Gas Prices

[Keebler Elf]

Check out the website TorontoGasPrices.com. I was looking at the price of gas over the past year or so and it was interesting to note that gas prices, surprise, were at the same price last May that they are now (89ish/L). It seems to creep up from April thru the summer, then drops back down in the fall, then plummets in December, then starts creeping back up thru April. So I don't feel too bad since gas prices don't seem to be any worse then last year (well, maybe a little worse).

As for the price hitting $1.00, I hate to say it but it would probably be a good thing. We really need to get the gas guzzlers off the road. I recently heard/read (can't remember which) that replacing all the gas guzzlers in North America with smaller/more fuel efficient cars would result in the price at the pumps dropping down dramatically (to the 60-cent range, IIRC).

As much as people complain about being gouged by the gas companies, just take a look at the price of a barrel of crude. It's at an all-time high so I dunno how people can act so shocked about the price of gas...

 

[ham2004]

My Ford Explorer 4X4 is looking for you elf.....

Check out the website TorontoGasPrices.com. I was looking at the price of gas over the past year or so and it was interesting to note that gas prices, surprise, were at the same price last May that they are now (89ish/L). It seems to creep up from April thru the summer, then drops back down in the fall, then plummets in December, then starts creeping back up thru April. So I don't feel too bad since gas prices don't seem to be any worse then last year (well, maybe a little worse).

As for the price hitting $1.00, I hate to say it but it would probably be a good thing. We really need to get the gas guzzlers off the road. I recently heard/read (can't remember which) that replacing all the gas guzzlers in North America with smaller/more fuel efficient cars would result in the price at the pumps dropping down dramatically (to the 60-cent range, IIRC).

As much as people complain about being gouged by the gas companies, just take a look at the price of a barrel of crude. It's at an all-time high so I dunno how people can act so shocked about the price of gas...

watch your rearview mirrors elf, you have hurt my beasts feelings and its heading to TO to start tracking down elfs... somethng about calling it a gas guzzler........

Price of gas goes up so do my hourly rates...

 

[WhaWhaWha]

As for the price hitting $1.00, I hate to say it but it would probably be a good thing. We really need to get the gas guzzlers off the road. I recently heard/read (can't remember which) that replacing all the gas guzzlers in North America with smaller/more fuel efficient cars would result in the price at the pumps dropping down dramatically (to the 60-cent range, IIRC).

This may surprise you, but the Gas supply is not exclusively earmarked for economy to mid sized Yuppie car owners. The gas Guzzling SUV hysteria aside, we need toworry more about the gas guzzling trucking industry. So many 5-10 ton delivery trucks rely on Gas instead of diesel. The inflated fuel costs inevitably drive up prices for the commodities they carry. The availabllity of volunteer and charity truck drivers is also drying up. The SUV and Van problem is hardly a hiccup in the market.
What we really need is to take the large number of gas alternative and hybrid vehicles off the shelf.

 

[Malibook]

It's already over $1/L for Ultra.

I keep hearing that although oil prices are at record highs, adjusted for inflation they would have to be around $80 today.
The declining US$ is also a significant factor.

I also hear that refiners don't have any significant excess capacity so more oil won't make a big difference.
Plus it takes around 7 years to build a new refinery so this situation is not going to get better for a long time, that is if someone actually starts construction.
Plus most of the new oil is the type that is difficult to refine within the low sulphur level requirements and the yield is lower.

 

[xqqzme]

China will affect prices more & more over the years

Oil prices will continue to rise as China starts using more & more,just wait & see what happens to oil prices
Look what's happened to steel prices because of the Chinese economy, same thing will happen to oil.

 

[batista7777]

The gas prices here are nothing yet compared to what they pay in Europe, which is like $2/L. i here in BC, the current lowest is $0.98/L. Blame OPEC for this.

 

[tboy]

Actaully I was watching a program on rising fuel costs etc and it may (or may not) surprise you to learn that not only demand increases the cost of fuel but actually speculation is also a major reason.

If memory serves it was stated that the fuel cost increases approximately 30% due to speculators.

