“How Things Work” gives us the scoop on gas prices. It’s not just the price of crude oil, which accounts for 60% of the price of gasoline, other factors include refining, marketing, and taxes. And of course, don’t forget the service station mark-up. This is the USA.
A Chevy Colbalt SS (student project, 3 girls) running on E85 will compete in Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats
“E85 burns cooler and has a higher octane rating (108) than gasoline, which allows for increased power,” said GM Performance Division executive Al Oppenheiser, whose team heads up GM’s efforts at Bonneville. “It’s essentially an environmentally friendly racing fuel.”
If the team is successful, it would be the first ever to set a record using E85
Fuel economy is good for everyone, right? Right. But for the Saturn Ion, the combination of high gas prices and its 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway keeps more cars rolling off the line.
GM had planned to discontinue the Ion in December, but sales of this affordable, little gas-sipper are up 2.5% this year. Fuel efficiency is king, with gas at $3/gallon. This baby is also praised for its safety ratings and engine.
“It gets good fuel economy and it’s affordably priced,” said Jim Hall, vice president of industry analysis at AutoPacific. “It would be foolish of them to get rid of it.”
New England pro-active on energy conservation. Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healy and Stephen Whitley, head of Independent Systems Operations New England challenged residents and businesses to reduce energy consumption by 5%.
“We’re not asking you to do anything crazy,” said Whitely, quoting the Take Charge New England campaign motto.
There are simple steps homeowners can take to reduce energy consumption, for instance, using programmable thermostats, and caulking and weatherstripping windows. Both can save big dollars on the power bill.
Whitely hopes homeowners and businesses take the message seriously, saying, “Conservation is no longer the ’nice’ thing to do, it’s essential.”
Every week, usually Monday 5:00 p.m., the Energy Information Administration (EIA) gives a Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. It has price information along with cool graphs and facts.