Don't count on oil prices resuming their rise after the election. Most of the people who have a lot of oil, and therefore might be in a position to control its price, absolutely hate George Bush and the other Republicans.

And up is down. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Russia, Canada, Mexico, US -- how much of the world's petroleum reserves are in those countries? Care to hazard a guess?

If you think Putin hates Bush, you think up is down.

probably even the Norwegians.

Why would they hate him? High oil prices are making them filthy rich. They love Bush blowing up the Middle East.

but there is just too much oil in the world.

And up is down again.

The U.S. and Canada have 4.5 trillion barrels in tar sands and oil shale

You been listening to those kooks from the Manhattan Institute?

Qr:

Correction:

Altair batteries retained 85% capacity after 16 000 six minutes deep charges/discharges:

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/061026/20061026005107.html?.v=1

It is probably the only battery on the market which could be used immediately in mass-produced PHEV. Unfortunately, even with full discharge capability its energy density is not great.

Sean:

I was talking about conversion maid by AutoSpeed. Their reports are subscription only and I can not provide you with direct link.

>>What I would love to see is a car like the SMART For-Two (www.smartusa.com) in a PZEV version.

The US market version scheduled to be available in mid-to-late 2007 is rated to get 60 MPG since it uses an ICE only configuration.

Pizmo, there is a plug-in version - all electric actually check www.hybridtechnologies.com at $32 0000. You can pick the colour!

1999, PNGV program brings U.S. automakers a hybrid. Honda and Toyota parallel develop. After 2000, U.S. car makers drop the hybrid and make SUVs and trucks. Honda and Toyota continue with the hybrid. 2005 U.S. car makers are giving huge discounts to take their trucks and SUVs. I am beginning to see a pattern here...

Pizmo
"The claim was about gasoline prices"

Sorry to drag this out, but I’m still not seeing it. According to your source (1st day of each month), the lowest price of GASOLINE for the year was still Jan 1, 04 (($1.552), ;and the highest price for the year was still Nov. 1, 04 ($2.076), which coincides very closely to the price of oil! Even using all days provided on the gasoline table, the cheapest day of the year was still Jan 1, 04 and the 3nd most expensive day of the year was Nov. 1, 04.

Not very good strategy if you believe the government is manipulating gasoline prices vs. they rise and fall based on the price of crude!

RuBiz,

Look at your post and where your name is in relation to your words. Pizmo did not make the comment you are quoting; Terry did.

I want/need a small truck Hybrid. I'd love to see the regular house power plug in avail. on any Hybrid that is produced ie.(120 V).

Any Hybrid should also have a charging system that could drink (240 V) or even (480 v)with a flip of a switch.

It looks to me like all the auto companies are draging their feet with the production of the electric car. Where has all the entrepenurial spirit gone in this country?

Sorry to drag this out, but I’m still not seeing it.

I can't help you there. It's plain as day.

According to your source (1st day of each month)

My source gives weekly, not monthly, data.

the lowest price of GASOLINE for the year was still Jan 1, 04 (($1.552), ;and the highest price for the year was still Nov. 1, 04 ($2.076)

The highest price in 2004 was 2.104 on May 25. It was 2.092 on June 1 and 2.077 on October 19. Like you said, it was 2.076 on Election Day (11/2).

The original claim was:
"If the Republicans and the president have the power to lower gasoline prices right before an election why the heck did they raise prices around the 2004 election?"

to which I countered:
"Prices were essentially flat from May through November of 2004, with a slight decline in prices from mid-October through Election Day. Try again."

What I said is correct, as evidenced by the data.

The average price between 5/25 and Election Day was 1.972 - about a dime less than the price on Election Day. Nowadays, prices can vary by almost 25 cents on a daily basis sometimes, so a dime difference really isn't much. Either way, prices had been higher earlier in the year and didn't slack much in the intervening period (bottoming at 1.889 on 9/14).

Here it is graphically:
http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2004gaspriceslk9.png

Not very good strategy if you believe the government is manipulating gasoline prices vs. they rise and fall based on the price of crude!

Anyone who thinks there is no correlation by the unprecedented drop in prices recently and the Republicans dicey fortunes is deluding themselves.

