Gas...

[Images 0]

Doing business with communists has a price afterall.

Power to the people! :P

 

[Murdok Helios 0]

The sad thing is in five years we will be begging for 3.00 gas. :P

[eagle 0]

nah in five years will have the new hover car that runs on cold fusion :P :)

[Seiben 0]

The sad thing is in five years we will be begging for 3.00 gas. :P

That's why I'm hoping hybrid technology will continue it's advancements and eventually branch down to more affordable cars around that time. Although the Toyota Prius and the Civic, Accord, Escape and Lexus hybrids are nice. :)

Edited August 17, 2005 by Seiben

[Travis Kroells 0]

Travis, have you tried the E-85?

Heh, I've done my research Dac, my car cant run E-85.

 

A warning to anyone who is thinking of using it. Check your owners manual, or call your dealership to make sure your vehicle can run it. If not, it'll mess up your engine, and ruin your fuel injector.

 

Secondly, you dont get as good milege with E-85. So if you can run it, compare your milage to regular gas. Where I work, the difference in cost, with the difference in mpg, it doesn't really make much difference.

 

I just got some news from my station too. Tomorrow we'll be going up another ten cents, with regular unleaded being $2.79 a gallon. We expect it to keep going up at least until labor day, and that we'll be around $3.10 a gallon by then.

 

::robs a bank:: :P

[OHNO 0]

I just filled up my truck, and it cost me $53.00

[Cptn Corizon 0]

Travis, have you tried the E-85?  I was very tempted when I was up your way this summer, but I didn't want my rental to die somewhere between Anoka and Wadena :) 

 

I had to fill up today, and while my mini-van (I know, I know ... such an UN-Dac-like vehicle) gets decent milage, I'm hoping the car manufacturers come up with a seven passenger vehicle with HIGH mpg soon -- or could the midwest please start shipping E-85 out to Virginia??

 

Soccer Goddess? ::ducks::

 

 

Now...for my two cents :P

 

We're not doing business with communists, we're doing business with capitolists :P Actually most of the oil we're buying at the moment is from OPEC countries Venezuala and Russia (who we keep angering on a regular basis, but that's another topic all togather.)

 

Secondly, Hybrids are nice and all, but not cost effective. At the moment, you have to drive your hybrid vehicle for about three years before you make up the premium you paid for said hybrid vehicle.

 

Most newer vehicles can run E-85, as long as they are 'flexfuel' compatiable. Don't quote me, but I am pretty sure that all GM, Chrysler, and Ford models newer than 2001 are Flexfuel ready.

 

There is actually very little the government can do about gas prices, short of price setting. Yes I know..."we can go drill in ANWR," but that's only a short term and likely not a fix at all. ANWR contains some oil, but not in the huge quantaities that we need to get to it, not to mention it's not exactly cheap to run a pipeline in the middle of nowhere Alaska. Geologists estimate that even if they do find large enough deposits of Oil in ANWR to justify drilling, it will only be a small amount when compared to the overall US Consumption.

 

That's another issue. US consumers really hog up the stuff. I don't have the figures infront of me, but I know we consume like twice as much oil as anyone else. Why? One word....SUV Nation. Like it or not, those hulking Hummers, Explorers, Blazers, Durangos...the list goes on...use a lot of gas. And since we're the largest consumer of said SUV's, they consume a good porition of the total oil usage.

 

This isn't really new. In the 1970's when that gas shortage occured, American's loved their big engined, big cars. Literally, compared to today's cars those babies were huge. So...what did we do? After a good kick in the rear by the Japanesse, we downsized.

 

One more major factor, however, does have a bit of Government to blame for it. At the moment, we have a 'weak' dollar policy. Which to save you the long drawn out economic theory lesson, means that we're devaluing the dollar. In theory this will help domestic manufactures, because it means that you can buy less with your dollar abroad. However, since most of the light sweet crude we buy is imported, this means it costs more to purchase the oil than it did, say six years ago when the value of the dollar was reletivly high.

