With the destruction from hurricane Katrina, the ongoing unrest in the middle east and most importantly, the inability to refine enough crude oil to meet the ever growing demand, gas prices jumped a total of 22 cents in the past 24 hours in the town that I live. Yesterday morning, the price for a gallon of regular (87 octane) was $2.479 at all of the gas stations I pass on my way to work. On the way home, the price had jumped to $2.599, a 12 cents/gallon increase in about 8 hours. Feeling that this was just the beginning, I had my wife fill up her minivan, to the tune of about $30 for a little more than 3/4 of a tank. We are now looking at over $40.00 to fill her vehicle every week. Well, my suspicion was correct, as gas was at $2.699 this morning for a gallon of regular! I don't think this is the end of the pain.
As expected sooner or later, I got an email this morning calling for a boycott of gas stations on September 1st. While these sound like a great idea, make the oil and gas companies hurt like we do, they actually do nothing. Most people do not participate, and those that do, simple fill up the day before or after, more than making up for the loss of profits, or the oil companies simply raise their prices again to make up for it. The bottom line is that we all are still going to buy gas, no matter how much it costs, because we are a power hungry society, and are too lazy to do anything to correct this.
I have been commuting with John for over a year now, and this works out well for both of us. We save a bit of money, and help out the environment at the same time. While this is a start, there is so much more that can be done. The only true solution to alleviating the strain of higher fuel costs is to wein ourselves off of fossil fuels entirely. I applaud the car companies that have been developing hybrid cars or other alternative fuel cars, but this work needs to continue, and needs to become cheaper and more main stream. Two or three percent of the population isn't going to put a dent in the problem. Washington needs to tell the oil companies where to stick it, and do what is right for the people, the economy, and the environment.
At this point, do whatever you feel is right and will help, but don't expect any major relief in the short term, or even the mid term at this rate.
Posted by doug at August 31, 2005 09:02 AMI've been walking to work for the past 3 weeks (except for Thursdays because I have to go get my allergy shots). It only costs me $25 to fill up my tiny 12-gallon tank and I get 30mpg (average over the lifetime of the car), but it still hurts. I miss when it would cost me $10 to fill up my tank.
I feel bad for those of you with the vans and large vehicles because you NEED them, but I don't feel bad for the random SUV driver who only drives their vehicle because it is "cool" to have an SUV.
Posted by: stacey at August 31, 2005 09:50 AMYou've got to be kidding me! Something like 1 million people are now homeless and who knows how many are dead thanks to one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. Oh wait, I forgot...The most important thing though is that the price of gas rose a whole whopping $0.20 cents! What about the Europeans who have on average paid approximately double of what we pay in the states. Petrol prices in the United Kingdom are running approximately $6.00/gallon. See this article for confirmation of that statistic:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8994313/
You have one of two options: First, move to a domicile that affords you the ability to ambulate by foot, bicycle, or shorter distance in your car. Secondly, you can open your wallet and shut your mouth when you're standing at the gas pump! Seriously people, what is another $0.20, $0.40, or even $0.80 cents per gallon? If you do the math for the average household the difference only calculates to a few hundred dollars per year (if that.)
Also, to those of you "responsible" citizens driving the hybrids: The hybrids sounds environmentally friendly and they're touted as having excellent fuel economy; However, please keep in mind that hybrids utilize an array of many batteries for power storage. As with any batteries (sealed or unsealed) they will release vapors. So now were not only releasing hydrocarbons but now we're leaking sulfur-trioxide vapors into the air. As is the nature with all batteries the capacitance decreases over time which will result in the batteries having to be replaced. What will happen to the old batteries? If everyone is driving a hybrid by 2015 can you imagine how many batteries per year will have to be discarded and replaced?
To make matters worse, the fuel efficiency of the hybrids is a very attractive feature but it can be very misleading to buyers. For example, the honda civic hybrid is priced higher than its gasoline-only counterpart. If the owner is lucky over the lifetime of that vehicle they may barely break even with the cost savings of the fuel compared to the additional upfront expense of the car. So while you may be saving a few gallons of gas here and there you're total cost of ownership of the automobile is the same as if you'd purchased the gasoline-only model. Even so, if you feel good about yourself because you've used less gasoline don't forgot to refer to my first point about the batteries. Please see the following link to an article that outlines this very scenario:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8959811/
The moral of the story is that hybrids are not the answer. Hybrids are the elected legislatures' attempt at dodging the fodder generated by low supply/high demand fossil-fuel problems. They're banking on the fact that by the time we realize it they'll be long out of office (and probably long gone from this planet.) As long as they [legislature, automobile manufacturers, etc] appear to be doing something about it (by pushing hybrids) the general public will be appeased.
For those who are betting on the fuel-cell technology don't hold your breath. Fuel cells are a wonderful technology but they pose a number of hurdles. The first being that our entire fuel refinery, distribution, and storage systems would have to be totally revamped to handle the production of hydrogen on such a large scale. Secondly, has anyone priced platinum these days? Platinum is the metal that's used in the catalyst of most fuel cells . It is the platinum that helps to facilitates the movement of positively charged ions through the proton exchange membrane (PEM.) The other problem with platinum is its rarity which makes it very expensive. Hopefully someone can stumble upon a cheaper, more abundant, and equally efficient material that can be used to coat the catalyst.
I don't mean to make waves with this post and I certainly didn't intend to upset anyone, but I'm a little sick of hearing the whining about the price of gasoline when there are so many other more significant things to be concerned with. Come talk to me after you watch your life (spouse, children, house, etc) float away through 20 feet of flood waters. Maybe then you can console me on how the price of gas jumped $0.40 cents today!
Posted by: Annoyed at September 1, 2005 12:00 AMFirst off, thanks for the insight into the fuel cells and the batteries. I had not thought of that, even though I am seriously considering a hybrid car, because I feel it's the best option I have at this point.
Your right, hybrids are not the answer, and neither is releasing more crued oil from the reserves. The only real answer is a complete change of attitude of the industrial nations population to move away from crued oil and towards renewable energy sources. Nothing will be perfect, but it's a matter of picking the best option available.
As far as me bitching about the price of gas, it's partly bitching about the price of gas, but mostly bitching about the blatent price gouging that is going on. There is absolutely no reason for the gas companies to raise their rates by 5 cents per gallon, let along 20 or 30 cents. I don't want to detract from the horrific nightmare that has happened down south. They need all the help they can get, and increased fuel prices is not doing anything to help them.
Posted by: doug at September 1, 2005 09:48 AMWe're contributing to the Red Cross, so they can afford to gas up their trucks and move resources and people.
Posted by: john at September 1, 2005 10:11 AMI don't have pity on anyone. Everyone could have bought bikes to get the hell out. They could have bought solar panels to run communications gear. They could have taken the Amateur Radio test and had the ability to communicate to the outside world. They could have stored food, and seeds to grow food in whatever area they ended up. They could have bought water filters to make water potable. They could have built a house that has safe areas underground--and not in a flood plain, or worse yet a city lower than the ocean! And most importantly they could have stockpiled guns to protect family, food, and necessities against the idiots who didn't stock up and try to loot and steal.
You want to donate? Donate to your own fund by buying self-sustaining items. Learn how to save your own ass, and don't depend on others because the only person you'll find you can count on in a disaster is YOURSELF!
Posted by: mix at September 2, 2005 05:33 PM