gas prices in your area

Over $2 here, forget the exact amount.

Uh, whoever mentioned it's the president's fault, actually I heard it's because of supply problems elsewhere in the world like Africa and Venezuela. (We never really got oil from Iraq anyway, I think Europe was getting that.) I don't think presidents have much control over gas prices; anyway it's not very significant compared to how the economy as a whole is doing. It's just made a big deal of because it's one thing that's easily measureable and seen by everyone in the country.

Actually, if you adjust for inflation, we're not at an all time high. btw Isn't the European/US difference in gas prices because of gas tax differences?

Price of a litre of Hi-Octane near me just hit £0.89.

Someone else'll have to do the mathemagics, my brain can't cope atm.

It's largely tax, but we're also paying a slightly higher price for crude, too. I think.

2.09 this morning for regular in Connecticut.

I put $7 in my tank yesterday and it didn't even get me off of 'E'... boo

ok, got gas yesterday. Went to the local Circle K (formerly knows as 7-11) paid 1.89 for the "cheap" stuff. Later that evening went to the local Amoco station to top of the tank as I finally got some more money to buy gas with. It was 1.92 for the "cheap" stuff. I thought I was pissed at 1.89, I was outraged at 1.92. 5 gallons cost almost 10 dollars. Where is the justification in these insane prices!?!
Wish I lived closer to work then I could ride a bike to work, but I just can't see me peddling 20 miles one way

I finally bothered to look this morning:

$1.869 for regular unleaded
$1.969 for super
$2.069 for premium

<--- Atlanta, GA area.

Cost me $40 to fill up this morning. O.o

Juro, I'm thinking my next truck may be a diesel, too. This 12 MPG is getting kinda painful.

$0.995/L here in Vancouver. Bleah.

But on the bright side, it's still cheaper than bottled water.

Don't quote me on this, but I thought I recalled hearing Toyota is putting out an SUV next year that gets 50 mpg.. I think I heard it on

Don't quote me on this, but I thought I recalled hearing Toyota is putting out an SUV next year that gets 50 mpg.. I think I heard it on a local news broadcast while they were talking about how everyone is buying up the Toyota Prius.

I don't think it's just price hikes for the heck of it, the areas of the world where this crap comes from are pretty much all very unstable. Other than Mexico and Canada alot of imported oil is from "bad" sources. A decent portion of US oil comes from places in South America and Africa...bleh.. we do need to find alternate fuel sources.

I heard about that, it's a hybrid. If it wasn't so frikkin ugly, maybe it'd sell better. (Although I heard it's doing well anyway.) But it IS ugly. Do fuel efficient cars always have to be so ugly?

We pay 5 US$ per gallon. It does not hurt us, even though we are not rich. We invested in one Japanese car with low gasoline usage No need to drive big toys like SUV.

For most continental travel I enjoy the 200 Mph high speed train, so I also care little about prices for airplane fuel. It only affect me when I fly to China

No problem if oil price doubles again

Our house is high quality low energy house, new German standard. Currently we use some gas (not oil) coming from Russia for heating, but so small quantity we could afford 5 times current price. We don't need air conditioning, because with modern insulation even at 40 degree C outside it is nice and cool inside

Many countries in Europe (especially so-called "old Europe) and Asia have been preparing for oil shortage since many years. Where I live now the wind industry and low consumption cars is big business now. Government decided it is better invest in ways to need less oil than in weapons to occupy oil fields. While our politicians are generally not the most bright this is something I agree with

I think 10$ per gallon would still be fine. Then oil supply will last longer and better for environment too

Personally, I think the Prius is much less ugly than that "I have a small wang" Hummer (H1 or H2, take your pic).

Fact is: gasoline, as we know it, is limited in supply. An article I read yesterday put worldwide reserves (proven) at about 40yrs with todays production/consumption rates. I'd really like to see that figure once they factor in the millions of new middle-class Chinese and Indian folks who are now able to afford cars. Surely, that will help use up the reserves much quicker.

Personally, I'll purchase one more gasoline car... then I'll be buying an alternative fuel version. Once gas becomes so rare that the price is pushed up beyond $6 or $7/gal., the market for traditional gasoline powered autos won't be as strong. That's my prediction, anyway.

It will be fun to watch, however it pans out.

When somebody comes up with an alternative-fuel truck with 300+ horsepower and 350+ torque, I'll consider it.

Until then, I'll keep what I've got, TYVM.

Heh, good point. Those things shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

I heard (I think) they aren't selling well though.

