Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil

This book reviews the challenges that face industrialized societies as they cope with growing dependence on transport fueled by low-priced oil. The authors caution that the shortfall between expected demand for and supply of world oil production could result in extremely high oil prices; catastrophic climate change offers another issue of contention. The book begins with an exploration of past transport revolutions, to gain insight into the nature and dynamics of profound change. Then the authors describe how the high oil prices in particular could give rise to two or more revolutions in land transport during the first half of the 21st century: the replacement of internal combustion engines by electric motors and the widespread powering of these motors directly from the electric grid rather than from on-board fuel. These transformations would allow considerable movement of people and freight by land in an era of severe energy constraints and concerns about carbon emissions. The authors include marine transportation and aviation in their commentary. Topics include current transport, with a focus on energy use and adverse impacts; the politics and business of transport; and organizational and technical innovations that could ensure effective, secure movement of people and goods in ways that minimize environmental impacts and make the best use of renewable sources of energy. The authors conclude that 2008 and 2009 could be pivotal years in preparing transport for the era of oil depletion, focusing on what could be done in the U.S. and China by 2025.