Record Vancouver Fuel Prices (reporter seeking BC ecomodders to interview)

[War_Wagon]

Hi, what did I miss? Haha. I haven't been here in years, I got lazy and was driving an old bmw 540 with a 6 speed manual, but now that fuel here is $1.78 a liter, and likely to go over $2 a liter, I need to dust off my stash of old nerdy Hondas. I can't even remember half the stuff I have forgotten about old Insights. I guess that makes me a fair weather ecomodder, but I have always kept an eye out for high FE vehicles and kept them from the crusher. It's good to be back to be honest.


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ADMIN EDIT: a Maclean's writer is seeking EcoModder members from BC to talk about the situation. See post #6.

[Fat Charlie]

I put over $50 into my wife's minivan the other day. Looks like we're going to be getting more traffic here soon.

[Vman455]

Eh, I wouldn't bet on it. The EIA's latest forecast, released April 17, is for lower average gasoline prices this summer (expected $2.76/gal) than last (actual $2.85/gal). According to AAA, right now we're at $2.89/gal average, but that's skewed by refinery maintenance on the West coast, where prices are higher than the rest of the country.

[MetroMPG]

War wagon lives!!

It's fate... last week in Ottawa I saw a white Civic like in your avatar. For me that's a first sighting in many years of that generation.

If you can get me a screamin' deal on a 5-speed Mirage ('14+), I'll come get it. They're probably way too new to show up on your radar. :-D

I was just saying the other day that Mitsu should be advertising the heck out of those things in BC, what with your gas prices. But they're not selling nearly as well north of the 49th as south. Odd.

[Fat Charlie]

Inefficient engines produce more cabin heat.

[adriennetanner]

Hi there, Adrienne Tanner here. I am a journalist writing about Vancouver's high gas prices for Maclean's Magazine. Wondering if you would be willing to talk about ecomodder and your recent post.

[LeanBurn]

...next door here in Alberta we are at $1.14/L in Calgary.

[cuda47]

Hi there,
just to compare:
$1.79 in France

[MetroMPG]

Hi there, Adrienne. I sent you an e-mail. I'd be happy to talk with you.

Darin
(EcoModder co-founder)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by War_Wagon

now that fuel here is $1.78 a liter, and likely to go over $2 a liter, I need to dust off my stash of old nerdy Hondas.

Sadly, little economy cars are at the wrong end of the scale for generating interest in your neck of the woods:

'Bags of money' being used to buy luxury cars in B.C., according to new money laundering report

Money launderers aren't interested in saving fuel, so maybe you just need to charge more for your efficient cars!

On a serious note, I really do wonder how much of an impact Van's high prices are having on people's driving habits & vehicle choices. Everything I've read suggests people adapt to steadily increasing fuel costs and adjust their budget. Big behavioral changes only happen in response to shocks. Does the latest price spike equal a shock? (Given the media interest, maybe that's a sign it does.)

Canadians pay much more for fuel than Americans, yet our vehicle choices are less efficient overall, measured by distance driven:

A recent report by the International Energy Agency shows that Canada’s vehicles have the highest average fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre driven. They are also the largest and the second heaviest in the world.

When it comes to vehicles, Canada tops the charts for poor fuel economy