 

So what is the solution? Alternative fuels such as hydrogen show promise, but aren't cost effective. Hybrids' seem to be the way, but until they're both cheaper to manufacture and purchase, they won't be the in the mainstream. For now, a possible solution is for the consumer-populace to be a little bit more frugal than they have been in the past. Maybe instead of buying that Huge SUV, consumers might think about buying a station wagon, which has the same amount of utlity but gets the gas milage of a regular passanger sedan.

 

 

::steps off the soap box::

[DigitalLava 0]

I dont have a car. Im tired and it's drowsey outside.

[Cougar 0]

It's reached a dollar per litre in Windsor.

In my town, it's about 99 cents per litre so far, but it's probably higher at the other gas stations in my town, that was just based on one gas stattion I saw coming into town this morning.

[OHNO 0]

The way the gas is going up, I'll be on a bike befor long. :P

[Garnoopy 0]

I was interested to see how prices compared across the globe so I did some searching and came up with this chart. I apologize for its layout, the forum won't let me even move text over so it's in somewhat set up columns.

 

All prices are in US Dollars per gallon. The prices were last updated in March, 2005. I know it's a bit old, but at least you get a perspective.

 

Netherlands Amsterdam $6.48

Norway Oslo $6.27

Italy Milan $5.96

Denmark Copenhagen $5.93

Belgium Brussels $5.91

Sweden Stockholm $5.80

United Kingdom London $5.79

Germany Frankfurt $5.57

France Paris $5.54

Portugal Lisbon $5.35

Hungary Budapest $4.94

Luxembourg $4.82

Croatia Zagreb $4.81

Ireland Dublin $4.78

Switzerland Geneva $4.74

Spain Madrid $4.55

Japan Tokyo $4.24

Czech Republic Prague $4.19

Romania Bucharest $4.09

Andorra $4.08

Estonia Tallinn $3.62

Bulgaria Sofia $3.52

Brazil Brasilia $3.12

Cuba Havana $3.03

Taiwan Taipei $2.84

Lebanon Beirut $2.63

South Africa Johannesburg $2.62

Nicaragua Managua $2.61

Panama Panama City $2.19

Russia Moscow $2.10

Puerto Rico San Juan $1.74

Saudi Arabia Riyadh $0.91

Kuwait Kuwait City $0.78

Egypt Cairo $0.65

Nigeria Lagos $0.38

Venezuela Caracas $0.12

[Avery Tynte 0]

What's E-85?

[Garnoopy 0]

What's E-85?

"E85 is the term for motor fuel blends of 85 percent ethanol and just 15 percent gasoline. E85 is an alternative fuel as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. Besides its superior performance characteristics, ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline; it is a completely renewable, domestic, environmentally friendly fuel that enhances the nation's economy and energy independence."

 

Source: http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/faqs/e85.php

[Cougar 0]

I was interested to see how prices compared across the globe so I did some searching and came up with this chart. I apologize for its layout, the forum won't let me even move text over so it's in somewhat set up columns.

 

All prices are in US Dollars per gallon. The prices were last updated in March, 2005. I know it's a bit old, but at least you get a perspective.

 

Netherlands Amsterdam $6.48

Norway Oslo $6.27

Italy Milan $5.96

Denmark Copenhagen $5.93

Belgium Brussels $5.91

Sweden Stockholm $5.80

United Kingdom London $5.79

Germany Frankfurt $5.57

France Paris $5.54

Portugal Lisbon $5.35

Hungary Budapest $4.94

Luxembourg $4.82

Croatia Zagreb $4.81

Ireland Dublin $4.78

Switzerland Geneva $4.74

Spain Madrid $4.55

Japan Tokyo $4.24

Czech Republic Prague $4.19

Romania Bucharest $4.09

Andorra $4.08

Estonia Tallinn $3.62

Bulgaria Sofia $3.52

Brazil Brasilia $3.12

Cuba Havana $3.03

Taiwan Taipei $2.84

Lebanon Beirut $2.63

South Africa Johannesburg $2.62

Nicaragua Managua $2.61

Panama Panama City $2.19

Russia Moscow $2.10

Puerto Rico San Juan $1.74

Saudi Arabia Riyadh $0.91

Kuwait Kuwait City $0.78

Egypt Cairo $0.65

Nigeria Lagos $0.38

Venezuela Caracas $0.12

Um, what about cents/dollars per litre? Every country except 3 countries, have converted to the Metric system, so I think a lot of them go by "cents/dollars per litre"...

