Has Big Oil posted it's profits for the first quarter yet?

It's almost June -- so where are their figures for the first quarter? I'd like to see the MSM report on THAT, rather than telling me that 4 bucks a gallon is *inevitable*.

Exxon Mobil: Profits up 10% with record earnings.
Exxon Mobil profit boosted by gas sales - Reuters

Chevron Texaco: Profits are up.
Chevron profit is pumped up by fuel prices - L.A. Times

I knew they had to post it earlier -- but our MSM certainly didn't push THAT as much as the prices now.

that in 2003 they were making .07 a gallon in profit - they are now making .47 a gallon...something isn't right there.

If WE had 50 mpg vehicles that would be the "equivalent" of paying about $1.60 (to $2.00) per gallon when compared on a fuel cost per mile (You will have to figure out your own potential annual savings). This leads to several questions:

1) What is the mpg of vehicles in America?
2) If 50 mpg does not exist in America, does it exist anywhere?
3) Who makes them, if they are availble?
4) How can WE get them, if they are availble?

As an exercise, I listed all 34 vehicles rated to achieve 30 mpg(US) or greater combined average city/highway for 2007 according to
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byMPG.htm

Then, their 2008 mpg combined average values were established using
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorSelectYear.jsp
to determine their fuel economy ratings under the 2008 methods. The average mpg(US) combined city/highway for these 34 vehicles is 28.7 mpg using the 2008 method.

The 15 Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, and Toyota vehicles yield an average of 32.1 mpg(US) combined city/highway using the 2008 methods.

The remaining 19 “best mpg domestic” vehicles yield an average of 25.9 mpg(US) combined city/highway using the 2008 methods. Not one of these 19 “best mpg domestic” vehicles has a combined average over 30 mpg according to the 2008 criteria!

On the other hand, the auto companies with significant sales in the USA (or their Euro partners) have over 48 vehicles in Europe that achieve over 44 mpg(US) combined average. A majority are diesels meeting Euro Step IV emission (and soon Step V) with CO2 emissions below 140 g/km. By comparison, the "domestics" typically range between 240 and 500 g/km. Here is a list of these high mpg vehicles in Europe
http://www.40mpg.org/pdfs/021407_fuel_efficient_vehicle_gap.xls
This can be verified at http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search

In other words, the worst of the 48+ vehicles the Det3 and their associates are manufacturing and selling in Europe get 69.8% better gas mileage than the 25.9 mpg average of the 19 “best mpg domestic” vehicles. In fact, some FORDs are over 100% higher combined mpg.

Now we have the answers to questions 1, 2, and 3. What about question 4) How can WE get them?

There are only 2 way from what I can tell.

A - If a large group of buyer could agree on one or two specific vehicle (that were reasonably easy to certify); pool their funds to pay for a "TYPE IMPORT CERTIFICATION" ... then the vehicles could be imported. Caution: Look at the time, effort, and money it has taken to get this for the SMART.

B- IF the Detroit3 can't immediately commit to production volumes of 44 mpg(US) combined average vehicles by 2010 ... THEN Congress should WAIVE ALL IMPORT RESTRICTIONS AND TARIFFS on vehicles that do get 44 mpg or better, CO2 less than 140 g/km, and meet Euro Step IV (or Step V) emissions and Safety standards; Effective IMMEDIATELY for a period of 36 months (OR 300,000 units of each model satisfying the criteria).

IF YOU THINK the WAIVER idea is reasonable after our 30 year wait ... please CALL YOUR ELECTED Representatives in DC and tell them you want "44 mpg by 2010 - WAIVE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS if that is the only way!".

PLEASE .... PASS IT ON!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

As far as higher mpg vehicles in the EU go, not all of them are small.

Here are some May 2007 Ford Mondeo Estate numbers
mpg(US) 40.6 average 49 highway; CO2 154 g/km; 69.0 Noise Level .

For a more detailed description here is the Ford Mondeo (04 Mar 04)
TDCi engine; Capacity: 1998cc ; Power: 128bhp; formidable torque - 243lb/ft from 1800rpm; 0-62mph: 10.1 seconds; Maximum speed: 127mph; CO2 emissions: 163g/km;
Maximum braked trailer towing mass: 1800kg;
Fold down the rear seats and the estate's capacity increases to 1700 litres compared with 1370 for the hatch
Economy (Imperial): 56.5mpg extra urban, 45.6mpg combined;
mpg(US) 38 average 47 highway; CO2 163 g/km; 73.0 Noise Level

There is also the 2006 Model Year
8/9 passenger Transit Tourneo SWB Bus (FWD) 2.2 Duratorq TDCi (110PS)
mpg(US) 30 average 35 highway; CO2 208 g/km; 72 Noise Level


And here are two good reference sites
http://www.40mpg.org/pdfs/021407_fuel_efficient_vehicle_gap.xls
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search/

Five years since Volkswagen showed off its 222 mpg "1-Liter Car" concept (shown), the company is apparently recommitting to the 200+ mpg project. Board chair Ferdinand Piëch says it can be done -- that advances in materials and a reduction in associated costs have put plans for a super-efficient small Volkswagen back on the table. According to Piëch, one supplier says the components can be had for around $6,775, not $47,400 as had been calculated. Of course, the 1-Liter concept was powered by an 8.5-horsepower, 299 cc one-cylinder engine, while anything built for the marketplace would likely have to come in a bit higher on all those specs to be viable. But if V-dub can build a car with a quad-turbocharged W16 that can hit 250 mph, they can also build one with a warp-driven Q3-cylinder with 500 mpg should be a walk in the Berchtesgaden. – Mike Spinelli

Link: http://jalopnik.com/cars/news/volkswagen-revives-200+mpg-car-project-252734.php

maybe they would have time to launch an investigation into big oil profits..