Gas Pains

The forecast for this summer is hot weather and higher gas prices. The worldwide demand for oil is out pacing the production. The United States still the home of the automobile but rest of planet is catching up. As emerging economies in China, India, Brazil and Africa grow they want everything that the developed world offers.

The world market of oil is a triumph of capitalism and globalization. Because of the North Sea oil fields a nation like Norway is energy self sufficient but the price of energy is about the same as it is in the rest of Europe or North America. In Norway oil, diesel fuel and gasoline are marketed for profit and not socialistically subsidized.

So what's a person to do? The most effective way to bring down oil prices and maybe even slow down global climate change is to use energy more efficiently.  Maybe spend one day a week without driving, car pool with neighbors and friends or even start to change our ideas about what a car should be.

Volkswagen is developing the XL-1 and car that potentially gets 250 miles per gallon. Yes it is small but it's no smaller than sports car. It takes time to go from zero to 60 mph but so does my work van, it's not that difficult planning out an extra a couple of extra seconds to merge.

Small cars have always been part of the America Car Culture and conserving fuel was even patriotic.

What worries me is XL-1 will not be imported into the Unites States. Right now there are about a dozen high efficiency automobiles that you can not bring into the country.

Even the Toyota Prius sold in North America is not the same car they sell in Japan. In Japan if you drive less than 30 miles a day, you can run your Prius strictly as an electric car and not burn a drop of gasoline. There is an aftermarket conversion kit so the Prius can be driven as an electric car but installing voids the manufacturer's warrantee. This was part of deal Toyota made with GM, General Motors owns about 30% of Toyota's stock.

Part of the high price of gasoline is political. The way roads and towns are designed, which automobiles are for sale and even the unavailability of mass transit that could compete with automobiles is all influenced by politics.... and all these things boost the profits of oil companies.