[Avery Tynte 0]

"E85 is the term for motor fuel blends of 85 percent ethanol and just 15 percent gasoline. E85 is an alternative fuel as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. Besides its superior performance characteristics, ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline; it is a completely renewable, domestic, environmentally friendly fuel that enhances the nation's economy and energy independence."

 

Source: http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/faqs/e85.php

Thanks Garnoopy. But the question is..does it work?

[Kestra 0]

Way outside of Chicago you can find gas for $2.38. As you get closer and closer to Chicago, just on the outer suberbs, gas shoots to $2.75. I'm not sure of downtown, I fear going in there for running out of gas and not having enough money to fill my tank so I can leave.

The nearest gas station to me is $3.09 for regular, $3.29 for premium. I'm sure it's higher somewhere else in the city. I use up a good deal of my gas just driving around my parking garage. :P Good thing I filled up when I left the suburbs ...

Edited August 18, 2005 by Kestra

[Seiben 0]

Yay, gas below $1 again, hovering at about 97.9 cents/litre here in Scarborough. :P

[Murdok Helios 0]

I hope the gas goes down after summer is over, i wont be able to ride my cool chick magnet of a car to school an dwill be stuck with my moms loser car :P

[Quv 0]

[eagle 0]

Soccer Goddess? ::ducks::

 

 

Now...for my two cents :P

 

We're not doing business with communists, we're doing business with capitolists :P Actually most of the oil we're buying at the moment is from OPEC countries Venezuala and Russia (who we keep angering on a regular basis, but that's another topic all togather.)

 

Secondly, Hybrids are nice and all, but not cost effective. At the moment, you have to drive your hybrid vehicle for about three years before you make up the premium you paid for said hybrid vehicle.

 

Most newer vehicles can run E-85, as long as they are 'flexfuel' compatiable. Don't quote me, but I am pretty sure that all GM, Chrysler, and Ford models newer than 2001 are Flexfuel ready.

 

There is actually very little the government can do about gas prices, short of price setting. Yes I know..."we can go drill in ANWR," but that's only a short term and likely not a fix at all. ANWR contains some oil, but not in the huge quantaities that we need to get to it, not to mention it's not exactly cheap to run a pipeline in the middle of nowhere Alaska. Geologists estimate that even if they do find large enough deposits of Oil in ANWR to justify drilling, it will only be a small amount when compared to the overall US Consumption.

 

That's another issue. US consumers really hog up the stuff. I don't have the figures infront of me, but I know we consume like twice as much oil as anyone else. Why? One word....SUV Nation. Like it or not, those hulking Hummers, Explorers, Blazers, Durangos...the list goes on...use a lot of gas. And since we're the largest consumer of said SUV's, they consume a good porition of the total oil usage.

 

This isn't really new. In the 1970's when that gas shortage occured, American's loved their big engined, big cars. Literally, compared to today's cars those babies were huge. So...what did we do? After a good kick in the rear by the Japanesse, we downsized.

 

One more major factor, however, does have a bit of Government to blame for it. At the moment, we have a 'weak' dollar policy. Which to save you the long drawn out economic theory lesson, means that we're devaluing the dollar. In theory this will help domestic manufactures, because it means that you can buy less with your dollar abroad. However, since most of the light sweet crude we buy is imported, this means it costs more to purchase the oil than it did, say six years ago when the value of the dollar was reletivly high.

 

So what is the solution? Alternative fuels such as hydrogen show promise, but aren't cost effective. Hybrids' seem to be the way, but until they're both cheaper to manufacture and purchase, they won't be the in the mainstream. For now, a possible solution is for the consumer-populace to be a little bit more frugal than they have been in the past. Maybe instead of buying that Huge SUV, consumers might think about buying a station wagon, which has the same amount of utlity but gets the gas milage of a regular passanger sedan.

 

 

::steps off the soap box::

excellent point cmdr........however.....(here we go again).......

 

A. multi fuel capable vehicles have been around for many years: ref: german army

in ww2 used multi fuel vehicles pretty extensively due to dubious sources available.

