Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Only problem with that is I remember that last year, nobody went, gas prices were down the day nobody was buying gas and the next day they went up.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

May 15th sounds like the perfect day to fill up.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

As mentioned earlier the previous gas shortage caused by OPEC in the 70's caused a few key events to happen. Most other developed nations implemented measures to reduce their dependance on foreign oil by making more efficient vehicles, improving their mass transportation and other measures along that lines.

The US decided it was going to be the "best" and provide everything for itself and starting looking into providing oil for itself. Thus Europe and the like have had "high" gas prices for sometime, but the price has remained relativly consistent. Presently the bottom is falling out of the US's ability to supply it's own oil and thus we're starting to see the shift in prices towards what Europe has seen for awhile.

So what's my problem with American Oil companies you might ask? Well they're the ones that helped push the move for self-dependance so much that NO alternatives were really ever considered. Now we're reaching the point were the end of the world's oil reserves are within a generation and America isn't even close to making a transition off of oil.

Yes there is supply and demand. My problem comes from the fact that most of the demand is artificially generated by the oil companies. There is some influence by world events and natural disasters to be sure, but these are overhyped and over-publicized to help justify the increased prices. If the oil companies actually cared about the general economy of the nation as opposed to their investors it would be a much different story. It's fine if you want to argue for profit margins in a corporation, my problem comes from corporate utilities that literally hold the nation's status in the palm of their hands and choose to still operate with the shareholders in mind rather than the general public.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

The government does not agree with you about demand:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/oil.html

"In the IEO2006 reference case, world oil demand grows from 80 million barrels per day in 2003 to 98 million barrels per day in 2015 and 118 million barrels per day in 2030. Demand increases strongly despite world oil prices that are 35 percent higher in 2025 than in last year’s outlook. Much of the growth in oil consumption is projected for the nations of non-OECD Asia, where strong economic growth is expected. Non-OECD Asia (including China and India) accounts for 43 percent of the total increase in world oil use over the projection period. "

And the FAS:

"World Oil Demand and its Effect on Oil Prices"

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32530.pdf

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Who needs gas? What we need are Water Powered Cars http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

No, we need a Mr. Fusion.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Im paying 1.83 $ for a litre, so 0.26 Gallons. That would be about 7.00 $ for a gallon so please stop complaining.

At least thats what wikipedia tells me about litre:liquid gallon

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Well, I'm not complaining cause I'm not paying close to that. But it was still quite a shock to pay 40+ dollars to fill my car up the other day. And I just drive a mid-sized four-door sedan. I can remember just a couple years ago the pickup and SUV guys complaining about $40 dollar fillups. Guess my next car I'll be back to the sub-compacts. Unless I can afford a hybrid by then.

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

People like to complain, whether its gas prices, sports, weather or politics. If you're not complaining, you're not happy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: OT: Gas Prices
 

Just one little thing about that: How much energy does it take to run the electrolysis process to separate water into it's componant oxygen and hydrogen? That is the amount of energy that would be released from burning it. Thus it is a no-gainer, just putting the job of generating power into the electrolysis phase.

Can this still be a useful invention? Sure, it could be thought of a volatile form of battery, storing power to be used later.