If all autos ran on electric power for the first 40 miles like the new Chevy...

[wooper]

...Volt....? how would this impact our dependence on foreign oil?

I live in an area where the majority of my car usage is under 40 miles. Isn't this the best way for us to curb our dependence on foreign oil? And will the oil companies be fighting this wave of the future?

[Phil M]

It would lower our need on foreign oil most likely.

[sfavorite711]

You mean the coal powered Chevy Volt? Yes if we switch to coal powered cars we would use less oil.

[Pied Hussein Piper]

Not as much as you think. After all you have to use something to make the electricity.

[Barney]

This would only slightly reduce dependency on imported oil. Drilling for our own would have a greater impact. These electric cars environmentalists have a hard on for are going to need to be recharged daily. Some more than once. This will require more coal burning to produce the electricity. Are we learning yet? During his campaign, Obama rubbed his heal on the face of coal producers. Only recently has he stated the need for clean coal burning. He’s playing both sides of the aisle. A pandering idiot. Oil companies who are lead by intelligent management, i.e. BHP among others, are diverse enough not to be effected by new legislation or policies. The fittest will survive. This is the only form of selective evolution. FYI, here’s a break down of what is used per barrel in the production of oil based products.

19% goes to producing gasoline
9.21% goes to Diesel fuel
1.75% is used to produce heating oil
1.76 for heavy fuel oil
3.82 % to liquefied petroleum gases
7.27% to other products, i.e. plastics, cosmetics, gels etc.

[sandand_surf]

Funny though that GM killed the electric car years ago.

Coal is not cleaner, but we have enough deposits in the US to last hundreds of years, so no peak coal worries. It would stick it to the Saudis and that crazy Chavez too.