The price of raw gas is about the same in Europe as it is in the U.S..
Dramatically higher taxes at the pump drives the price difference. Free
European-style socialism is not cheap, as we are finding out here.
Tricarb,
Al Malin
On Feb 24, 2013, at 3:46 AM, Oudesluys <coudesluijs@chello.nl> wrote:
> Hallo Len,
> Two weeks ago I made a 2500 miles round trip (mainly going by back roads,
some times dirt tracks) from San Diego, Julian, Joshua tree park, Las Vegas,
Grand Canyon, Nevada/Arizona desert&mountains, Quartzsite and back to San
Diego. Somewhere in Arizona deep down in the country I paid $3,55/gallon. One
US gallon is 3,55 liters, I think, hence $1/liter. We pay around Euro
185/liter which compares to $2,40/liter or $8,50/gallon.
> I know petrol in the US has always been dirt cheap, hence the gas guzzlers,
and any substantial increase will hurt.
> Cheers,
> Kees Oudesluijs
>
>
> Op 24-2-2013 0:14, Len and/or Marge Hartnett schreef:
>> Kees: Having lived and driven in Europe a couple of times for a total of
about 6 years, I am well aware of the price of gasoline there. However, I am
talking California, USA. You may be used to paying the high price, we are
not.
>>
>> California has a base price of gasoline that is higher than most other
states (specialized blends). If stocks get low, for whatever reason- as they
are now due to refinery maintenance - the result is a price jump (supply and
demand?). Another trigger is price speculation in the futures market. Add
those to the fluctuating price of a barrel of oil. Now add in the California
law that prohibits California from importing gasoline from other states
because they do not have the same blends. Demand can be high but supply can
be limited and there is no source to supplement our supply.
>>
>> People that must drive are not prepared to add these increases to their
budgets. Gas prices have spiked between 57 and 59 cents over the past 30
days. The price in Los Angeles is 11.3 cents more than last week and 57 cents
higher than last month. In San Francisco, the price is $4.22 a gallon. A
week ago, it was $4.08 and 56 cents more than what motorists were paying a
month ago. Compare that to $3.20 per gallon in Wyoming and Montana and you see
why Californians get upset.
>>
>> Granted, there is a major difference between the price of your gasoline
compared to ours. However, historically, it has been that way for a long time
and it is a shock for us when prices take such major jumps at the pump in such
a short period of time.
>>
>> (I won't make any snide comments about you having an Arizina (sp) in the
Netherlands. Gas in our Arizona is $3.69/gallon) ;-)
>>
>> (The Other) Len
>> Vacaville, CA, USA
>> 1967 AH 3000 MkIII, HBJ8L39031
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