(simplified for those that don't understand how this works; since oil is a commodity you can purchase shares/stocks (whatever they are called) on the stock market. If someone offers $80.00 a barrel for crude, the cost of ALL crude is priced at $80.00. Even if the oil companies buy the crude from the middle east at $12.00 a barrel they price their end products at the $80.00 cost mark).

Any player who wishes to properly explain how this works, please be my guest. That is how it was explained to me by someone I know.

 

[tileboys]

This may surprise you, but the Gas supply is not exclusively earmarked for economy to mid sized Yuppie car owners. The gas Guzzling SUV hysteria aside, we need toworry more about the gas guzzling trucking industry. So many 5-10 ton delivery trucks rely on Gas instead of diesel. The inflated fuel costs inevitably drive up prices for the commodities they carry. The availabllity of volunteer and charity truck drivers is also drying up. The SUV and Van problem is hardly a hiccup in the market.
What we really need is to take the large number of gas alternative and hybrid vehicles off the shelf.

i dont know where you live,however the majority of 5-10 ton trucks and up use primeraly diesel fuel with the exception of maybe a few old farmers for local haulage

 

[Keebler Elf]

watch your rearview mirrors elf, you have hurt my beasts feelings and its heading to TO to start tracking down elfs... somethng about calling it a gas guzzler........

That's why I live in the forest; can't get yer SUVs past all the trees!

 

[Keebler Elf]

I totally agree that the trucking industry is a major problem. But that's largely the nature of the beast (the transport industry). People independently choosing to drive high fuel-consumption vehicles is a whole 'nother story. A person can drive to work in a compact just as easily as in an SUV. Try packing 30 skids of product in a Civic! I don't have a problem with trying to get everyone to play their part, but don't use that as an excuse to avoid addressing the problem of SUVs that is real and readily fixable.

I also agree wholeheartedly about the gas market being based on speculation. But that's nothing new. It always has been and always will be. So that's really a non-issue, IMO. There's no way to know how much oil will be found or how much will be demanded, thus the need for speculation. While the price fluctuations at the pumps are largely the result of this speculation, the bottom line is that oil prices are at an all-time high so of course gasoline prices will be on the rise.

 

[tileboys]

our roads are better then ever before,gas prices are at the highest point in our country then they have ever been.for some stupid reason people are driving 4 wheel drive vehicles which they may never need in downtown toronto.eg;suvs,pickup trucks which have never seen a load,v8 and up engines and everyone squawking about gas prices...go figure

 

[ArcticWolf]

Can't just blame vehicles for the use of fuel. Remember, crude oil is used for much more than gas. Only 25% of crude is used for fuel - including heating. The other 75% goes right into manufacturing / industry. Look around you, you're surrounded by oil based products.

 

[tileboys]

does anyone stop to think that bottled water costs an average of $1.75 per liter,no one complains yet you can open your tap and get it for free, yet all these yuppies buy it by the the truck load or will fire up the 8 cyl 300 horsepower escalade to go the corner store leaving it running while they get their healthy precious water in the plastic bottle made with toxins that fill up landfill sites...way to care about the environment however the people in Michigan love the $7.00 per tonne of garbage us health conscious canadians send them!

 

[Keebler Elf]

Can't just blame vehicles for the use of fuel.

Of course not. But an individual can't single-handedly close down a manufacturing plant, although he/she can choose not to drive a gas-guzzler.

Again, don't try to misdirect the issue. The biggest counter "argument" that I hear (usually from people who own high fuel-consumption vehicles) is "what about X" or "what about Y" or "what about Z".

No..., what about YOU! It all starts with somebody*. Driving an SUV has got to be one of the most wasteful uses of gasoline in North America. Sure, transport trucks are bad too but at least they're necessary for the movement of products that keep our economy humming. There is no excuse for driving an SUV in Toronto...

* and yes, that somebody would be me if I drove a high fuel consumption vehicle

 

[tileboys]

I totally agree that the trucking industry is a major problem. But that's largely the nature of the beast (the transport industry)

ok pop quiz keebler... name me one thing other than a baby that isn't delivered by a truck? you might want to set your alarm clock a bit earlier tomorrow so you can drive to columbia to pick up the beans for your morning cup of coffee.
also any other fuel saving techniques for the trucking industry would be much appreciated,we may have missed some.

