Yesterday afternoon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the media that she had asked the President to work with Democrats to figure out a way to temporarily suspend oil deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to ease the pain at the pump.
Really?
We consume roughly 21 million barrels per day, and these guys are talking about temporarily suspending the 70,000 barrels that go to the reserves?
Give me a break!
It's funny, but every time we see oil prices soar, the politicians come out with their latest plan, and every plastic-faced anchor person on the local news gives us a laundry list of things we can do to help "ease the pain at the pump."
Here are a few of the wonderful suggestions we've seen so far.
· Keep your tires properly inflated
· Check and replace air filters regularly
· Don't speed
· Avoid excessive idling
· Stagger your work hours, if possible, to avoid peak rush hours
Stagger your work hours? Are these people serious?
How many hard-working folks in this country have the freedom to just "stagger their work hours" to avoid rush hour?
What a joke!
I have a better idea.
How about everyone stops jerking us around with all these BS "things we can do" to help ease the pain, and start integrating transportation options that simply cut our fuel consumption now!
Seems easy enough, right?
Tell that to Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota who's seeking to attach an amendment to the upcoming supplemental appropriations bill that would forbid the government from sending oil to the reserves if oil prices are above $75 a barrel.
Yeah, that's a brilliant idea. Under that line of thinking, we'll never have a strategic reserve again.
Listen: The solution to our gasoline consumption woes will not be found in diverting 70,000 barrels of oil per day. The solution to our gasoline consumption is to STOP CONSUMING SO MUCH DAMN GASOLINE!!!
The bastards that run the big auto-makers spent millions to keep the fuel efficiency standards low. The mandate is a pathetic 35 mpg by 2020.
As gas prices continue to rise, do you honestly think we should be waiting around for another 12 years, just to get to 35 miles per gallon?
This is solving nothing for the average citizen that's trying to feed his family with a devaluating dollar and a doubling and tripling of food prices!
Fortunately, there are dozens of forward-thinking capitalists that are now stepping up and offering REAL solutions. And these are the guys that are enabling the future of personal transportation by investing in hybrid... specifically, the next generation of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).
In fact, on Thursday, a company we initially told our readers about almost a year ago, announced some very promising news for this industry.
Hybrid Vehicles: 77.41 Miles per Gallon? Done!!!
EnerDel, the advanced battery systems subsidiary of Ener1, Inc. (OTCBB:ENON) announced on Thursday the confirmation by a U.S. government laboratory of the energy, power and efficiency, as well as thermal performance of the company's lithium-ion battery system.
What's that mean?
Here's the quick version...
Based on the testing, using the company's lithium-titanate battery in a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle configuration (of a Toyota Prius), the vehicle was able to achieve 77.41 miles per gallon.
Moreover, the battery pack did not overheat during the test. This has been a concern (and excuse) by the majors with lithium-ion batteries.
Now let me ask you this...
Which would you prefer?
A vehicle that meets the mandated 35 miles per gallon in 12 years, or a vehicle that'll get you 77.41 miles per gallon right now?
And answer that question, not as an investor, but as a consumer.
While our elected officials bicker over what to do with 70,000 barrels of oil in an effort shave $0.05 off the price of gas—the market has already begun to revolutionize personal transportation.
Because the market knows that a temporary $0.05 reduction in the price of gas is about as useful as Paris Hilton in a game of scrabble.
You want in on the future of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles and personal transportation? One that will enable an enormous reduction in oil consumption, and satisfy the demand of nearly every U.S. citizen that has to drive his car to work every day?
Then you better stake your claim to the PHEV market right now.
We've been getting rich investing off this stuff for the past few years, and we're going to continue to get rich off this stuff by investing for the next ten!
To a new way of life, my friends...and a new generation of wealth
Jeff
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someone wants to get 35 mpg there are
numerous vehicles to choose from now.
But a lot of people don't want to drive those kinds of cars.
Gov't mandates just serve to increase the cost to consumers and limit choices.
I also think that even if the US manages to cut its gasoline usage
the effort will be futile. Much of
the gasoline we consume comes from middle east oil and those countries are operating as a cartel...decrease our consumption then they decrease their production to keep the prices just where they want them. The efficiency scenario is actually beneficial to them and serves to keep the 'game' operating for a longer period of time.
World demand, especially from developing asian countries, will guarantee that energy prices will be very high for the foreseeable future.
Alternate energy that can be produced at low cost and is suitable for vehicle use is the only thing that can punch a hole in the mideast cartel. Sadly, there is little evidence that such energy will be soon available, if ever.
:-)
Brand new subscriber, so far so good.
25 year auto business veteran, and while I think this type discussion is overdue, you've hugely over-simplified the issues from the cost of the battery technology, maintainence, weight, and ultimate disposal. A person driving 1000 miles a month buying $3.60 gas will save only about $54 month, minus the increase in their electric bill, which came to their home via coal or nat gas, most likely, reducing the carbon footprint advantage of plug-in hybrid.
My view is that fuel cell hybrid, that can run on almost anything, will probably emerge dominant, with possibly a diesel hybrid step in between. No plug-in, no toxic battery waste, no crash-worthiness problems, no carrying around 100-300 extra lbs.
