Has The Summer Gas Price Peak Passed?

Beginning in February or March of every year the gas prices begin to rise in anticipation of increased travel (and thus consumption) as winter moves into spring. Statistics show that the peak gas prices occur between June and August. So, with falling gas prices are we past the peak prices?

Of course, even when a peak price ends, its seems as if the new lower price is the same as the previous years' peak prices as the price gas consistently climbs each year. Here's a chart demonstrating the peak prices for the past three years.

Thus far it is difficult to determine if the drop in gas prices is a minor dip or the beginning of the end of our yearly peak. When we compare the gas price pattern in 2005 to 2006 we see quite a different story. So where are prices heading now? Well, if big business to the all time low "consumer confidence" in any indication, they are probably going to keep dropping. WalMart reported low May sales as the high gas prices keep would-be shoppers tightening their purse strings. Being perhaps a bit cynical, I say when big business starts feeling the sting of high gas prices via low sales, then action can be expected on their parts.

Let's keep our eyes open and watch for where gas prices are headed next. Hopefully into the low two dollar range again.

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An Effective Way to Boycott High Gas Prices?

I received an email the other day that offered a new plan to force the oil companies to lower their prices. Its so wickedly simple, I wish I had thought of it.

Many of you may have received an email imploring you to boycott the high gas prices by not buying gas on May 15th, which was a bust, not surprisingly as people simply bought gas on some other day and the Big Oil Companies made their money regardless.

This new plan suggests that we boycott all Union 76 gas stations for two weeks starting July 1st until July 15th. Union 76 was picked because of their old marketing slogan "The Spirit of '76", referring of course to the American Revolution and the fact this boycott will occur during the U.S. Independence Day celebration (July 4th), the organizers of this boycott found it fitting.

Will it work? If enough people get involved, it will certainly be interesting to watch what happens. ConocoPhillips, the parent company of Union 76 is huge but if there is enough momentum we might just see a drop in prices.

Feel free to email this post, it might just work. Me, I'm just going to ride my bike those two weeks, that'll show em! Check back often as I'll be watching for the latest developments.

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Gas Saving Tips - Myth Buster Style...

In late 2005 the editors of Edmunds.com put common gas saving tips to the test to see if they did in fact work, the results were surprising.

While many tips, it turned out, actually did save gas, some of the fuel-saving advice you commonly hear didn't make much difference at all.

Drivers took two different vehicles on the same 56-mile route eight times under various conditions. The vehicles, both Ford Motor Co. products, were a 2005 Ford Mustang GT and a Land Rover LR3 SE. Both have V-8 engines. The Mustang's EPA-estimated mileage is 15 in the city and 25 on the highway while the Land Rover's is 14 in the city and 18 on the highway. In ordinary driving, most vehicles usually get about 15 percent lower gas mileage than EPA estimates indicate.

Using cruise control
Drivers are often advised to use cruise control during long highway drives on level roads. The idea is that it prevents "speed creep" -- the tendency to gradually start going faster the longer you drive -- and cuts down on other unnecessary speed changes which can eat up gas.

In Edmunds.com's test, the Land Rover got almost 14 percent better mileage using cruise control set at 70 miles per hour rather than cruising at driver-controlled speeds between 65 and 75 miles per hour.

The Mustang got 4.5 percent better mileage with cruise control.

Verdict: It works

Roll up windows, use A/C
When driving on the highway, most of a vehicle's power is used simply to overcome aerodynamic drag. On the other hand, air conditioning also uses a lot of power.

Drivers are often told that keeping the windows rolled up, which significantly reduces drag, and using air conditioning actually results in better fuel economy than driving at high speeds with the windows open.

In Edmunds.com's test, conducted at a steady 65 miles per hour, "windows down" or "A/C on" made virtually no difference in mileage.

The Mustang got 4.1 percent better mileage -- 30.7 mpg vs. 29.5 mpg -- with the windows down. The Land Rover got 1.6 percent better mileage with the windows down, a difference of just 0.3 miles per gallon.

Basically, the extra fuel used by the air conditioner is made up for in improved aerodynamics at high speeds. You’re not really saving any fuel but, at least on the highway, the A/C isn't costing you appreciably either.

Verdict: No difference

Avoid hard acceleration
You've probably been told before that rushing up to stop lights and racing away from them wastes gas. Turns out it wastes a whole lot of gas, according to Edmunds.com's test.

Slowing zero-to-sixty times to 20 seconds instead of 10 to 15 seconds makes a big difference in mileage over the long term. Braking slowly and gently helps, too.

Driving the Land Rover gently resulted in a 35.4 percent increase in gas mileage while feather-footing the Mustang garnered a 27.1 percent mileage increase.

Verdict: Big difference

Properly inflate tires
Not having enough air in the tires can cause a number of problems, including a potentially dangerous blow-out. But it also reduces gas mileage.

In Edmunds.com's test, the mileage improvement with properly inflated tires, compared to slightly under-inflated ones, was slight but noticeable in the Land Rover but non-existent in the Mustang. Still, for safety's sake, keep enough air in your tires.

Verdict: Small impact on mileage

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