Gas Prices

On the front page of this mornings Star Advertiser it had an article about gas prices in Hawai'i.  We lead the nation in the highest prices.  The average price of gasoline crossed the $4.50 mark on Friday and was $4.515 for a gallon of regular in the state.  This is an interesting point to help put gas prices in the US into perspective.  Back in Germany, at its height, when you converted liters to gallons and euros to dollars at one point we paid $9 per gallon of regular, twice the price here in Hawai'i.  In Europe we were never able to get gas as cheap as it is here in the US.  The high gas prices has obvious negative effects in the short run, but I think there is also a long run positive effect.  It will discourage people from commuting, with one person in the vehicle, in those ridiculous gas guzzling hummers, etc.  Our van uses a lot of gas also (although its mileage has improved since we changed out the filter, plugs and ignition coils) but we had no choice but to get it because of the money (a single vehicle to move up to five people plus at a time).  I would love to get a small energy efficient vehicle to commute to work in.  Hopefully, gas efficient, hybrid or electric cars will become more affordable.