4 ms·
Total replacement of manufacturing in the near and medium term is _very_ unlikely, because of the efficiency gains of high volume manufacturing. Things like cas
by notauser 19y ago
Total replacement of manufacturing in the near and medium term is _very_ unlikely, because of the efficiency gains of high volume manufacturing. Things like casting require much less energy per unit of output when you can use a high thermal efficiency furnace for example.
In the long term this won't change, however there might be something that changes to make a surplus of energy a reality so the efficiency drop won't matter.
- deleted 19y ago[deleted]
- noonespecial 19y agoI dunno, that sounds a little like "electric light bulbs will be nothing more than a novelty item for the rich, they are just not practical for everyday use". Put another way; There are economies of scale for mass production, but $120/bbl oil to truck those things to people might just make those advantages disappear.
- notauser 19y agoYou still need to get the same weight (or possibly more) of raw materials to people, offsetting the cost of transporting finished goods. There would be some savings, and these same forces are bringing some manufacturing work back onshore, but not a great deal of it yet.