How high do you think gas prices will go?

[manicamarketing]

Hi everyone.  I am curious as to what price does everyone think gas will rise to.  All answers are welcome!

[dwickizer]

  Here in the small community that I live in we are already seeing gas prices over $3.50 per gallon, sad but it just makes me glad that I don't have a vehicle anymore since mine was stolen a few years ago, yes; the way the economy is going I also believe that the gasoline prices will keep rising, just like the price of a pack of cigarettes!

[loulizlee]

I think gas prices will keep rising as long as the greedy people at the top use every excuse to make sure it does.  The conditions in the Middle East are not the main reason for the price of gas. 

[freepcmoney]

They will keep rising here until the people finally revolt and Obummer allows offshore drilling, and we use clean coal, and the shale, and the natural gas, and read the book--Alcohol can be gas. Look up T Boone Pickens on google and see what he says about natural gas. WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF IT. Cars can run on water, but the government stops all of those types of things, because ALL governments are controlled by the GIANT energy companies of the world.  NOTHING PERSONAL, CHARLIE, JUST ABOUT A BUCK.

[sarabtrayior]

They will go as high as we are willing to pay. I've cut down my driving and the gas prices are not going down...

[jmaglione]

We need to realize that as long as we are using, the more they are going to charge.  We need to stay home a little more and maybe cancel the summer vacation.  With hydrid and electric alternatives coming to market every year, we will have more to choose from.  The price of alternative fuel vehicles will gradually decline.  I plan to buy an all electric verhicle in the near future.

 

[legend83]

By the end of summer I think gas will be almost $6. Right now its almost $4 and its barely spring. But a lot of vacation areas will feel the punch of high gas. A lot of people will be stuck in their home state.

[southernhorizons]

It will definitely be over $5.00 by summer. Supply and demand has nothing to do with it, in fact the less people drive the higher the price will go go, since they just raise the prices to get the same profits from less gallons sold.
Electric cars may seem attractive, but I wonder if you really save anything, since you have to buy batteries frequently, and also you are limited to how far you can drive and where, since they have to be recharged all the time. I think hydrogen fuel cells and other technologies would be more practical. What they need to do is invent something to convert existing cars, since most people can't afford to go out and buy a new vehicle.

[monnee]

6 by the end of the year.  But gas prices can go as high as the    oil companies and opec want them to be.

[lucky382001]

By the end of summer I think gas will be almost $6. Right now its almost $4 and its barely spring. But a lot of vacation areas will feel the punch of high gas. A lot of people will be stuck in their home state.

A lot of people are stuck at home. I've been hearing from more and more people that are giving up on driving altogether...it's too expensive.

[Falconer02]

Hate to break it to you guys, but it's never going to go down. It may zig zag a few cents here and there, but if we don't adopt to another energy source very soon, we're going to be screwed big time in both energy and food consumption.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil

Scary scary stuff.

[Linda67]

And now there is a move afoot to tax the hybrids and all electric cars so they will still pay their fair share to keep the roads in good shape.  As someone one said "There ain't no free lunch".  They are gonna get you one way or the other.   

[Oryon20]

I think it will easily surpass $5.00 a gallon during the summer in most parts of the country.  The truth is, while people will complain and threaten to postpone trips, weekend activities, etc, most will forge ahead with their plans. 

And for the people who bought big trucks and SUVs in the past three years, I don't want to hear any of them complaining.  Gas hit over $4.00 back in 2008.  That should have been enough warning that the trend was going to be higher prices going forward and gone were the days of sub-$2.00 gas.  If you still went ahead with buying a gas guzzler, you have no one to blame but yourself when it costs $100 to fill your tank each week.

Electric cars may seem attractive, but I wonder if you really save anything, since you have to buy batteries frequently, and also you are limited to how far you can drive and where, since they have to be recharged all the time. I think hydrogen fuel cells and other technologies would be more practical.

You shouldn't have to replace batteries in electric cars often.  The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt both have 8 year or 100,000 mile warranties for the batteries.  Since I believe many Americans keep cars for about 10 years, this seems like a completely acceptable warranty to me.  Also, battery technology is only going to get better.  Ford Escape Hybrids used for taxi service have had over 300,000 miles put on many of them with no problems with batteries reported.

I do agree that the infrastructure has a LONG way to go for the majority to adopt pure electric cars.  But, for two car households, electric cars can be practical now for use in daily commutes, errands, etc.  The Ford Focus Electric, coming out later this year, has a range of 100 miles on a full charge and can go as fast as 84mph, more than enough for regular every day use, as most Americans don't drive 100 or more miles a day for work/errands.  Plus, at a rate of $0.10 per kWh, it is supposed to only cost $2.00-3.00 to fully recharge it with a drained battey.  If you do the math and have a car right now which averages 25 mpg, and you're paying $4.00 a gallon gas, it's costing you $16.00 to drive 100 miles.  So, if you drive 1000 miles a month, $30.00 compared to $160.00 is a big savings.

As far as Hydrogen Fuel Cells, while I hope I'm wrong, I think we're a good 20 years or so away from seeing these types of vehicles mass produced.  I think you're going to see more hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric, and even natural gas before I think you see hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

[edominik]

They will probably hit $4 before Memorial Day.  After that, it could go to $5 plus by the end of the summer.   Scary be probably realistic.   I lived in Europe for a while.  It cost me $7 per gallon a few years ago.    Funny thing, I do not recall seeing to many SUVs........   

[Falconer02]

4.15 in IL. My friend said some stations in CA are at 5$ already.