 

B. As of 01/JAN/05.......we are working to contract crude from russia via a ""pipe line

tie in"" in the region of the northern us/russian territores where they practically join

off shore.......in theory this should help build the russian economy and reduce the usa

expenditures/dependence on crude from other int,l sources we currently purchase from

...in theory mind you,.reality ...thats another thing in itself.

 

C: E-85 will not burn in some older vehicles w/o poss. causing substansive damage

...case in point ........my 1984 Dodge Ram pick up...........that i refuse to get rid of,...

i like and enjoy being able to work on my own vehicle instead of being subject to the

whims and mercy of Mr.Goodwrench....

 

D: my car can run on E-85...(newer model)....but there is no reason why it should have

to .....i remember the so called ""gas/fuel shortage" of the 70,s...WAS NOT REAL..

it was an excellent way for opec and others to drive the price of crude up however

ref:new orleans news (of that time period) tankers backed up in the ports ready to unload, but unable to due to "orders" otherwise....this means=price up=unload.

::steps down from soap box and t/o to another:: :)

[Images 0]

Heh, smartarse...I like that! :P

[Guest STSF Dacotah]

That's another issue. US consumers really hog up the stuff. I don't have the figures infront of me, but I know we consume like twice as much oil as anyone else. Why?  One word....SUV Nation. Like it or not, those hulking Hummers, Explorers, Blazers, Durangos...the list goes on...use a lot of gas. And since we're the largest consumer of said SUV's, they consume a good porition of the total oil usage.

We hosted a soccer coach from England for a week. It was her first trip to the States and she was constantly amazed at how much driving we do. "Why don't you just walk to Wal-Mart? It can't be but a mile??"

 

Well, I don't walk to Wal-Mart because the traffic on US-17 would kill me, and who wants to hand carry four gallons of milk home in 101 degree heat? But, I did see her point and it made me think about all the driving we do. Much of it is excessive.

 

Perhaps if we walked/biked more, drove less we could celebrate smaller gas bills and smaller waistlines. Now, if I could just figure out how to cross the highway and carry all that milk ... I guess for now I'll just go with the other alternative; group my errands into one or two days instead of just jumping in the car, whenever the "need" arises.

 

Nice bike, Quv, what kind is it? I have a Giant. I love it.

[eagle 0]

We hosted a soccer coach from England for a week. It was her first trip to the States and she was constantly amazed at how much driving we do. "Why don't you just walk to Wal-Mart? It can't be but a mile??"

 

Well, I don't walk to Wal-Mart because the traffic on US-17 would kill me, and who wants to hand carry four gallons of milk home in 101 degree heat? But, I did see her point and it made me think about all the driving we do. Much of it is excessive.

 

Perhaps if we walked/biked more, drove less we could celebrate smaller gas bills and smaller waistlines. Now, if I could just figure out how to cross the highway and carry all that milk ... I guess for now I'll just go with the other alternative; group my errands into one or two days instead of just jumping in the car, whenever the "need" arises.

 

Nice bike, Quv, what kind is it? I have a Giant. I love it.

goddess all you have to do to enjoy that life style right now is to move to caribou maine, in the winter time..........have to walk or snowmobile in and out to the store

if you live in the remote areas.......but by all means do stock up........when you are

snowed in you may be inside/around the premises for up to two weeks at a time.

 

of course there are some advantages to that situation...... :P

[Guest STSF Dacotah]

goddess all you have to do to enjoy that life style right now is to move to caribou maine, in the winter time..........have to walk or snowmobile in and out to the store

if you live in the remote areas.......but by all means do stock up........when you are

snowed in you may be inside/around the premises for up to two weeks at a time.

 

of course there are some advantages to that situation...... :P

I've done many a year living in the snow/cold. So I know, exactly, what it entails, and I can tell you that I never, EVER want to feel -20 this skin again.

 

I'm even dreading this winter in Virginia. ::sniffs:: I miss Florida

[eagle 0]

I've done many a year living in the snow/cold. So I know, exactly, what it entails, and I can tell you that I never, EVER want to feel -20 this skin again.

 

I'm even dreading this winter in Virginia. ::sniffs:: I miss Florida

aaaawwwww..... :P :)