 

[new2game]

Keebler.....

......last time I checked , this is basically a free country. If I have the jack to drive around that gas guzzlin SUV, and am willing to pay it's higher initial cost, it's higher insurance rates, it's higher fuel rates,it's considerable depreciation...and any other cost factors....then I'm gonna drive it....I can spend my money on whatever I want..whether it's a big ass vehicle or a piece of ass.....BTW, I happen to drive a mid sized sedan. I have to spend approx 2000.00 /yr for fuel. Getting some econo shit box could save me about 750/yr or about 15 bucks a week....If I get really tapped, I think I'll give up my timmies coffee and bagel before I go to some small car...Same theory if gas goes up another 25%....kinda sucks...but it's not gonna change my lifestyle....

N2G

 

[steeverus]

High for a reason

Everybody please note. BMW has successfully created a fully hydrogen powered car than can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres an hour. What does this have to do with gas prices you ask? Well let me explain. At the current pace that technology has been evolving you can bet your weekly trips to the MP that in 10-15 years gas will be as outdated as a cassette player. It will still be used, but why use a cassette when you have MP3? Now the part of high gas prices: Industry heads that actually make the big bucks from the gas that we buy (we know they're out, we just don't know who they are) are not stupid. They hear about the new info before anyone else and they have to act. I beleive that they are trying to fill up the bucket while it's still raining because the rain is definitely going to stop soon.
One last thing to note: Gas price in Iraq before the war was $0.01 per litre and after the freedom revolution that was forced upon them price doubled to $0.02 per litre. Now you tell me, is W in there because he care about his countrys freedom or because he wants $0.50 of every dollor for him and his oil buddies?

 

[Hard Idle]

Fuel is still a good deal

I'd give years off my life for the chance to pay for gas again. Try waiting 3O minutes for a night buss on a -20 windchill only to get told your transfer is too old ('cause the original bus was late!). Try choking in a hot tin can in August, surrounded by sweaty shift workers and some derelict who sleeps on the streetcar with shit in his pants. $1 /Litre looks good to me.

Some people pay $1 for 1/4 litre of Cocke or Pepsi - 1, 2 even 3 times a day! Gasoline runs your car for half that money and it's probably more nutritious to drink!

On the demand side, we have become over mechanized and way to many things depend on the oil. I'd also like to know how so many unemployed people have the money to joyride all day, How can you have traffic jams at 2pm when most people are supposed to be at work?

My enemy is the insurance rackett, unlike oil, they supply very little that is actually useful, and usually do a lousy job when there is a legitimate role for them. It would sicken me to pay them even if I could. But with gas I'd be happy with what I get for $1 / liter.

 

[galt]

Everybody please note. BMW has successfully created a fully hydrogen powered car than can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres an hour. What does this have to do with gas prices you ask? Well let me explain. At the current pace that technology has been evolving you can bet your weekly trips to the MP that in 10-15 years gas will be as outdated as a cassette player. It will still be used, but why use a cassette when you have MP3? Now the part of high gas prices: Industry heads that actually make the big bucks from the gas that we buy (we know they're out, we just don't know who they are) are not stupid. They hear about the new info before anyone else and they have to act. I beleive that they are trying to fill up the bucket while it's still raining because the rain is definitely going to stop soon.
One last thing to note: Gas price in Iraq before the war was $0.01 per litre and after the freedom revolution that was forced upon them price doubled to $0.02 per litre. Now you tell me, is W in there because he care about his countrys freedom or because he wants $0.50 of every dollor for him and his oil buddies?

I think my concern around the "alternative fuel" market is that once they do come up with a viable hydrogen fuel cell car, will the oil companies buy up the ballard power systems of the world to corner the technology behind the fuel cell and then simply drive up the cost again

 

[anon1]

If I stopped working and have acouple of my favourite dancer/SP's move in with me, I'd save a shitload of gasoline.