As far as the oil prices go, the market is similar to the diamond market and is manipulated all to hell. When demand goes down, they cut production to keep the prices high. Who wouldn’t want to make the same money for less work. We’re getting fleeced by OPEC and the oil companies.

Excellent battery technology is here and solar power is reliable. People need to take a stake in their own futures instead of waiting for the auto manufacturers to grab the ball and run. Why should we have to pay to re-tool the auto companies so they can sell us efficient cars? I own a business and if I want to compete in the market, I have to sink my profits back into my company to make myself competitive. Where are the profits from the auto companies???

We’re getting ripped off every time we turn a corner. Enough!!

1. Keep your current vehicle until it either dies or an alternative energy vehicle (plug-ins make the most sense) is available in your price range. In addition to sending the message to the auto industry that you are serious that you want an alternative to oil, this will also save you car payments. You will then have more money available to buy the alternatives while they are still expensive, thus rewarding the manufacturers who do the right thing and build them.
2. Tell the auto makers “No Plug – No Deal” and show them the car you’re driving. If you’re not sure how to contact the auto makers, http://www.pluginamerica.org/take-action-now/contact-automakers.html has contact info for all of them. You can also stop by your local auto dealer. I assure you, they have plenty of time to talk since no one is buying cars. Ask to speak to the general manager or the sales manager, don’t waste too much time on the sales people.
3. If you worry about the POS you end up driving, buy stickers saying “No Plug – No Deal”. You can make them yourself or buy them at: http://www.cafepress.com/pluginamerica
4. Tell your friends how they are being played and suggest that they, too do the same thing.
5. Think of other creative ways to get a plug-in or other real alternatively fueled (not higher mpg) vehicles.

Why are we not telling GM to produce cars like the Cruze now or maybe those models that appeal to high-end buyers to be more then just 10mpg show-off vehicles.

The responsibiliby to handle this situation should be with our elected representatives. And that means the solution to volatile energy prices are ‘us’, the people. We can choose to elect only folks who will stabilize energy markets. We can agree to tax gasoline reasonably so that it is worth while for companies to invest in advanced cars and other fuel saving measures. We can choose to purchase a 4 cylinder car, when we only need a daily commuter.

They let the pot boil for awhile, let people get good and mad. Industries start to respond with breakthroughs and solutions (like hybrids, On Demand Hydrogen Generators, Electric conversion kits, etc.). The market gears up to do battle…

Then the SOB’s drop the prices, backing them down to under the dollar mark (whether it’s $2.00, $3.00, $4.00 or more it’s been the SAME pattern) usually down to .70 or .75 mark. Voila! People are happy once again to be ONLY paying $2.75 or $3.75 instead of the “outrageous” prices.

Conditioning finished. Oil Execs and OPEC sit back and take a drink as they laugh at the consumer and how easy we are manipulated.

Oh yes. One other thing. They seem to always time it so that the new industries that are popping up to deal with their nonsense, are just on the verge (or in the process) of breaking through into mainstream, then they pull the carpet out attempting to cause those industries to fold up or retreat back.

Hopefully, people will not forget this time and remain suspicious. There is already talk at OPEC about how critical it is to cut back on supply, prices have gone too low.

I think we will have to wait until after the elections in the US to see what happens, but if the cycle continues- you’ll see gas prices going back up again in a short while. In the meantime, look into hybrid water technology as an inexpensive way to deal with it and be in a position to save as they start going back up again.

Bob
Transitional Technologies, LLC

I will agree up to a point; such progress is better than BAU or gashog hybrids, but we certainly need much greater fuel economy, as mentioned by B. Nicholson, and we need to resist temporary returns to cheap oil as signalling “everything is allright afterall”, as Jonn V and mike grant noted.

I understand that one or two SUV hybrid choices is wise, but several of them? With only a few sedans and no compacts?

If Toyota had put the technology of the Prius into the Seqoiua, it would never have sold hundreds of thousands-and the environmental offset would not have been achieved. That’s the point, isn’t it?

I don’t know…I thought two large SUVs from the same company, with the Hybrid Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade, Highlander, Escape already here to just be ridiculous.

As an auto analyst says in that piece, “Unfortunately, in America, you’ll also sign your political death warrant [advocating higher gas taxes or price floors],” he says. “Any attempt to raise fuel taxes is viewed as something between treason and terrorism. It boggles my mind that politicians actively push for higher and higher CAFE standards for automakers, while at the same time (and sometimes in the same speech!) advocating measures to bring down fuel prices.”