[TR] Fuel cost - for fun?

[John Innis]

Do bear in mind that in additional to the various differences in sources of
materials and transportation cost, there is also a considerable difference
in the tax structure between the US and other parts of the world.  US
federal gasoline tax is $0.184 per gallon.  In addition to that we have
various excise tax imposed by states, some as high as $0.60 per gallon.
There are also various state and local sales tax, which is based on the
total cost of the fuel, rather than a set per gallon tax.  Generally the
highest total tax on gasoline in the US is about $0.90 per gallon.  Compare
that to the UK, which I understand has a tax of 52.95p per litre fuel duty
plus 20%VAT.  Basically half of the cost of fuel in the UK is taxes.  Vs in
the US it is more like 20%.

On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 3:07 PM John Macartney <johnbmacartney at gmx.com>
wrote:

> My iPad news feed tells me lots of people in the US are getting ‘rather
> agitated’ and ‘a bit miffed’ at gasoline prices hitting the USD4.50 per US
> gallon.
>
> So?
>
> I went to fill up our daily driver today (Kia Sportage hybrid) and
> arriving at the supermarket, saw that 95 octane E10 unleaded has gone up
> yet again, so a part-refill was soon decided.
>
>  For comparative purposes, the equivalent cost in USDs using UK prices is
> this. Our fuel is sold now only in litres and no longer imperial gallons as
> heretofore.
>
> One US gallon is equal to 3.785 litres.
> One litre here costs GBP 1.59 per litre
> One US gallon in GB pounds is 3.785x1.59 = GBP6.02
> Multiply the GBP6.02 by 1.35 to turn them into USDs and the figure is
> USD8.127 per US gallon price in the UK. Europe isn’t too much different
> either.
>
> Basically, double what our ‘a bit miffed’ enthusiast friends are paying on
> t’other side o’t pond, so count your blessings, friends.
>
>  It broke my heart when I sold my two Triumph Big Sixes some years ago but
> if I’d kept them, as sure as hell I’d no longer be able to afford keeping
> them to enjoy their continued and delightful use. Perhaps those who paid me
> a lot less than either was worth at the time, are now limited in only being
> able to look at them and making brrrmmm brrrmmm noises sitting in the
> driving seat. I hope so. The only good news coming out of this chaotic
> international bloody mess both at home and abroad is the Hybrid Kia
> Sportage with part time electric power and regenerative braking is still
> giving us 57mpg on mixed rural and urban use. Being very gentle, 61-63mpg
> is also available - but for how much longer?
>
> Jonmac
> ** triumphs at autox.team.net **
>
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