prices. The dependency of the car on the uncertain world oil market could affect both its design and its role. Events such as the 1973 oil embargo and the 1979 Iranian revolution have led to basic reassessments of oil production and pricing policies. Another factor that is likely to limit production is a depletion psychology - fear of depleting an irreplaceable resource. These constraints coupled with real physical limits to production growth (many nations have leveled off production) will result in a tightening market. Third World countries, unable to afford adequate oil imports to fuel cars, are looking for alternate means of transportation. All of these factors are transforming the automobile to make it a more-efficient user of oil. 10 figures. (SAC)

• Research Organization: Worldwatch Inst., Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5530014
• Journal Information: New Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: New Sci.; (United States) Vol. 84:1180; ISSN NWSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290500 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330000* -- Advanced Propulsion Systems
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY
AUTOMOBILES
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
DEMAND FACTORS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL ECONOMY
FUELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
INDUSTRY
OIL-IMPORTING COUNTRIES
PETROLEUM
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
VEHICLES