Elsevier

Energy Economics

Volume 12, Issue 2, April 1990, Pages 89-92
Energy Economics

The horsepower crash to be expected in the USA

https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-9883(90)90041-DGet rights and content

Abstract

The horsepower of electric motors and other installed prime movers in the USA has increased so dramatically in this century as to probably not be sustainable. This essay examines the explosion from a statistical point of view, considers the feeding problem and then speculates as to whether a horsepower crash will be accompanied by an industrial decline. Rather than let another energy price shock trigger the crash it is suggested that it might be wise for the US Congress gradually to increase the tax on motor fuels to encourage motorists to conserve energy and buy less powerful cars.

References (6)

  • Anthony Downs

    The automotive population explosion

    Traffic Quarterly

    (1979)
  • Christopher Flavin

    Moving beyond oil

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

∗

The author is at the State University of New York at Albany, BA 111, Albany, New York 12222, USA.

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