The gas price is determined by supply and demand. We all know that big SUVs need a lot of gas and therefore drive demand up. In that sense, drivers of large inefficient cars are more responsible for the high cost of gasoline than drivers of fuel-efficient cars. Why not have two different types of gas stations: one for fuel-efficient cars and one for all others. The fuel-efficient car gas stations would offer gas at a significant discount, while the other ones may charge a mark-up. From a practical standpoint of view, the fuel-efficient car gas stations could have overhead gate entries - just low enough to keep SUVs out.
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Why would any gas station limit itself to only sell to the small tank crowd? This would decrease their demand, increase their costs per transaction and eventually drive up the cost, probably above the cost of those who purchase in larger quantities. SUV's would be buying gas at the service station equivalent of a Sam's Club, larger quantities purchased at a discount.
The gas price is determined by the market supply & demand, but the largest shift is currently coming from your gas tax. Want lower gas prices? Take the bus, walk, ride a bike, or lobby your local government for lower taxes.
I would drive my fuel efficient city car to get gas to siphon into my boat haulin' SUV (and my boat).
The idea isn't that bad, but the implementation is too complex and would require a humongous control organ to make it work.
If you want petroleum consumers to pay for their depletion of a natural resource, just place a tax on petroelum and cut taxes on income/sales/etc. The end result will be a transfer of funds from those who consume a lot of petroleum products to those who consume few petroleum products (relative to income).
Why not just tax based on (miles driven)*(mpg rating)*constant.The more you drive the higher the tax. The higher the fuel consumption the higher the tax.
The real problem isn't supply and demand. It's the unwillingness of people and their government to do anything like this. No higher taxes! I'd be voted out of office if I did anything like this! Most people don't think further ahead than their next paycheck, companies 3 months to the next bottom line figures, and polititions to the next election. Long term planning - forget it.
Most gas stations already have multi-level pricing- unleaded regular is the cheapest, higher-octane premium is the most expensive, usually there is a mid-range as well.
You could mandate larger and smaller nozzles, just like we did when unleaded became required fuel on newer cars- smaller nozzles for SUVs using premium gas only, larger nozzles for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars that run on regular (so that smaller cars could also use premium, but SUVs couldn't use cheaper regular).
Be prepared to pay another dime per gallon across the board for this.
Regular unleaded at most stations now at US$3.20, diesel is still at US$2.71, my next car is going to be diesel anyway, to avoid the obvious gouging.
Just a quick follow up to the above post : gas here is $2.75, diesel is $2.90. Gas prices dropped quickly from $3.20 / $2.98 after rumors of a government investigation into gouging began circulating. Since winter heating season is approaching I expect diesel users will continue to pay more. The American cartel has been playing this game for years on end now and it isn't likely to change soon.