Fuel costs and COLA soaring

[dreamingat30fps]

You can say what you want about Russia, but those mofos knew covid was coming from Ukraine! They have single handedly eliminated covid!

[UncleWede]

5.55/gal inAltadena. Didn't know dads Yota took 18 gal. $95!!!!!

[M3WC]

Inflation was at a 40 year high before the Russian invasion of Ukraine(Fed is mostly to blame). New CPI numbers is pre-war data. Even without the war, much higher inflation was coming this year. The war and our reaction to it is only going to make things worse. I am hearing 3rd quarter recession. Goldman cut GDP outlook again, with increased recession odds. Food prices will soar, even more than the current high prices. Before end of 2021, a report stated Fertilizer prices for 2022 were revised from +10% to upwards of +80%.

[jsf721]

Freight has gone crazy. A container from china to California went from 3500 bucks pre covid to just about 20k or more. That’s just crazy. That all get added to the landed cost per item. It’s more about demand , availability and greed than a actual cost increase related to moving freight. The answer is make stuff here ! Start now.

[WallySlash]

Originally Posted by jsf721

Freight has gone crazy. A container from china to California went from 3500 bucks pre covid to just about 20k or more. That’s just crazy. That all get added to the landed cost per item. It’s more about demand , availability and greed than a actual cost increase related to moving freight. The answer is make stuff here ! Start now.

Not certain greed is accurate. Asset owners costs have gone up too and they are in business to make money.

A few years before the 3500 rates there were 900 to 1150 rates ex China to LAX. Who was greedy then?

[Captain Blood]

On inflation and cola, we are in such a unique situation. The only other time we can compare this to is 1918–1920, but we had a World War going on, so can't really compare what's going on economically, it would not be an Apples to Apples comparison. I think this is very transitory, everything should be back to normal by summertime. I'm grateful that I am in the inverse situation compared to 2008, the last time we saw gas prices at this level. Instead of commuting 45 miles a day, I drive maybe 75 miles a week now.

[stylinexpat]

As for oil if we have so much of it locally why isn't the government using it to support its local people and economy like other countries do. Saudi,Kuwait and the UAE along with Iraq and Libya offer cheap gas prices to their local people to help their local economy while here in the US they try to milk every penny out of their citizens. Had we had a proper transport system lie they do in China and Japan not to mention other countries around the world this would not have been so big of an issue for local consumers in the US. They should have bullet trains around the US which offer cheap transport options for all the people in the US where then using a car for transport is an option for the people because public transport should be cheap and not priced like it is a ride at an amusement park for tourists from abroad. Look at train prices in China,Japan,Taiwan,Thailand,Hong Kong and other countries. They have trains,bullet trains,Metros above ground and underground along with great bus options too. If you can't walk outside your house and get to a proper metro strop or train then your local government transportation and infrastructure system is Fuc*ed to say the least because they rather you go to the gas station and pay $60-120 to fill up each time, pay $50-120 for oil changes,$200-1000 for tire changes,$100-300 for car maintenance,$70-200 for insurance every month, $100-800 for car registration every year and the list goes on as the government profits from all of these things. The higher the fuel prices the more they collect from the people that drive. The more people out there driving the more police that they can hire to ticket them to collect money from them in fines too. It never ends...

[TiMSport]

Originally Posted by stylinexpat

As for oil if we have so much of it locally why isn't the government using it to support its local people and economy like other countries do. Saudi,Kuwait and the UAE along with Iraq and Libya offer cheap gas prices to their local people to help their local economy while here in the US they try to milk every penny out of their citizens. Had we had a proper transport system lie they do in China and Japan not to mention other countries around the world this would not have been so big of an issue for local consumers in the US. They should have bullet trains around the US which offer cheap transport options for all the people in the US where then using a car for transport is an option for the people because public transport should be cheap and not priced like it is a ride at an amusement park for tourists from abroad. Look at train prices in China,Japan,Taiwan,Thailand,Hong Kong and other countries. They have trains,bullet trains,Metros above ground and underground along with great bus options too. If you can't walk outside your house and get to a proper metro strop or train then your local government transportation and infrastructure system is Fuc*ed to say the least because they rather you go to the gas station and pay $60-120 to fill up each time, pay $50-120 for oil changes,$200-1000 for tire changes,$100-300 for car maintenance,$70-200 for insurance every month, $100-800 for car registration every year and the list goes on as the government profits from all of these things. The higher the fuel prices the more they collect from the people that drive. The more people out there driving the more police that they can hire to ticket them to collect money from them in fines too. It never ends...

