With gas prices as they are, getting a fill-up can feel a little bit like an adventure -- as in 'just where am I going to locate the money to fill up my Suburban this week?' I don't personally remember it, but I've heard about the long lines that existed in the 1970s, when getting gas seemed nigh impossible. But, imagine if you lived in Bali and got a container of gas on a street-side shop like the one you see pictured above? Some questions could arise. Like, for instance, what octane? Eh, who cares? It's petrol, right? Take what you can get and run with it. You could always walk.

[Source: Bikes in the Fast Lane]

We hear about rising fuel prices all the time and with the Northern Hemisphere Summer on its way, they're sure to rise further. But how much of an impact is fuel having on your hip pocket?

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What portion of your weekly income do you spend on fuel?
	I don't use petroleum fuels at all - viva la revolución!
	Someone else pays so I don't really care.
	My butler fills up the car but frankly it's the av-gas that kills you.
	Fuel comes way down the list after computer games so I guess I'm doing ok.
	I've noticed the price rise but it isn't hurting too bad yet.
	That shiny new hybrid on the lot is starting to look really good.
	If fuel goes up any more it will be time to re-mortgage the house.
	I can't afford fuel these days so I walk everywhere now.
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Apparently there are only two 40+ mpg non-hybrid vehicles available on the U.S. market, but do you own one? We know you read AutoblogGreen, but just how fuel efficient is your vehicle?

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Just how fuel efficient is your vehicle?
	10 mpg (23 L / 100 km)
	15 mpg (15.7 L / 100 km)
	20 mpg (11.8 L / 100 km)
	25 mpg (9.4 L / 100 km)
	30 mpg (7.8 L / 100 km)
	35 mpg (6.7 L / 100 km)
	40 mpg (5.9 L / 100 km)
	45 mpg (5.2 L / 100 km)
	50 mpg (4.7 L / 100 km)
	> 50 mpg
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How much is filling up going to cost you this Summer?

Gas prices are once again steadily climbing with Spring approaching, the possibility now looming for prices to equal last year's highs of $3 a gallon. Prices in Detroit are up 38 cents in just the last month and are now as high as they were in early December. While prices may fail to reach the $3 level, the fact that Summer prices have for two years running now indicates that the market can sustain such prices during the warmer months.

Analysis: It almost feels like people have come to terms with high gas prices in the same way that most people now believe that climate change is well under way. Why would the oil companies do anything but push the prices to $3 a gallon over Summer if they know everyone will keep filling up?

Related:

• USDA: Biofuel use in U.S. will see spike in next few years, then drop
• London's congestion charge expansion will cleanly fuel Honda's sales
• In Europe, fuel efficiency is the primary concern

[Source: Detroit News via Wired]

Over the last few years fuel prices, and by extension vehicle economy, have come into focus as a major factor for a lot of household's budgets. Think about for a moment what percentage of your weekly budget disappears into the tank. Now, would you like some of that back? Its easier than you think if you follow some simple rules that don't include driving everywhere at 30 mph.

For a few extra dollars in your pocket at the end of the week, make sure you follow these helpful tips published by The Daily Herald:

1. Keep the car in as high a gear as possible and get to the higher gears as quickly as possible.
2. Have a light touch on the throttle. For most applications 25 per cent throttle is quite adequate. Hard acceleration is the enemy of fuel economy.
3. Look ahead and read traffic conditions. Plan to maintain momentum, reducing the need for excessive braking and subsequent acceleration.
4. Monitor tyre pressures. Low pressures increase rolling resistance of tyres and use more fuel. You should keep to the manufacturer's specifications.
5. Stick to the speed limit. High speeds use more fuel.
6. Reduce mass and drag. You would be surprised how much unnecessary equipment accumulates in the boot of a car. Roof pods, racks and extended wing mirrors all minimise the efficiency of a car through the air. More weight and drag equals less economy. Remove the bits when they are not being used.
7. Avoid idling as you are wasting fuel going nowhere.
8. Keep your vehicle in shape; clean air filters keep impurities in the air from damaging the engine and can improve fuel economy.
9. Don't turn on the air conditioner as a first response to heat; even the most efficient air conditioners expend a fair bit of fuel.
10. When buying a car, consider its fuel economy.

And 11. Ride a bike!

Analysis: Ditching the roof racks and turfing out the bullion hidden in your boot is a no-brainer, but remembering that low gears, air conditioning and hard acceleration are fuel economy killers is the key in the long run. If we all held off the lead shoe for a week maybe we could put a dent in those Exxon profits?

Related:

• Nitrogen vending inflation station set to save you fuel
• "I pledge allegiance to getting better mileage"
• Critics say automakers can be greener with better computer programming

[Source: Daily Telegraph]

All the major car manufacturers are currently placing their bets as to what powertrain technology they think will win out in the near-future. Where would you put your money?

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Which powertrain technology will your 2010 model year passenger vehicle run on?
	Petrol engine - such as most passenger vehicles today
	Clean diesel - such as the Audi A8 TDI
	Compressed natural gas - such as the Volkswagen Touran EcoFuel
	Hydrogen fuel-cell - such as the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell
	Petrol/Hydrogen internal combustion engine - such as the BMW Hydrogen 7
	Petrol-electric hybrid - such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid
	Flex-fuel electric hybrid - such as the E85-capable Ford Escape Hybrid
	Diesel-electric hybrid - such as the prototype Citroen C4
	Plug-in electric with petrol range extending - such as the E-Flex Chevy Volt
	Plug-in electric with fuel cells - such as the HySeries Drive Ford Edge
	Petrol-diesel-fuel-cell-hydrogen-solar-hybrid - such as the Jetsons' flying saucer
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It seems that Australian petrol prices are even more volatile than I imagined. Just a week after predictions that petrol prices were likely to remain high during 2007, prices are now tipped to fall by as much as 10 cents a litre (US$0.30 per gallon) after world oil prices dropped to a 19-month low. Oil prices are now a third less, at US$54 a barrel, than their record last July of US$78.40 leading to lower fuel prices for vehicles and jet planes.

Some airlines are expected to hold onto their fuel surcharges despite the oil price falls to recoup lost profits from the price of fuel rising from 14 percent to 30 percent of costs in two years. Expect consumer groups to have some words over that.

As we covered recently, hybrid sales may well fall this year if fuel prices continue to fall. The viability of biofuels producers will also be strained by oil prices coming down. Ironically, the organisations least likely to feel the pinch are the oil companies themselves whose financial break-even point is still far below current prices.

Related:

• High oil prices not going away in 2007
• Nextant study concludes biodiesel is a transitionary technology
• Hybrid sales chained to fuel prices?

[Source: Drive.com.au]