The effect of the energy crisis on the private car in the U.S.

It is often claimed that the future energy crisis will make the private car obsolete and demand a carless society. Some perspectives on this view are given here and it is shown that these claims are based more on emotion than on facts. The possible savings in gasoline by better design are such that we could allow a growth of 50%-80% in total mileage without any increase in total gasoline consumption, while maintaining safe convenient cars.