While I get the point you're trying to make about rail transportation, I think you might need a geography lesson. Don't compare a country like Japan to the U.S. That's the equivalent to the state of California. By the way, Bullet trains aka Shinkansen are not used for "local" transport, they are used more for long distances. But yes, they have a superior train and subway system, especially in metro areas. They have a huge population and a much smaller footprint to live in, so it's even more of a no-brainer for them to have the public transportation system they have.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by TiMSport

While I get the point you're trying to make about rail transportation, I think you might need a geography lesson. Don't compare a country like Japan to the U.S. That's the equivalent to the state of California. By the way, Bullet trains aka Shinkansen are not used for "local" transport, they are used more for long distances. But yes, they have a superior train and subway system, especially in metro areas. They have a huge population and a much smaller footprint to live in, so it's even more of a no-brainer for them to have the public transportation system they have.

….and they have the infrastructure to support it.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by stylinexpat

As for oil if we have so much of it locally why isn't the government using it to support its local people and economy like other countries do. Saudi,Kuwait and the UAE along with Iraq and Libya offer cheap gas prices to their local people to help their local economy while here in the US they try to milk every penny out of their citizens. Had we had a proper transport system lie they do in China and Japan not to mention other countries around the world this would not have been so big of an issue for local consumers in the US. They should have bullet trains around the US which offer cheap transport options for all the people in the US where then using a car for transport is an option for the people because public transport should be cheap and not priced like it is a ride at an amusement park for tourists from abroad. Look at train prices in China,Japan,Taiwan,Thailand,Hong Kong and other countries. They have trains,bullet trains,Metros above ground and underground along with great bus options too. If you can't walk outside your house and get to a proper metro strop or train then your local government transportation and infrastructure system is Fuc*ed to say the least because they rather you go to the gas station and pay $60-120 to fill up each time, pay $50-120 for oil changes,$200-1000 for tire changes,$100-300 for car maintenance,$70-200 for insurance every month, $100-800 for car registration every year and the list goes on as the government profits from all of these things. The higher the fuel prices the more they collect from the people that drive. The more people out there driving the more police that they can hire to ticket them to collect money from them in fines too. It never ends...

As to oil, don't underestimate our capitalistic country. It is entirely up to the US oil companies to decide how much oil they wish to produce. Their bottom line is well, their bottom line - profit and making their share holders happy. Simple supply and demand - restrict supply and watch prices go up.

Yes, the US has a great abundance of untapped oil reserves, but you need to understand that our oil companies are in it for one thing and one thing only - MONEY. And at the moment, the oil companies are raking in record or near-record profits and laughing all the way to the bank. They sure as hell aren't going spend billion$ to drill new holes and f**k that up.

They have us by the short-hairs, folks, and don't forget it.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by TiMSport

While I get the point you're trying to make about rail transportation, I think you might need a geography lesson. Don't compare a country like Japan to the U.S. That's the equivalent to the state of California. By the way, Bullet trains aka Shinkansen are not used for "local" transport, they are used more for long distances. But yes, they have a superior train and subway system, especially in metro areas. They have a huge population and a much smaller footprint to live in, so it's even more of a no-brainer for them to have the public transportation system they have.

It goes beyond geography. The rail system in the US is a total $hit show. I've been on many trips on our beloved Amtrak. The fact you have to wait at the terminal till the last minute to know which gate to go to is totally moronic. Many times I feel the idiots in the control room are getting their jollies off of watching all of us passengers run from one end of the station to the other.

Next for the North East corridor, there is a well known choke point in NJ where all train traffic has to cross over a single bridge. Everyone knows this is a problem for years. Yet no one is doing anything about it. If that bridge goes, there goes all the train traffic up and down the Eastern coast as not only does Amtrak run through that choke point but also the CSX freight trains. The Acela can be so much faster but has to slow at many sections of track because the existing rails can't support the speed of the train or it has to be scheduled through the aforementioned choke point.

Then you have the moronic management of Amtrak. I was living the real life Trains, Planes, and Automobiles back in I think 2018 when a Noreaster blew through that killed all Amtrak service. A storm that was well forecasted in advance. First the train that I was supposed to catch was delayed coming from Boston because a tree fell across the rail. I guess Amtrak doesn't go along the tracks they run on to ensure things like trees don't become a problem. Then the train got held up in Philly because they had to switch locomotives from an electric to a diesel due to the high winds causing a risk with power failures. Another genius move where they didn't think to have a diesel locomotive on that train before sending it out from Boston? Then to add insult to injury, they kicked all of us off the train after waiting for at least 30 minutes stating that they were ceasing all operations for the day.

The stupidity didn't stop there. The next day service was still halted because they couldn't get the switching hardware for their tracks to work properly. People who were stranded (me included) couldn't get through to anyone at customer service because the lines were either busy or we were placed on hold for an eternity. People on Twitter were reporting being on hold for 45 minutes to ultimately having their call dropped and having to call back again.