Randy
Sure I like people in this country to make money on oil futures, but do they have to do it all at one time? I know they are the ones who take the initial risk and making money is their just reward, but give me a break, when will the consumer be thought of not just the RICH making money. The consumer is getting clobbered with the price increases not only on fuel but food and other items, which are many, as a result of the oil price increase. Some measures need to be taken to improve the current condition and if reducing the OIL will work, why not give it a chance before beating it down. . Most Americans don't know how to be conservative, this would be a great lesson and test for all consumers. The world is not flat is it? Someone had to take the chance to find out, so risk was taken and the discovery of North America was the end results. So take the risk, make a plan to reduce oil consumption, and see what happens it might just work.
One other item, John McCain is trying to get an incentative to reduce the Government tax at the pumps by $.15 per gallon. By the time this takes place it will be of no benefit, because gas pumps already have passed that tiny amount and so called incentative. What good is fifteen cents when it is jumping four and five cents a gallon almost three days in a row. Mr McCain if you are going to make a concession for the consumers at the pump make it worth while or forgetabouit.
more effective if you chose instead
to write clearly about the issue.
When you lose control over your emotions and are so blatant about your contempt for the governing authority of this country, even if they deserve it, it diminishes you in the eye of the reader.
All these disonaurs auto companies will be gone in 20 years. Whoever invents an all electric car with a self-recharged battery will become a billionarie.
As for the oil companies, there are going to milk every penny out of our wallets. There will no more oil in 25 years.
Fuck that!! We are finishing the transmission calibration on an automobile that seats 5 real size adults-goes from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and gets between 130 to 180 mpg-with no batteries, no plug in-and with a 7 gallon tank goes about 1000 miles between fillups.
We will be testing this car late summer on the Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte N.C. We intend to run the car (after initial testing) at 135 MPH for as long as the fuel lasts in the tank.
You guys better get your head out your asses and really find out whats going on here in the heartland of America
Sincerly;
Captain Jack
Oil companies could have improved lube oil with better additives but they did nothing.
I have been involved in a number of proven inventions that were buried by auto companies.
They had to pay to keep products off the market.
Auto manufacturers are doing to little to late, possibly putting things in engines that are coming out of patent which is 20years.
All to keep the consummer consumming.
and your right the government have no ideas.
77mpg is a fantastic improvement! I have recently caught wind of a car that runs partly on compressed air that can get 100mpg. Those are going to be up for sale in just a few years, and I plan on buying one!
While a Hybrid might be fine for traveling long distances, most families have a second vehicle which is only driven ten to twenty miles per day. A plug in EV would be the perfect answer for this second vehicle.
The Lead Acid batteries have been the major problem of EVs but if your company has an advanced lithium-ion battery system then this solves most of the existing problems.
Marry these with in-hub electric motor/generators and you will have the dream car of the future with increased power, reduced weight, and reduced maintenance which is cheap to build and sell.
If we don't build it in the U. S., China, India, Japan, or Korea will and that is where the money will go.
The reason why the Big 3 worked so hard to get the 2020 standards is:
THEY AREN'T YET READY TO COMPETE IN THE MINI-CAR MARKET.
If you have ever been to Japan, you will have seen tiny commuter cars, 2 or 4 passenger, as well as small delivery trucks, with engines of 1 liter or less. These vehicles "sip" gasoline. But they don't meet our safety standards (crash tests). So we'll be driving our gas-guzzlers for a long while yet, I think. Gas prices will have to go up much, much more before we will be willing to give up our 2-ton, high-performance personal vehicles.
Your promo here shows you have sold yourself to more of the same stupidity and greed selling more products that pollutes from the coal plants to produce the energy to charge the vehicle´s battery.
I love it when media commentators utter these same platitudes, yet they are driving their SUV's daily while their spouses drive Caddies & Beamers here, there & everywhere.
1. Do you realize what it costs to replace a battery in a hybrid- say 7 years down the road?- try $10,000( Can or US ). So where are the great savings?
2. US. Department of Energy says that by 2017 it will have a new generation nuclear reactor online + hydrogen production to fuel 1,000,000 fuel cell cars! Maybe you should look long term?
Thom McClung, Stockbridge, GA
PS The oil companies are laughing all the to the bank every day.
using new high rev diesels in electric"hybrid" configuration could really satisfy people with
need for driving heavy cars due to
highier torque of diesels. Light
hybrid like Honda Insight are fine
but for some are too small for com
fort.Any way pointing to this pro-
blem of an end of gasoline gusler american and EU style due to invi table end of fuel as we use today
The well put together Article pos
ted here is a great asset to moti-
vate fast development of new cars
and drives, providing that geting
it done becomes a pasion of inven
tors and goverment will sponsor with grants and tax breaks.We can
not afford to wate no longer for
Detroit dead beats who only waite
to get new technology from Japan
and by components like batteries
from China. Todays shortage of fuels will accelerate with deve
lopment of private transportatio in India and China bilions
the reason for the low mileage gas
guzzler is TAX'S on gas at the pump.
the fed alone takes in over 3
Trillion $$$$ a year.
Do you think the ASS-HOLES in
D.C. are going to allow high mileage cars?
Bob.