I rarely pay much attention to the price of diesel, but I saw it this morning while coming to work. A gallon of 87 octane gasoline is currently $2.25 and diesel is $3.25. A DOLLAR DIFFERENCE??!? I always remember that it was around 40-50 cents more, but not a dollar. I know that it does go up a bit in the winter, but I don't know that I've ever seen the difference be that high.
I'm no conspiracy theorist or anything, but it does seem fishy that this exorbitant discrepancy in price is coming at a time when diesel-powered vehicles are finally gaining popularity in this country. Is it that the energy companies want to get as much as they can for the sale of diesel fuel while they can or is it that the car manufacturers want to push consumers more towards gasoline-powered vehicles and hybrids? It could just be a product of commodity pricing and whatnot, but it sure does seem strange. If I were considering a car that could have either a diesel or a gasoline engine, the increase in fuel mileage of the diesel doesn't come close to making up for the extra cost of fuel. It makes more sense to buy a gasoline-engine vehicle right now.
I'm no conspiracy theorist or anything, but it does seem fishy that this exorbitant discrepancy in price is coming at a time when diesel-powered vehicles are finally gaining popularity in this country. Is it that the energy companies want to get as much as they can for the sale of diesel fuel while they can or is it that the car manufacturers want to push consumers more towards gasoline-powered vehicles and hybrids? It could just be a product of commodity pricing and whatnot, but it sure does seem strange. If I were considering a car that could have either a diesel or a gasoline engine, the increase in fuel mileage of the diesel doesn't come close to making up for the extra cost of fuel. It makes more sense to buy a gasoline-engine vehicle right now.