[2000cs]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

As to oil, don't underestimate our capitalistic country. It is entirely up to the US oil companies to decide how much oil they wish to produce. Their bottom line is well, their bottom line - profit and making their share holders happy. Simple supply and demand - restrict supply and watch prices go up.

Yes, the US has a great abundance of untapped oil reserves, but you need to understand that our oil companies are in it for one thing and one thing only - MONEY. And at the moment, the oil companies are raking in record or near-record profits and laughing all the way to the bank. They sure as hell aren't going spend billion$ to drill new holes and f**k that up.

They have us by the short-hairs, folks, and don't forget it.

How does this explain the gasoline prices in California compared to the rest of the nation?

Perhaps consider drilling regulations, pipeline construction regulations (and siting/right-of-way cost), refinery regulations, taxes (extraction, pump) etc. Having reserves is no good if you can’t drill them, flare or pipe the gas, transport the oil, refine it and distribute it. Then add the clear intent to shut off fossil fuels which shortens the expected life of any well, and drilling only makes sense if the prices are very high (quick return) and the oil production is pretty certain.

[3.0L]

It is looking more apparent that the Administration is bending in the right direction and issuing more permits to drill:

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/13/10155...provals-are-up

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by shiftdnb

I really don't see why trying to get a country off a finite fuel source is a bad thing. Especially seeing what can happen when supply lines are stressed and global crisis' happen.

I don't think it's a bad thing either but it should take place over a bit of longer span. Battery materials come from abroad as do the special metals for the electric motors and numerous other things, we don't have the infrastructure ready to go electric power and the grid system has not had updating in years.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

I don't think it's a bad thing either but it should take place over a bit of longer span. Battery materials come from abroad as do the special metals for the electric motors and numerous other things, we don't have the infrastructure ready to go electric power and the grid system has not had updating in years.

Right.
I don't think most people appreciate how small of a percentage of GHG the US passenger vehicle fleet creates. It's about 2.5% and it would some of that will come back from generating electricity for cars. Not saying it isn't a big deal on a local level, but you aren't saving the planet driving an EV.

Honestly, the grid could handle a lot of EV's IF charging was done in the dead hours of the night.

[M-technik-3]

The giant two stroke diesel motors that travel back and forth to Asia produce more GHG than the cars in the US. We also charge more for diesel that is less refined than Gas, that one has had me baffled forever. Thinking that is automotive lobbyist's to make it cost more to have a diesel car.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Right.
I don't think most people appreciate how small of a percentage of GHG the US passenger vehicle fleet creates. It's about 2.5% and it would some of that will come back from generating electricity for cars. Not saying it isn't a big deal on a local level, but you aren't saving the planet driving an EV.

Honestly, the grid could handle a lot of EV's IF charging was done in the dead hours of the night.

The grid couldn't handle every American citizen charging an EV even in the dead of night. The grid couldn't even handle all of Los Angeles County charging one EV per county resident. We have more residents in Los Angeles than some countries have citizens; more in the state of California than all of Canada. I'm starting to circle back to that population control thing. J/K!

[shoei]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

The grid couldn't handle every American citizen charging an EV even in the dead of night. The grid couldn't even handle all of Los Angeles County charging one EV per county resident. We have more residents in Los Angeles than some countries have citizens.

We talking about power grids and ev's when the fuse panel can't even handle it if your PS5 is on and then your girl plugs in a hairdryer?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by shoei

We talking about power grids and ev's when the fuse panel can't even handle it if your PS5 is on and then your girl plugs in a hairdryer?

Or the System's Paver worker using a circular saw and an ancillary tool at the same time. People are living pipe dreams with this EV thing.

[shoei]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Or the System's Paver worker using a circular saw and an ancillary tool at the same time. People are living pipe dreams with this EV thing.

I did see an electric bike yesterday. It was surreal cuz flick of the wrist and dude was GONE. But it was like a silent fart lol

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by shoei

I did see an electric bike yesterday. It was surreal cuz flick of the wrist and dude was GONE. But it was like a silent fart lol

EV motorcycle? I have been impressed with the MotoE bikes in MotoGP, but I still wouldn't want one. WAIT! I take that back. I would take one of those for track use.

[shiftdnb]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

I don't think it's a bad thing either but it should take place over a bit of longer span. Battery materials come from abroad as do the special metals for the electric motors and numerous other things, we don't have the infrastructure ready to go electric power and the grid system has not had updating in years.

You realize his statements and this energy and fuel crisis isn't just about gasoline? Oil is used from everything from gasoline to plastics and chemical manufacturing to powering cities and heating homes. You say we don't have the infrastructure ready. Every single thing this administration has proposed is long term and not even saying we should do this within a year. , it's almost like he's saying let's get the infrastructure in place so we CAN do it.