The only problem is that when the driving force wasn't the military or the government, American ingenuity operates on market incentives. That means that there is no strong incentive for new energy, yet; but if we wait, then by the time it exists, Global Warming will be a greater nightmare.

Brett, Salt Lake City, USA

Have you ever looked at a map of the US? Do you have any comprehension of how large the country is in square mileage and population density? It takes 8 hours to drive across Kansas - you can drive across entire European countries in that time. It will take time to move to a more public system.

Will, Kansas City, USA

Can't generalize over all America. energy and emissions are not mandated by central government like in the UK. Each state has it's own policy. Some like CA are far more stringent than EU regs. Problems are no lane discipline = congestion. Too many traffic lights, no roundabouts = stop and go traffic

Adrian Tysoe, Sacramento, CA, Brit in the USA

Easy to say it is all the fault of America, but, I seem to think it is a European problem also. The EU put out new rules on emissions controls and all government agreed, but, what happened, the car manufacturers got waviers so they did not have to comply.

Gene, Gebüg, Germany

Agreed. But that was obvious even before BushG entered the White House. The administartion chose to reject Kyoto, but to maintain the status quo. Why? To protect their incomes or to give researches time? The technology is already here. Mass production will reduce cost and make it viable.

A Stone, Reading, UK

Brits lead the world in fearing the results of all things natural like the Sun, the actual cause of the cycles of the planet Earth's warming and cooling cycles. The last two years the Earth has cooled to the point of wiping out the warming of the previous ten years. Life of Brian is Britain today.

Mike Smith, Reno, USA

Why is it America's responsibility? Public transport in Europe is light years ahead of America so really fuel dependency in Europe should be much lower. America needs to develop its public transport and I have no doubt that it will happen soon.

Lauren, London,

Yes, the US must do this and the US must do that. People who say that are basically looking for an excuse for why THEY haven't substantially reduced their own standard of living to conserve energy. So if a european person uses a lot of fuel, hey, America made him/her do it!

Mikko, Lahti, Finland

As much as the US might like to claim credit for the motorcar it was initially a German development which was then refined by the French and finally reached affordable status thanks to the likes of Henry Ford, who cared not a whit about "primacy" (he was a pacifist in WW1) but loved making money.

David Brownell, Manchester, USA

The US is researching low energy use vehicles, take a look at the Aptera on the web. It is probably no accident that it is being designed in California where there are strict pollution control laws. The same is happening in Italy where there are traffic controlled areas. Why not London?

Peter, Epping , UK

More of a problem by 2030 only 65mb/d of oil will be coming out the ground and OPEC & BRIC will be using three times what they do today. Good job we had the common sense to 'liberate' a country with the most oil remaining in the ground.

P. Coyle, UK,

While there is fuel available people will use it. It's only when the oil starts to run out that alternate fuels will be available. Far to few are making far to much money to let anything else happen. The whole world loves the car, not just the US.

Phil , Atlanta, USA

Brilliant except for one major point you (and Friedman) missed. US creativity didn't design the car, only the mass production that made it cheap. It was invented in Europe and its successor will probably come from Asia. You want low energy technology with built-in recycle - finance the space race.

KR, Stockport,

When are people going to wake up that is not the car, or industry, or any of these things that is causing excessive pollution. Its the fact there are far too many people on the planet. The car is the symptom, not the problem! Work it out, it really isnt that hard.

Pete, St Albans, England

Yes good olde USofA, will keep on filling up their large fuel tanks until it costs as much as we pay, then things will change, just hope the Oil doesn't run out before they do, because then, we will have no transport, and then no food, and then we will be all dead within two weeks, still time left?

Stephen Dutton, Gold Coast, Australia

Extra energy use brings extra comfort, convenience and pleasure. It is a prodigious challenge to sell a lifestyle that reduces all these desirable benefits

Paul , northwich,

One should not generalize and put all Americans into one energy indifferent class. Some of us are seaching for and using alternative energy sources. Not all Americans are self-centered energy hogs. Some of us see ourselves as part of the world community (unlike our gov.) & behave so.

