National Gas Situation

The Energy Information Administration publishes data on the nation's supply of gasoline ( and other petroleum products ) and gas price. Keeping an eye on this data can help us gauge the state of the nation's ( and the world's ) gas tank and warn as about impending price rises.

Here is the total supply of gasoline in the nation:


Here is the history of the price of gasoline going back a couple of decades:


You can see the big jump in price since about the year 2000. Relative to about a decade ago, gas now costs three times as much. So on the 10 year time scale we are not doing very well on affordability. The chart of total national gasoline supply shows that over the same decade, levels have held roughly constant. Amounts of stored gasoline seesaw up and down, but if anything have gone slightly up.

The rear view mirror shows us a picture of stable availability but reduced affordability. I wonder if this trend will continue over the next decade? If it does we will soon enter an era in which rich men have all the gas they want and the rest of us just have to do without because we can't afford to buy it.

Have you ever wanted to see where gas comes from? Tomorrow's post will include a photo-montage of Ghawar, a giant oil field that produces 6.25% of the world's petroleum.

How to Coast Like a Hypermiler

How to coast to save on gas.



Want to save on gas? Make sure to read tommorow's post. As one reader commented "I love your blog; it's like fluff up your popcorn and save on gas!!!"

Five Hypermiling Techniques Demonstrated

Here are some basic hypermiling techniques you can use.



If you want to save on gas using the car you already own, make sure to read tomorrow's post as it has more in depth information on one aspect of hypermiling: coasting.

Fuel Economy Races

Welcome to the races of the future, where it is not speed that counts but efficiency!



In this video they talk about using hypermiling techniques to save on gas. Tomorrow's post has information on 5 hypermiling techniques that will boost your fuel economy. Don't worry, we are not talking about rolling through stop lights drafting behind a semi crazy, but rather techniques that have been endorsed by the AAA as safe and effective. One guy claims that using these 5 easy techniques he can get 46 mpg out of a car that is rated by the EPA at 32 mpg. If you want to find out how to save on gas like that make sure to come back tomorrow.

Europe Saving on Gas

Economy cars in Europe have long been designed to save on gas as well as being cheaper to buy. When they say economy, they also mean fuel economy!



If you like NASCAR and Formula 1 make sure to come back for tomorrow's post as it will be full of information about economy racing, a new twist on car racing. Imagine a race where the competitors get up to 80 mpg, without a driving a Prius.

Chevy Cruze : GM Plays Catchup

The new 2011 Chevy Eco Cruze is supposed to get 40 miles per gallon, or 2.5 gallons per hundred miles. That is very good for GM, but compared to Europe and Asia, which have had vehicles with this fuel economy for years, it is still playing catch up.



You want to read tomorrow's blog post if you're planning a trip to Europe. In europe you can rent economy cars that really save on gas.

Trucking Companies Monitor Idling to Save on Gas

Idling and speeding are two gas burning activities which generate little benefit. Trucking companies have spent decades looking to reduce them. You can save on gas and money too by adopting the habits of the trucking companies ... reduce idling and avoid speeding. You won't miss them and your wallet will thank you!



If you're interested in regular cars that are just a bit more efficient make sure to read tomorrow's post. I will be putting up some information on the Chevy Cruise Eco an the Chevy Cruise RS.

Idling Burns Gas and Money

Idling burns gas and gets you nowhere. Here are some tips you can use to reduce idling time and save on gas ... and money!

Personal Transport of the Future

Lugging tons of metal around with us in the form of a car is an incredibly inefficient way of getting around. Future technologies allow the development of very small, lightweight fuel efficient vehicles. Let us not forget that the point of a car is personal mobility. If we can get mobile without all those tons of metal, so much the better!

Infinitely Variable Geared Transmission

The D Drive is a geared continuously variable transmission. Most continuously variable transmissions use a belt running across two cones. However, a geared transmission can transfer greater torques or loads before slipping. Continuously variable transmissions are important for fuel efficiency because they allow the engine to always operate at its most efficient speed. Then the transmission changes the gearing ratio as needed to run the output shaft ( the wheels ) at the desired speed. If the D Drive can be developed to the point of automobile usage, it could mean a big step forward in vehicle fuel economy. Let us hope the D Drive helps us save on gas in the near future!



If you like emerging high tech solutions make sure to read tomorrow's post. I will be writing about Honda's U3-X, an amazing electric unicycle that makes the Segway look like Granny's walker.