There was a tax break given to buisnesses that gave a 10k credit (Im stating this from memory so it may very well have incorrect info) for vehicles over a certian weight. The credit was meant to give breaks to companies for things like delivery trucks and work trucks. There was a boom of hummers purchased by company owners using this credit.


ok I hate to post without backup so here is an article on it. My numbers were off.. the credits are much more generous.

Well that sucks. Something originally intended to stimulate the economy and help small business (although it is still doing both) is unintentionally putting more of those big pieces of crap on the road. Heh...

"But why should taxpayers' dollars go toward buying bigger and bigger vehicles? Instead, the government should be encouraging people and small business owners to buy fuel-efficient cars."

I agree...that'll still accomplish the original economic goals.

"The Bush administration has said it favors a provision that would allow $3 billion in tax credits for hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles over 11 years. But the measure's status remains uncertain."

Something to keep an eye on...

Yes, the world used to have one billion people who drive cars and enjoy nice lifestyle. Now this figure is about to increase maybe 4 times over the coming 20 years or so. Even if oil reserve is enough for 40 years, the yearly production has not increased since several years.

So even if you are optimistic and say supply will remain stable, but consider that number of people to consume oil and gas increase 4 times then it means some time in the future per consumer you only have 25% as much oil as today. This means price will have to go up big time because of supply and demand, at least until some affordable alternatives are available that allow demand to decrease again.

Now there is one very interesting thing to consider: If supply and demand means that price will go up in the future, who will get the profits?

Lets assume one day a gas price of 5$ is necessary to regulate supply and demand, this means you would have enough people willing to pay 5$ to buy up all of the daily gas production. This really works like online auction at EBay, right?

Now, if all governments in consuming countries don't tax oil, the market will bring the price of gasoline (made from oil) to 5$ anyway. Then all the profit goes to producing countries who own the oil fields.

But imagine all consuming countries would put 100% tax on oil import or consumption. Then supply and demand would also increase gas price to 5$ until consumers are not willing to pay more. But this time 50% of that money is tax going to consuming countrys' governments and only 50% goes to OPEC.

Of course this only works if all consuming countries cooperate. As is now, high taxes in Asia and Europe only reduce consumption in those countries. In most of Europe and parts of Asia you now pay 5$ per gallon and in USA you pay 2$. So maybe average consumer in the world pays 3.5$.

Now imagine what would happen if all countries would wipe taxes. Of course prices would harmonize meaning maybe 3$ or 3.5$ per gallon world wide, including USA. The same would happen if, instead of other countries wiping taxes, those countries who don't tax oil and gasoline would start to introduce high taxes now.

If you ask me all our governments are kinda stupid. They should have talked first and negotiate a common taxation policy, just like OPEC countries meet and negotiate how much oil they will sell together.

They're not selling well because of the price tag.

Nobody in their right mind is going to pay US$100k for a light truck, and then put it in the woods or use it for a work vehicle. So, it's been relegated to a "luxury" vehicle because of the price tag.

The H2 is only about US$50k, but it's just a standard GM SUV with different body panels to make it look kinda like a hummer. Again, you get nothing for the extra US$20k over any other full-sized SUV except for the "image." So again, it's a luxury vehicle for people that have more money than sense.

You do realize that the big oil companies are doing some of the research into new fuel technologies?

Think about it, they know its coming, they can either be on the bandwagon and sell the new technologies or go out of business. They are putting tons of money into R&D.

JV

Update:

It is now nearly impossible to find gas inside the Beltway less than 2 bucks a gallon. I just found a station that had the pisswater grade at 1.99.

Hydrogen burning cars seem (to me) to be the best next step. Like Cybin said, they produce water vapor. Unlike electric cars, you don't have to discard a couple dozen used batteries after a few years. Electrics may be no emission vehicles, but eventually our open spaces will be full of illegally dumped, leaky batteries.

N. Cal Bay area I saw premium (though I dont buy it) for $2.60 a gal today.

Electric cars seems like a silly concept. Where do you get the energy to recharge them from, the magic wall socket? Oh wait, that power comes from dirty fossil fuels too.

I don't know why the west coast seems to be complaining about gas prices--you should be loving it out there. Higher gas prices means people will be more motivated to buy high MPG vehicles, which means SUVs go bye bye. So which is it...should gas be cheap or expensive? Can't have it both ways! Even though I know CA loves trying to!

I just filled up my car and it cost me half a Bill!!!!

Suddenly driving a Moped seems like a good idea.

Crow