Gas Prices De-railing Weekend Travels?

[Superriffic S*]

The Whitehouse just announced that not only gas prices will continue to rise, but also the price of food is now on the incline.

I think I am stayin' home this weekend...

Gas should be up to $4.00 for premium by Friday (so THEY say).

[Iceaxe]

Just got back from the gas station....

[Shan]

Good question!

Gas prices don't really deter me from road trips. I think they need to be this high because it will *hopefully* start making people think about alternate transportation (car pool, bus, bike, ect). Or maybe that's me dreaming....

I bike commute all year long and so does my husband, and I only drive when I need to get groceries, go somewhere far or get a bunch of stuff from Lowe's like lumber, etc. But luckily everything in Logan is bikeable/walkable, even if the majority doesn't think so.

[accadacca]

Just another place to show my tree hugger ride..........

05 Toyota Prius at Zion ahhh what a beauty (51mpg highway, 60mpg city:

[Iceaxe]

I'm really happy all you tree huggers are saving gas..... just more for me to burn!

With nearly 400 HP who cares how much it costs.... I can smoke the tires from here until Sunday

Yeah... its got a HEMI!!!!

[Iceaxe]

My other ride is a streamliner.........

[Superriffic S*]

I have been hearing a lot about these "hybrid" cars and did a little research... found this article on MSNBC... maybe they aren't all they're cracked up to be afterall.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8975473/

I also was listening to the Savage Nation yesterday and (I wish I could find the documentation to back this up, but alas, I can't find it... yet) he said that he read a study about hybrid cars. If everyone in the nation went out and bought a hybrid car it would only save in conserving gas for ONE (1) year. After that we would be right where we are now.

What about hydrogen cars? OR... why aren't we teleporting... What, we can send a man to the moon but we can't find a more efficient way to get from here to there?

[Sombeech]

One thing that article might not have mentioned is the tax write off you get for owning one.

When we go on road trips, the Hybrid is definitely the vehicle of choice among the passengers when they have to chip in for gas.

[Superriffic S*]

One thing that article might not have mentioned is the tax write off you get for owning one.

When we go on road trips, the Hybrid is definitely the vehicle of choice among the passengers when they have to chip in for gas.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/ap...s_costs_steer/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...NGA4CBJH81.DTL

Here are a couple more articles that make me think they might not be that cost effective either. The second one actually hurts me and I don't even own a hybrid.

[derstuka]

The main point is, if we all bought more fuel efficient vehicles, whether they be hybrids or not, it will help us all out buy helping conserve the ever dwindling crude oil supply. It has been estimated that we will reach our peak of crude oil production in the next 10-15 years, and after that, it will keep going up and up in cost per barrel, even more so than now. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form, and we are using them up in about 170 years at the current rate. China and other developing countries are industrializing at an astonishing rate, and they have an amazing (growing) thrist for fossil fuel

The one article is talking about it being cost effective to buy a hybrid for a city (or person), and currently until hybrids are produced in greater numbers that might be so, but, more importantly, it IS more fuel efficient to own one, AND it is better for the enviroment, and the consumer economy by burning less gas. Just as it is not cheap to eat healthy whole grain foods (I know by experience), it is healthier to do so, and I choose to spend the money to benefit my body, just as if someone chooses to own a more fuel efficient vehicle. No matter if someone doesn't mind paying the high price for gas, the more gas that people burn by driving gas guzzlers (I'm taking on a daily basis, not weekend jeeping) hurts us all in the long run. It doesn't matter if they are rich or not. It increases our demand for fossil fuels from foreign sources, and emits more pollution into the air. Hyrids are the only current solutions until the hydrogen economy (fuel cells) become more practical, realistic, and safe.

Ways to help...joining car pools, riding your bike to work, buying a fuel efficient car, driving less, driving slower, and so on. At least if one or two things are followed by most, we would be in a better place.

[Glockguy]

I also was listening to the Savage Nation yesterday and (I wish I could find the documentation to back this up, but alas, I can't find it... yet) he said that he read a study about hybrid cars. If everyone in the nation went out and bought a hybrid car it would only save in conserving gas for ONE (1) year. After that we would be right where we are now.

570 KNRS took him off their radio line up this week. Now I have to listen to him on the web. I wish they would get a Podcast up and running...I love Savage.

[DickHead]

Okay, I don't care who you are.....


That's just f***ing cool!


