Would you believe $2.14/gal?

[Alex Franke]

It's so nice to see prices looking more "normal" again...

when people mention government conspiracy that implies a certain level of collusion and subterfuge. I always shake my head because in my experience government is not smart enough to run a successful conspiracy.

I'm afraid you've been had. There is a long-time government conspiracy in place to lead the public to believe that the government is not smart enough to run a successful conspiracy.

[LCHIEN]

It's so nice to see prices looking more "normal" again...



I'm afraid you've been had. There is a long-time government conspiracy in place to lead the public to believe that the government is not smart enough to run a successful conspiracy.

THAT explains a lot of things.

[Rand]

I blame the ridiculous price swings on the hedge funds speculating on commodities.

[Coachman]

Not to throw a rock in the puddle, but I don't think these lower prices are going to be around very long! As soon as the global economy picks up again oil is going to spike b/c competition between the economies of the rebounding nations is going to put pressure on supplies.

[doncook7]

bingo rand! That's exactly what it is. No conspiracies...just greed on wall street.

[gsmittle]

THAT explains a lot of things.

Not much of a conspiracy nut either, but that DOES explain a lot....

The last three or four general elections I've noticed the price of gas dropped about a month before the election and went back up shortly after. I could be full of it (just ask LOML) but it does make one wonder...

g.

[cwithboat]

I think you got it just about right, Loring.

The problem with electricity is that it doesn't provide the kind of portable energy you refer to. Driving 200 miles on batteries, then stopping for eight hours to "re-fuel" doesn't cut it for me.

JR

Wrong. Drive 200 miles, pull into "battery station", your battery pack is automatically removed from your car and a charged one place in it, back on the road in minutes.
http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretran...6-09/ff_agassi

[JR]

http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretran...6-09/ff_agassi

Wow, what an outstanding article!

I have been thinking for some time about the battery swapping station. My visison is clearly limited compared to Agassi's. The complete network concept - power, billing, materials, charging stations, replacement centers, etc. - is brilliant.

It would seem that there need to be standards for batteries and network software: battery physical dimensions, cabling, interface to the network, billing . That could move the idea beyond regions and individual suppliers, into a fully mobile society served by many competitors.

JR

[Pappy]

$2.11 in South Austin this morning. Should cost about $7.50 to gas up the bike. That will run me to work and back 3 days!

[shoottx]

It would seem that there need to be standards for batteries and network software: battery physical dimensions, cabling, interface to the network, billing . That could move the idea beyond regions and individual suppliers, into a fully mobile society served by many competitors.

JR

Well just start with getting standardized batteries in a computer, and that should tell you the success of doing it for cars!

[jziegler]

Wrong. Drive 200 miles, pull into "battery station", your battery pack is automatically removed from your car and a charged one place in it, back on the road in minutes.
http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretran...6-09/ff_agassi

And it looks like they are really working hard to make this work. Car makers already participating, three countries are signed up to work with the company and provide incentives, very exciting stuff. I certainly wish him luck, and look forward to eventually buying one of the cars.

Jim