Cynthia Moreton-Webb, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States

The British can leverage their own brilliance and creativity in innovation. A company that impresses me in the clean tech space is London based Quiet Revolution. They make awesome mini wind turbines installed on roof tops. They're gorgeous. They're works of art and they produce gigantic power. Cool.

Oliver, Scottsdale, Arizona, US

With the interstate highway system built and the economy booming, the 1950's, 60's, and 70's brought a jump in vaction road trips, homes in the suburbs, drive in resturants, and drive in movies. The car became a way for Americans to spontaneously reach out and meet the whole country. ..

Joseph, New York City, USA

Typical - blame the USA for everything that goes wrong in the world. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Take a look at the M25, M4 or M6. The fact is that the USA is pouring its scientific skills into energy independence. What are we doing?

Dwight Vandryver, Scholar Green, Cheshire, UK

Now, the car unites not just the country, but the globe. Americans are buying more Toyota hybrids and Mercedes-Benz smart-cars. Parts come from all over. This competition spurred Americans to develop the Segway and the Tesla. Don't worry about us. Reports of our demise have been greatly exagerated.

Joseph, New York City, USA

Friedman seems to ignore the issue of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the combustion (or production) of every energy source under the sun,other than nuclear fission. The exponential increase in cars over the next 30 years wil result in predictable and horrendously expensive climatic change

Brian Eastwood, Richmond VA, USA

Nick from France, you say the US doesn't make very good cars? Wrong. We make very good cars. We just made the wrong type of car, too big. In my opinion, Renault is the worst car ever made closely followed by Saab. Nothing but junk. Big difference between the wrong type of car and making a bad car.

Ed Small, Greenville, North Carolina, usa

No fuel = no vehicles. No vehicles = no fuel crisis. What's the problem?

Nick, Haywards Heath, UK

One of the problems is that Money Talks, especially in Congress, and there's a lot of financial inertia in the auto and oil & gas industries. And we have too many jerks like Kenneth Reinsch of jacksonville. My country, love it and improve it.

Tina Rhea, Greenbelt Maryland, US

Kenneth you are so unconcerned what the rest of the world thinks that you and your countrymen are just forced to let us know on foreign websites time and again. Shouldn't you be out deerhunting?

The US the surviving superpower? This isn't July 2007. The Chinese and Saudis now own you - literally.

John Hockey, Melbourne, Austraia

I can happily inform Mr Macintyre that his wish will be granted. Silicon Valley is now buzzing with alternative energy startups, while VCs are pouring its financial and intellectual capital into solving America's dangerous addiction to foreign oil. Wait and see.

sanjay sharma, london, United Kingdom

The popularity of cars in America has several roots, some of them progressive. The first mass produced cars appeared during the progressive era. At that time, progressives denounced rail road companies as evil, saw the car as a way to pull customers from them, and supported many road projects. ...

Joseph, New York City, USA

If profitability is the proper mark of success and ingenuity then the billions of dollars made by the japanese and european car makers (inc ford and opel in the eu) would indicate these are the companies to look for the future of automotive technology not the US where billions has been lost.

Nick, London, UK

Ah, America. The Country who has saved the skin of so many Europeans, and yet they love to beat up on my great country. I guess that's to be expected from those who envy us because we are the surviving super power. You hate us when we do, and hate us when we don't. Oh well, I am so hurt.

Kenneth Reinsch, jacksonville, Florida, usa

Too many cars and trucks and too few trains. The American Freeway lobby and its power to control the transport industry pushed train transport systems in America into a poor cousin situation. Environmentally, this has proved to be a disaster.

Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia

You may not have noticed, Ben, but right now the US doesn't make very good cars. Its main car markers are looking for US$B in state funding. So much for ingenuity.

Why can't Europe lead the drive to clean energy - why look to the US? As you say, they aren't interested.

Nick, France,