IMHO It is really simple. Until now there has been absolutely no economic incentive for non gasoline vehicles for either producers or consumers. Oil is a nearly perfect source of energy. It is portable, stable, cheap (until recently) and very energy dense.
If you can get if for a low price, why not. No country, company, or individual will completely sacrifice their self interest for an undetermined long term benefit of everyone else. If saving oil for the long term is so important are Norway, The UK, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Russia, and Argentina selfish for selling it.
Oil is not running out now or in the near term and you know what, humanity will deal with dwindling supplies by conserving, and replacing it with new technology, because that is what the market and basic human greed will dictate.
The US has made bad decisions in ignoring coal and nuclear power, but there was no compelling economic reason to do so until now. Solar will increase, as will wind and in our lifetime fusion will be a reality. Personally I feel that butanol from agricultural waste is the 20 year solution to gasoline. It will be able to replace gasoline without the economic hardship of changing the gasoline infrastructure, as it is highly likely that most late model cars can run on 100% butanol safely with no modifications.
Interesting read and another possibility for fuel in the T2k world. Wow I got us back on topic for the forum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butanol_fuel