Here (in Switzerland) which has a relatively low gasoline levy we pay about 1.87chf per litre (does quick conversion to gallons and currency conversion) which is….$7.68 per gallon. If you went to the UK (which has one of the highest fuel duties in the world) you would be paying the equivalent of $8.41 per gallon (cheapest – I have found – is Venezuela at $0.06 per gallon! Advantages of having one of the biggest oil refineries in the world on your doorstep…).

The problem is is that the oil is running out. The remaining oil is very tricky, dangerous and expensive to get out and the vast majority of the easily accessible stuff is in a very volatile region of the world.

The solution? Europeans buy smaller or more efficient cars and the US needs to start doing the same. I have a diesel VW that costs $90.00 to fill from empty but because it is an efficient diesel it will do 960km (600 miles) before needing another top up. A friend here as a VW Bluemotion diesel that has the same sized tank but will do over 1200km (745 miles!) (I just did a search for an average US Minivan and worked out that the best range you’re getting is around 350 miles – that’s a doubling of your fuel costs right there).

So, buy a diesel – sorry for the super long comment!