General Motors Company (GM), Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (TM): Peak Oil Is Finally Here

Page 2 of 2

What he overlooked was humans’ ability to adapt through increased agricultural yield. The long-term energy story may be similar. Auto giants from General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) to Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM) have doubld down on fuel efficiency. New jets from The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) emphasize fuel efficiency. Buses, trucks, and factories have all become more efficient, and in some cases are switching to new fuels entirely. Energy analyst Daniel Yergin points out that the United States uses less than half as much energy per unit of GDP today as it did in the 1970s.

What looked inevitable a few years ago — falling production and rising demand — isn’t so clear any more. We are adapting. And like Malthus, predictions of inevitable gloom may end up looking severely overblown.

The article Peak Oil Is Finally Here originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Morgan Housel.

Fool contributor Morgan Housel has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Page 2 of 2