- Fuel prices surge past $4, up from less than $3 a month prior.
- Some analysts think it could reach $5-7 before dropping again.
- Many drivers have thought about switching to an EV or hybrid.
NASA has launched its first manned lunar mission since 1972 as I write this. But Artemis II is not the only thing blasting into orbit right now. So are fuel prices, which have hit a four-year high as a result of the conflict in Iran.
According to AAA, the US average for a gallon has jumped to $4.110 per gallon, up sharply from $2.997 a little over a month ago. And that’s just regular gas nationwide. Try filling up with diesel in California and you’ll be paying close to $8 a gallon.
Related: Governments Told To Lower Speed Limits To Reduce Gas Use
That kind of spike has people rethinking everything from weekend drives to what sits on their driveway. It’s no surprise that hybrids and EVs suddenly look very appealing. When fuel gets expensive, logic takes over. You start thinking about mpg, range, charging networks, and whether that thirsty V8 was ever a good idea. The dream car gets quietly swapped for something sensible, efficient and probably a bit less fun.
But let’s flip that completely. Imagine a world where fuel is free. Not discounted, not subsidized, but totally free forever. No guilt, no budgeting. Just pure, unfiltered automotive freedom. That’s the kind of socialism even the biggest gearhead conservative can get behind.
US Average Gas Prices
Source AAA
Suddenly your daily driver doesn’t need to make sense. Maybe you go big and loud with something like the 1,043 hp (1,057 PS) Hennessey Ford F-150 Raptor R, or that old V10-powered boat-hauling truck you always wanted, but whose 9 mpg thirst put you off. Or maybe you’d daily a used supercar or a classic hunk of Detroit muscle like a 7.2-liter Dodge Charger.
Would You Stick To Your Green Guns?
Then again, not everyone would go wild. Some drivers might stick with something that’s fuel efficient because they appreciate intelligent engineering. Maybe even protest the waste and hydrocarbons in the most stylish way possible by picking a VW XL1. That’s the beauty of this little thought experiment. It strips away the biggest compromise most of us make and leaves only desire.
So here’s the question: if fuel was completely free, what would you drive every day? Let us know by dropping a comment below.