Well, now I'm mad at the republicans. If they can force a calm hurricane season to keep prices suppressed they should have stopped Katrina from happening.

I too suspect US auto companies are irresponsibly dragging their feet on Plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids will likely have the most safety features, no matter what fuel drives the IC engine, no matter the weight and class of vehicle. The Plug-in hybrid can be expected to offer many more years of use and drive tens of thousands more miles before replacement. Translation: major profit loss for car makers, dealers, financial instutions, insurance companies, maintenance and repair outfits, virtually all auto-related interests.

In may be that plug-in hybrids are be downplayed because their batteries are recharged off an electric utility grid or even rooftop photovoltiac panels. This spells major profit loss for another powerful interest, private energy companies, who would rather maintain profit than offer homeowners, (ie, consumers, wage slaves, canon fodder), an invaluable energy supply in the event of grid failure or other emergency.

Plug-in hybrids also have a positive effect upon land-use and development. Since their battery-only mileage is still limited (10-30 miles), this encourages short trips, to patronize local economies, which in time build more destinations accessable without having to drive. Walking and bicycling become more desirable travel options, and mass transit more practical to arrange.

Well, now I'm mad at the republicans. If they can force a calm hurricane season to keep prices suppressed they should have stopped Katrina from happening.

Gee, I didn't know that the relatively calm hurricane season was the sole driver of the unprecedented price drop-off. You should write an academic article on that, detailing the relationship in full.

Here are 2004 and 2006 compared, using an index (Week 1 being 100).

http://img325.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2004v2006gaspricesindexow6.png

Pizmo,

You’ve got a lot of anger in there. On this site, wouldn’t you rather comment on Toyota’s possible new line of hybrids? I, personally would like to see a PHEV within 2 years. I think the batteries will be more than ready by then.

What do you think about a PHEV Prius?

Don't worry about him George, he just hates "The man". Down with "The man". And BTW Pizmo, I talked to your dad and he doesn't hate you.

I will publish my article as soon as I have a chance to review your article detailing how throughout history poor political standing for republicans results in sudden decreases in gasoline prices.

In other words, "You first".

Pizmo,
Perhaps Ivan, and a few other storms may explain something.
_4WD/AWD, with an electric motor for the rear wheels and gas+electric in the front.

Let's hope this actually happens! My 2004 Prius is the most totally satisfying car I've ever owned. A station wagon with the Prius drivetrain would be even better. A grid rechargable, 4WD, Prius Wagon would be even better than . . . well, you get the idea.

Pizmo, You’ve got a lot of anger in there.

The topical debate didn't work for you, so you're moving on to an ugly ad hominem argument?

On this site, wouldn’t you rather comment on Toyota’s possible new line of hybrids?

You weren't commenting on it, George. Please practice what you preach.

-----

Don't worry about him George, he just hates "The man". Down with "The man". And BTW Pizmo, I talked to your dad and he doesn't hate you.

How nice. Little children commenting.

-----

I will publish my article as soon as I have a chance to review your article detailing how throughout history poor political standing for republicans results in sudden decreases in gasoline prices. In other words, "You first".

Oh, so you actually can't back up your position. Not surprised there.

Not that I can't back up my position but rather I don't want to spend the time to research every major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and the related effects on gas prices. Are you contending that the hurricanes which struck refineries and drilling platforms has nothing to do with gas prices?

I hope their new cars look cool.

Not that I can't back up my position

You flubbed the simple task of knowing historical gas prices (which is simple) so I highly doubt you can manage something as complex as doing a multivariate regression analysis.

And I thank you kindly for doing the necessary research which validated my point that there is no relation to gas prices and elections.

And I thank you kindly for doing the necessary research which validated my point that there is no relation to gas prices and elections.

Why speak if what you say is nonsense? I showed the price patterns in 2004 and 2006. I didn't bring any other data to the table. Fact is you made a claim about gas prices in 2004 which were completely invalidated by facts. Why someone so thoroughly wrong on a simple issue like that thinks he can understand or support a much more complex hypothesis is beyond me.

Takes all kinds I guess.

Invalidated by the facts of the gas price going up from January of 2004?

Gas is cheap to some, expensive to others.