(I'll probably get in trouble, but I had to say it....it needs the emphasis)




The problem with gas isn't supply, its the ability to refine it. Its not profitiable enough to build more refineries, so the ones we have refine as much gas as possible. That doesn't quite keep up with the demand we're placing on it. The fact is, most SUV's and Trucks get better gas mileage than the cars of the 70's and 80's. Between that, and India and China, the oil producers can't keep up with demand. Plus, its awfully profitiable, why dig into your profits by pumping more and making it cheaper.....

By the way, if we want to talk about gas guzzlers, I'm in on a once in a lifetime chance at work to ride along in an F16. Hill is giving us one slot amongst about 80 people, so we're going to draw a name from a hat. I should find out today or tomorrow.

[derstuka]

The problem with gas isn't supply, its the ability to refine it. Its not profitiable enough to build more refineries, so the ones we have refine as much gas as possible. That doesn't quite keep up with the demand we're placing on it. The fact is, most SUV's and Trucks get better gas mileage than the cars of the 70's and 80's. Between that, and India and China, the oil producers can't keep up with demand. Plus, its awfully profitiable, why dig into your profits by pumping more and making it cheaper.....

By the way, if we want to talk about gas guzzlers, I'm in on a once in a lifetime chance at work to ride along in an F16. Hill is giving us one slot amongst about 80 people, so we're going to draw a name from a hat. I should find out today or tomorrow.

True, refinery capacity does effect prices, but that is not my point, and not the part of the BIG picture. Fact is, there is a limited supply of fossil fuels on this planet, we do not control the majority of it, and we need to use it more sparingly in order to make it last, while we invent new ways to replace/supplement it. We could build 20 more refineries to refine as much crude as we can import, but, in the long run, we are still gonna run out prematurely if we do not so something about it. People just need to think of these words over and over in their head: fuel conservation--fuel conservation--fuel conservation--fuel conservation. We Americans as a whole consume many times more fuel than persons of other developed countries. Does a person really need a lifted F350 Super-Duty as their "daily driver" to commute 35 miles to work each day getting 7 miles to the gallon? If ones answer is yes, then that person should never complain about any fuel prices, food prices (after all, semi-trucks haul the majority of goods to stores), clothing prices, housing prices, car prices, and so on...and maybe ones who do drive gas guzzlers should need to put money into a fund to distribute to others who are directly affected by the increases in costs of goods/services associated with using excessive fuel/energy.

[Shan]

I agree dertsuka.

There was a great National Geographic article on "The End of Cheap Oil." It said we do have a limited supply and it will peak in our lifetimes.

[derstuka]

I agree dertsuka.

There was a great National Geographic article on "The End of Cheap Oil." It said we do have a limited supply and it will end in our lifetimes.

Glad you agree, I wish more point would see the light.

There are two guys at my work who drive large lifted trucks about 30 miles each way to work and back as their daily drivers. I have seen one of them on the freeway many times, and he is ALWAYS in the fast lane doing 85MPH whenever he can. I swear he must get 7-9 miles to the gallon. Well, almost everyday for the past few weeks they have been b*tchin' and complaining about the price of gas, and how the Middle East is screwin' us over. Little do they know, that although the Middle East is a large factor, people whole are ignorant of the whole situation (like them) are a large factor as well, to making "big oil" in Texas, and the Sheiks in Saudia even richer, by increasing demand, and reliance on foreign oil.

I honestly think that seeing five, six, seven, or eight + dollars a gallon is the only way that some people will realize what is going on. Sad it has to be that way.

BTW, I read some of the article that you stated. It was pretty well written. Popular Science had a good article on it about a year ago.

[DickHead]

Well, the supply still left in the ground is debatable. The undeniable facts are that India and China are using up the global supply so fast that there is no way to control the prices right now. Any impact on supply causes an immediate ripple through the economy. Of course, the oil companies will always get thiers.
BTW, the only reason gas is so expensive in Europe is taxes. In some countries, its over 100% of the value of the fuel.

[Superriffic S*]

Here is my thought...

I think we should deplete all the crude oil resources... by then they will be forced to find a better more efficient means to propel automobiles. If I could help deplete them faster I would. Like, if there was a way to say, drive an airplane down the highway, I would totally fill that sucker every day and cruise down the highway at 80mph just to FORCE the manufacturers to find a better way.

Hell, why can't they find a way to make a car run off salt water...? New Orleans wouldn't be in near the pickle that they are now if we were using salt water instead of gasoline to run cars. (I know that it wouldn't have held the levee's any longer if we were using salt water instead of gasoline) Hey, wasn't there an x-files episode about that? The Truth Is Out There...

[derstuka]

Well, the supply still left in the ground is debatable. The undeniable facts are that India and China are using up the global supply so fast that there is no way to control the prices right now. Any impact on supply causes an immediate ripple through the economy. Of course, the oil companies will always get thiers.
BTW, the only reason gas is so expensive in Europe is taxes. In some countries, its over 100% of the value of the fuel.

