Gas Prices Will Continue to Rise
According to the Energy Information Administration (Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government), gas prices are predicted to keep o...
| Table 4c. U.S. Regional Motor Gasoline Prices and Inventories | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Prices (cents per gallon) | |||||
| Refiner Wholesale Price | 167 | 197 | 219 | 251 | 240 |
| Gasoline Regular Grade Retail Prices Excluding Taxes | |||||
| PADD 1 (East Coast) | 179 | 208 | 227 | 262 | 250 |
| PADD 2 (Midwest) | 177 | 206 | 232 | 263 | 251 |
| PADD 3 (Gulf Coast) | 177 | 206 | 226 | 259 | 247 |
| PADD 4 (Rockt Mountain) | 181 | 210 | 234 | 265 | 254 |
| PADD 5 (West Coast) | 193 | 223 | 242 | 278 | 267 |
| U.S. Average | 180 | 210 | 231 | 265 | 253 |
| Gasoline Regular Grade Retail Prices Including Taxes | |||||
| PADD 1 | 227 | 258 | 277 | 314 | 302 |
| PADD 2 | 222 | 252 | 280 | 310 | 298 |
| PADD 3 | 219 | 248 | 268 | 303 | 291 |
| PADD 4 | 226 | 256 | 281 | 311 | 301 |
| PADD 5 | 244 | 276 | 301 | 332 | 321 |
| U.S. Average | 227 | 258 | 281 | 314 | 303 |
| Gasoline All Grades U.S. Average Retail Price Including Taxes | 231 | 262 | 285 | 319 | 307 |
Crude Oil Predictions
Despite the rising cost in retail prices, the EIA is also predicting a lower cost per barrel: WTI crude oil prices averaged $66.02 per barrel in 2006 and $72.30 per barrel in 2007. WTI prices are projected to average about $87 and $82 per barrel, respectively, in 2008 and 2009.
The EIA is also predicting a rise in motor gasoline consumption (0.8 percent in 2008 and 1.0 percent in 2009) as the driving-age population grows and the ethanol share of the gasoline pool increases.
Renewable Fuel Predictions for 2008 and 2009
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandates that transportation fuels sold in the United States must contain at least 9.0 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2008 and 11.1 billion gallons in 2009. The 2008 renewable fuels mandate is projected to be exceeded, with domestic ethanol production increasing from a projected total of 6.5 billion gallons in 2007 to about 8.5 billion gallons in 2008. Ethanol imports and biodiesel should add about 0.5 and 1.2 billion gallons, respectively, to the 2008 renewable fuel volumes. Although domestic ethanol production capacity is expected to increase from the current level of 7.4 billion gallons per year to about 13 billion gallons per year in 2009, ethanol transportation and distribution infrastructure constraints and State gasoline product quality regulations, which inhibit ethanol blending, are expected to slow market penetration and thus restrain production growth.
What this Means for Hybrid Cars
The relationship between hybrid car sales and gas prices is as obvious as it is true. So, as gas prices continue to rise, so will hybrid car sales. I expect more studies to start coming out letting people know they can save money (in the long term) by buying a hybrid car.
