The technology for cars to use fuels other than gas could have been used years and year ago, but it would crush the worlds economy.. the whole "running out of oil" thing doesn't really matter. You could use hydrogen powered engines with synthetic oil, which is better anyway, and build hot rods just as well as with gasoline.
But we as people do not control when a change will be made, only time can. Having these crappy hybrid cars is not something I will participate in...If a new fuel that is more economic but still puts rubber on the pavement is introduced somehow without killing the economy, I will partake.