Noone has mentioned one of the major reasons that we fail to use hybrids and other sources rather than oil.

MAJOR POLITICAL POWER.

Ever wonder exactly why Kalifornia and Texas have so much political power???? Its the oil industry in both.

How many electoral votes do those two states contain?

That answer would be 89 between them. Thats a pretty big slug, when 270 is all that is needed.

Remember electoral votes are based on number of legislators. Every state has 2 senators, so the remainder of the 85 are congressional seats. Thats alot of political clout that the oil industry can try to buy.