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From the Oil Drum's Jeff Vail
This shows that long dated oil futures have increased even more than spot prices, suggesting that markets are moviing towards the belief that prices will not go down for a loooong time, even from today's levels. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
I saw recently that gas went from 100c to 140c in France in 6 years, whereas diesel went from 70c to 130c in the same period - a good chunk of that is increased taxes on diesel.
The French buy 75% diesel cars these days. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Any idea? Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?
The other is that the earlier versions of diesel cars were much less pleasant to drive and use, reminding people of trucks, and created a lasting bad image for European diesels.
But the breakthrough of direct-injection, high pressure diesel engine has changed everything in terms of both the quality of the driving, and the fuel efficiency - it was really a major step forward in all respects. It also means that diesel can be used for big, powerful V6 engines like the Americans seem to like...
European diesels now use less fuel than a hybrid, for much better performance (you can google comparative road texts for the Lexus Hybrid SUV vs the Mercedes Diesel M Series, for instance, or more recently, the Toyota Prius vs the BMW 5 Series).
Of course, this has meant that we now have bigger, more powerful cars in Europe, given that they spend as much diesel as much smaller cars used to only ten years ago. For instance, my Renault Espace diesel (a largish people carrier) does 25mpg (9-10l/100km) with mostly 90mph highway driving with 6 people on board. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Love the espace though. "C'est un scandale !"
How come you're driving at 90 mph with 6 people aboard? You young folks! paul spencer
For reference, the freaking big multi-ton Panzerkampfwagen I used to drive when I was in France gave me a neat 34 to 36 mpg on highways at those speeds. Same kind of engine - V6 diesel HDI - and better aerodynamics than the Espace.
Urban mileage was ugly though : 16 mpg or even worse (I don't dare remember, frankly). That where's an hybrid would help. But then, we Parisian scoundrels have this cool thing called public transportations like Le Metro and Le Tram, running on nuclear power. We also have feet. Very good for the waistline. Save for the rare run to the big box store or a drive to friends and family exiled in the suburbs, the Panzerkampfwagen always slept at the garage when I was in the city. Infinite mpg! Can't do better. Facts, selfish little bastards. They don't even care about your feelings.
Example : the Chevy Volt which should be on the market late 2010 - early 2011. ~40 miles of full electric entirely on battery - with, very important, full speed/acceleration performances not a degraded mode like on classical hybrids with an electric-only mode - then very good mileage in gasoline mode beyond 40 miles of driving in a row. Facts, selfish little bastards. They don't even care about your feelings.
It's a good example of the economically undesirable knock-on effects misdirected taxation can have (instead of gas you should be taxing vehicles).
Because diesel is more expensive and less popular, it's also less available -- in Europe you get it at every station.
