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This might be a little preemptive, but since it seems exceptionally likely that we will be able to have generators and/or vehicles in the future, I want to suggest being able to use a wood gasifier as an alternative to petrol. For those that don't know what that is, it is basically extracting gas from wood via heating, which can then be used in combustion engines (or heating etc etc) The process for doing this is very simple and well within the reach of the common man. Wood gas was used before natural gas to heat homes and the like. It was also exceptional common during the petrol shortages of WWII for people to construct them at home to be used to power their cars instead of petrol. They are still made and used all over the world today in many different situations. The basics behind constructing a wood gasifier are: A large container that can be opened and shut (think a 44Gl drum) with a one way valve leading from it. This is placed over a fire, filled with wood (or sawdust, coal or even rubber). The outlet of the one way valve is then ran through some piping to allow it to cool, then a filter (optional) and finally into the carburetor of the engine. What happens is as the wood is heated, it releases hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which then pass thought the pipe, the filter and into the engine to be burnt in the combustion chamber as a petrol replacement. Now as I said, these are an very easy thing to construct by the average man, and in fact, were constructed, en mass, by the average man during times of need. They could be used to fuel a small engine which then runs an generator to provide electricity, or even (as they historically were) hooked directly onto a car to provide a fuel alternative. Some links: Wood Gas = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_gas Wood Gasifier = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_gas_generator A small simple gasifier to show how they work = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgu9BdHeUYg Wood gasifier used to power lawn mower engine = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F258s13UxfY Example of what can be done with a gasifier = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYGKn12Weu4 How to build a gasifier = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDIiEjL5eGM