Yes, I agree, it is debateable how much crude is left in the earth's crust, but, don't you agree that oil has its limits? Just as every other natural resource does. That there is only so much oil that the earth will provide. I am mostly just tired of relying on other countries to give us the fuel that we need, and whatever price they deem necessary, but on the other hand, we, as many others, are extremely wasteful with what we have. The taxes in Europe on fuels may seem unfair to many, but they do provide incentive to own gas misers, as well as promoting public transit.

As I mentioned before, developing countries (such as China & India) have an insatiable thrist. As more and more countries develop, and grow larger, demanding more fuel, it is only going to get worse, and worse in the long run.

Regardless if we drive cars which are more fuel efficient than those in the past, we need send the message to the automakers that we want them to get even better, and put more pressure to find other alternative fuels. Sure they are trying, but not like they should be, because there isn't as much demand to do so. As long as people keep buying large SUV, trucks and cars, they will keep doing as they have been doing, well, with the exception of Toyota and Honday maybe.

[Sombeech]

Whether or not we are running out of oil, if it happens, we will see it coming.

We do have automobiles today that run on different energy sources. If oil gets depleted, will it really be that big of deal? We will NEVER go back to horse and carriage. We've got electricity, solar, hydrogen, propane, natural gas, COOKING OIL, and who knows what else technology to run a vehicle. These models are in operation today!!

Why are we afraid of running out of oil? I'm not. But if we ever do, we are going to get PLENTY of notice before it happens. Gas pumps won't just go dry one day. People get PAID to know how much oil there is.

I would wager a large amount of money on this theory:
If we get close to running out of oil, mankind will stop buying gasoline cars, and start buying one of the other energy propelled cars. This won't happen at once, but just as slowly as we all buy new vehicles.

Then, gasoline vehicles will almost be obsolete, and the small amount of oil left might never run out.

[derstuka]

Whether or not we are running out of oil, if it happens, we will see it coming.

We do have automobiles today that run on different energy sources. If oil gets depleted, will it really be that big of deal? We will NEVER go back to horse and carriage. We've got electricity, solar, hydrogen, propane, natural gas, COOKING OIL, and who knows what else technology to run a vehicle. These models are in operation today!!

Why are we afraid of running out of oil? I'm not. But if we ever do, we are going to get PLENTY of notice before it happens. Gas pumps won't just go dry one day. People get PAID to know how much oil there is.

I would wager a large amount of money on this theory:
If we get close to running out of oil, mankind will stop buying gasoline cars, and start buying one of the other energy propelled cars. This won't happen at once, but just as slowly as we all buy new vehicles.

Then, gasoline vehicles will almost be obsolete, and the small amount of oil left might never run out.

I myself am not afraid of running out of gas, I just want us to reduce our reliance on foreign fuels, which makes our economy so much more susceptible to international conflicts/problems.

The current "alternative" fuel vehicles are such a small percentage of the driving public currently, and of those vehicles you mentioned: electric cars primarily get power from fossil fuel electric plants, and nuclear plants (VERY few by green energy); solar is nice, but not feasible yet; and hydrogen is still unfeasible until the storage problem, and reforming problem is addressed, it will take more power to get the energy out of hydrogen, than its output,after all hyrdogen atoms are attached to other atoms, and have to be separated, but hydrogen is getting closer, but not there yet; propane and natural gas are fossil fuels which will eventually run out; cooking oils (bio-diesels) are a good idea, especially to burn up waste if it can be eco-clean somewhat. The thing is, the U.S. has been running out of crude oil since the 80's, when our imports starting exceeding our outputs. If people realized this, they would have started demanding/making/buying alternative fuel cars long ago. Sh*t, at least back to the Iran oil embargo.

My question is, why isn't the vast majority of us ameri cans already buying alternative fuel (or fuel efficient) vehicles? Since many complain about OPEC (or BIG oil), and have for 30 years or more, why not screw the pooch and throw them out of the equation by providing for our own economy??? Since I don't see any people around me driving less, driving slower, or buying gas misers, I don't know how much faith I have in a smooth transition of gas-autos to alternative fuel autos. Many people will fight it to the end, and be proud that they are still driving their 8 mile-to-the-gallon guzzler, and not giving a rat's ass about anybody but themselves, helping to escalate the depletion of fossil fuels for all. Oh, and developing countries are a looooong way off from ever using anything non-fossil fuel related. They can't afford to.

Man, I think this is enough preaching for a day. Talk about a gabber!