MEMtransplant
Columbus, OH
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With all these new cars on the road that have much better gas mileage than what some people were driving, is it feasible to assume the law of supply and demand will hold true with gas prices soon? I'm interested to see how these newer fuel efficient vehicles will affect the price of gas (if at all). Anyone notice a price decrease anywhere?
I can almost see the headlines in a couple of months: "Exxon receives bailout due to decreased demand." Ha!
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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I have seen it bouncing from 2.45-2.50 up to nearly 2.70 off and on in different areas. It's such a joke, yet we continue to drink the kool aid.
(In no way shape or form is the above comment meant to incite or arouse any particular passion. The author wishes to convey a frustration with the current status quo and the lack of available options available in many communities as well as an insistence by many politicians to continue in that line of thinking. Please don't infer anything from the above and please don't put words in my mouth. )
MEMtransplant
Columbus, OH
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>
I have seen it bouncing from 2.45-2.50 up to nearly 2.70 off and on in different areas. It's such a joke, yet we continue to drink the kool aid.
(In no way shape or form is the above comment meant to incite or arouse any particular passion. The author wishes to convey a frustration with the current status quo and the lack of available options available in many communities as well as an insistence by many politicians to continue in that line of thinking. Please don't infer anything from the above and please don't put words in my mouth. )
haha... I agree with you though. I wish there were much better public transportation options. I was simply curious... just kind of hit me that demand would go down.
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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The price of gas reflects the price of oil, which is a plaything for speculators. "You" as a nationwide body of consumers can smack them back by not buying as much, driving the price back down, but "you" as an individual are pretty much left to price-shopping, and not buying during the price spikes.
When different stations with different brands all change to the same price in the same day (or hour) - I don't understand how this is not price-fixing.
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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MEMtransplant wrote >>
With all these new cars on the road that have much better gas mileage...
I really don't think even a 50% fuel efficiency increase in what... maybe 10% of the automobiles on the road in America is going to offset the new demand for fuel by the insanely rapidly growing middle classes of China and India.
China becomes world's largest car market
MEMtransplant
Columbus, OH
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So, what's the quick synopsis Hael?
MEMtransplant
Columbus, OH
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Walker, I was under the impression their economies had slowed as well? I know that China and India (as well as the U.S.) helped fuel the high gas prices, however, I thought China and India demand levels were way off now as well?
Hmmm... I did not know that China vehicle sales surpassed the U.S. That is interesting.
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I've not been following it that closely lately to know if the slowing global economy has had much of an impact on their rapid growth.
I don't like being a "doomsday scenario" type guy with the whole peak oil argument, but it's not like we've got an unlimited supply of the stuff. We're eventually going to run out. And if you want to boil it down to supply and demand, that means it's not likely to gradually become a cheaper commodity, no matter how many dozens of new Priuses you might see on the road any given day.
I'm confident that we'll eventually be able to develop new fuel technologies, and the plan for developing rail transit across the country has gotten me stoked, but I think we've already waiting far too long to get the ball rolling, and we're likely to have a painful (ie: expensive) changeover process ahead of us in the next 10-20 years before we come out on the other side of this thing.
Mercurius
First Avenue
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Walker wrote >>
I'm confident that we'll eventually be able to develop new fuel technologies, and the plan for developing rail transit across the country has gotten me stoked, but I think we've already waiting far too long to get the ball rolling, and we're likely to have a painful (ie: expensive) changeover process ahead of us in the next 10-20 years before we come out on the other side of this thing.
Something I've been following:
http://www.algaeventuresystems.com/
greenhouse1014
Columbus
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Walker wrote >>
I've not been following it that closely lately to know if the slowing global economy has had much of an impact on their rapid growth.
I don't like being a "doomsday scenario" type guy with the whole peak oil argument, but it's not like we've got an unlimited supply of the stuff. We're eventually going to run out. And if you want to boil it down to supply and demand, that means it's not likely to gradually become a cheaper commodity, no matter how many dozens of new Priuses you might see on the road any given day.
I'm confident that we'll eventually be able to develop new fuel technologies, and the plan for developing rail transit across the country has gotten me stoked, but I think we've already waiting far too long to get the ball rolling, and we're likely to have a painful (ie: expensive) changeover process ahead of us in the next 10-20 years before we come out on the other side of this thing.
You know, it's interesting that certain economic conditions, environmental demands, etc. forced the auto industry to change up and refocus on more energy efficient cars and alternate fuel supplies. I wonder what will happen to the oil industry once we finally run out of oil. If I were an oil baron, I'd be investing heavily in research in these environmental initiatives so I'd still have a company once the oil goes.
MEMtransplant
Columbus, OH
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greenhouse1014 wrote >>
Walker wrote >>
I've not been following it that closely lately to know if the slowing global economy has had much of an impact on their rapid growth.
I don't like being a "doomsday scenario" type guy with the whole peak oil argument, but it's not like we've got an unlimited supply of the stuff. We're eventually going to run out. And if you want to boil it down to supply and demand, that means it's not likely to gradually become a cheaper commodity, no matter how many dozens of new Priuses you might see on the road any given day.
I'm confident that we'll eventually be able to develop new fuel technologies, and the plan for developing rail transit across the country has gotten me stoked, but I think we've already waiting far too long to get the ball rolling, and we're likely to have a painful (ie: expensive) changeover process ahead of us in the next 10-20 years before we come out on the other side of this thing.You know, it's interesting that certain economic conditions, environmental demands, etc. forced the auto industry to change up and refocus on more energy efficient cars and alternate fuel supplies. I wonder what will happen to the oil industry once we finally run out of oil. If I were an oil baron, I'd be investing heavily in research in these environmental initiatives so I'd still have a company once the oil goes.
Great discussion. Yes, I agree with you Walker. I do think we've waited too late to get the ball rolling on alternative energies and other forms of transportation... and I think we (as in the world) are going to pay for it heavily. I do wish rail transit were more developed here in the United States. Before I moved here I looked to see what cities Amtrak connected Columbus with. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Amtrak didn't even come to Columbus! (I loved the City of New Orleans train) The Capital of a state... still doesn't make sense to me. I know they are working on it... but I also believe we need high speed rail as well. I have a great idea about connecting cities with extremely high speed rail that would move passengers during the day and people/cargo overnight... however, it would be (at least initially) expensive... and it would put many airlines and freight companies out of business... so, it doesn't have a chance in hades due to politics and lobbyists. However, over time the expense would be minimal compared to what we are spending today on transportation.
Greenhouse, yep... some companies are already doing that. The smart ones anyway. I do have to wonder what will happen when oil in the Middle East runs out. How will that affect global dynamics and politics?
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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MEMtransplant wrote >>
I have a great idea about connecting cities with extremely high speed rail that would move passengers during the day and people/cargo overnight... however, it would be (at least initially) expensive... and it would put many airlines and freight companies out of business... so, it doesn't have a chance in hades due to politics and lobbyists.
Thankfully we have people working on this then that won't be putting those things out of business in the meantime. ;)
MEMtransplant
Columbus, OH
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Walker wrote >>
MEMtransplant wrote >>
I have a great idea about connecting cities with extremely high speed rail that would move passengers during the day and people/cargo overnight... however, it would be (at least initially) expensive... and it would put many airlines and freight companies out of business... so, it doesn't have a chance in hades due to politics and lobbyists.Thankfully we have people working on this then that won't be putting those things out of business in the meantime. ;)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/16/obama.rail/
Ah, I should have said my plan is quite a bit different from what Obama is proposing. I'm talking speeds of 500 mph+. ;-) His idea only tops out at 150 mph+... chump change.
But, at least it is a start.
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