Adjusting to the HIGH cost of energy
- Thread starter hitekcountry
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hitekcountry
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John
<font color="red"> I gotta have a teensy bit for my tractor! </font>
Ah ... well....I think teensy would be OK. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
<font color="red"> I gotta have a teensy bit for my tractor! </font>
Ah ... well....I think teensy would be OK. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
reb
Platinum Member
When the wife and I retired 4 years ago, we adjusted our lifestyle to keep our energy usage (costs) as low as we thought practical. We do most of our driving in her truck, which gets 26-27 mpg at 55 to 60 mph. Our house (a @#^$ doublewide trailer) is pretty energy efficient; we use about 200 gallons of propane a year for heating. Electric bills run less than $70/month. We haven't budgeted for significantly higher energy costs. Cutting back on travel is about the only option I see right now.
MikePA
Super Moderator
<font color="blue"> I for one wonder about this 'adjusted for inflation' stuff. </font>
Click -----> Here.
This isn't magic or smoke and mirrors. It's no different than calculating interest on a savings account. You take the cost of gasoline in 1981 and multiply it by the inflation rate for each of the past 23 years.
Click -----> Here.
This isn't magic or smoke and mirrors. It's no different than calculating interest on a savings account. You take the cost of gasoline in 1981 and multiply it by the inflation rate for each of the past 23 years.
JimR
Elite Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> I for one wonder about this 'adjusted for inflation' stuff. </font>
Click -----> Here.
This isn't magic or smoke and mirrors. It's no different than calculating interest on a savings account. You take the cost of gasoline in 1981 and multiply it by the inflation rate for each of the past 23 years. )</font>
I guess I wouldn't mind paying the higher prices if my paycheck went up that much either.
Click -----> Here.
This isn't magic or smoke and mirrors. It's no different than calculating interest on a savings account. You take the cost of gasoline in 1981 and multiply it by the inflation rate for each of the past 23 years. )</font>
I guess I wouldn't mind paying the higher prices if my paycheck went up that much either.
fractal
Gold Member
No real changes here. I have a 12mpg truck that I didn't drive before prices went up and don't drive now except when I need to haul stuff. I normally drive a 22city/26highway sedan. It is about as small as I will go to keep enough metal around me for all the idiots on the road. I considered getting a 4cyl sedan instead of a 6cyl to get a few more MPG but honestly, being able to get outta the way of the other fool is worth the extra money to me.
We have a classic chicken or egg problem. Europe went through it a while ago and now everyone drives light, fuel efficient vehicles. We never had to and all the socer moms driving 3 ton SUV's as if they were compact cars and squishing everyone in their way has the rest of us driving things with more metal than we need simply out of self defense. Maybe the price of gas will get them outta the tanks so the rest of us can go back to sane vehicles. If so, then maybe it is a good thing..
We have a classic chicken or egg problem. Europe went through it a while ago and now everyone drives light, fuel efficient vehicles. We never had to and all the socer moms driving 3 ton SUV's as if they were compact cars and squishing everyone in their way has the rest of us driving things with more metal than we need simply out of self defense. Maybe the price of gas will get them outta the tanks so the rest of us can go back to sane vehicles. If so, then maybe it is a good thing..
JDGREEN4ME
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I was just talking to one of our neighbor's last night and he was telling me about his new Toyota Prius hybrid car he bought. So far he has 3500 miles on it and on average he his getting 51 miles to the gallon. The wifes Civic is about due for replacement in the next year or so and I know we are going to consider rated MPG more than we did for her last car.
JimR
Elite Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am adjusting my thinking. I am actually interested in the new modified 230 mpg Prius.
I wonder when they will come out with the truck version? )</font>
I just read the story on the 250MPG Prius. It really makes you wonder what the Big 3 have held back from being developed over the years. They are in bed with the oil industry.
I wonder when they will come out with the truck version? )</font>
I just read the story on the 250MPG Prius. It really makes you wonder what the Big 3 have held back from being developed over the years. They are in bed with the oil industry.
MikePA
Super Moderator
<font color="blue"> It really makes you wonder what the Big 3 have held back from being developed over the years. They are in bed with the oil industry. </font>
Doesn't make me wonder. But then I don't see a conspiracy behind every tree and am not on the look out for black helicopters. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif (I'm not implying you do, either.)
Things like this 250 mpg Prius make a big splash then usually disappear because they aren't practical for most consumers. Quoting the article...
The extra batteries let Gremban drive for 20 miles with a 50-50 mix of gas and electricity. As long as Gremban doesn't drive too far in a day, he says, he gets 80 mpg.
20 miles wouldn't get me back an forth to work.
"The value of plug-in hybrids is they can dramatically reduce gasoline usage for the first few miles every day," Gremban said. "The average for people's usage of a car is somewhere around 30 to 40 miles per day. During that kind of driving, the plug-in hybrid can make a dramatic difference."
I drive more than 30 - 40 miles/day.
Backers of plug-in hybrids acknowledge that the electricity to boost their cars generally comes from fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases, but they say that process still produces far less pollution than oil.
Their focus is not mileage but pollution.
But Toyota and other car companies say they are worried about the cost, convenience and safety of plug-in hybrids — and note that consumers haven't embraced all-electric cars because of the inconvenience of recharging them like giant cell phones.
Here's why the automakers haven't done this. No conspiracy. No deal with the oil industry.
Anyone who is in business has to make a business case for spending capital which typically includes a ROI (Return On Investment). Would you invest millions or billions of dollars to design and tool up to make a plug in hybrid when you're not even sure you will sell enough of them to cover your costs much less make a profit?
Doesn't make me wonder. But then I don't see a conspiracy behind every tree and am not on the look out for black helicopters. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif (I'm not implying you do, either.)
Things like this 250 mpg Prius make a big splash then usually disappear because they aren't practical for most consumers. Quoting the article...
The extra batteries let Gremban drive for 20 miles with a 50-50 mix of gas and electricity. As long as Gremban doesn't drive too far in a day, he says, he gets 80 mpg.
20 miles wouldn't get me back an forth to work.
"The value of plug-in hybrids is they can dramatically reduce gasoline usage for the first few miles every day," Gremban said. "The average for people's usage of a car is somewhere around 30 to 40 miles per day. During that kind of driving, the plug-in hybrid can make a dramatic difference."
I drive more than 30 - 40 miles/day.
Backers of plug-in hybrids acknowledge that the electricity to boost their cars generally comes from fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases, but they say that process still produces far less pollution than oil.
Their focus is not mileage but pollution.
But Toyota and other car companies say they are worried about the cost, convenience and safety of plug-in hybrids — and note that consumers haven't embraced all-electric cars because of the inconvenience of recharging them like giant cell phones.
Here's why the automakers haven't done this. No conspiracy. No deal with the oil industry.
Anyone who is in business has to make a business case for spending capital which typically includes a ROI (Return On Investment). Would you invest millions or billions of dollars to design and tool up to make a plug in hybrid when you're not even sure you will sell enough of them to cover your costs much less make a profit?