How long until we see €2 a litre and will it push more to EV's faster?

Flinty997 · 03-04-2026 09:36AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124359653#Comment_124359653

Not everything is a COVID conspiracy (even COVID). People need to stop overthinking things.

We've had fuel crisis's before.

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2024/0621/1455943-petrol-shortage/

We are a long way from that.

Hotblack Desiato · 03-04-2026 11:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124359509#Comment_124359509

If you ignore the capital investment

PokeHerKing · 03-04-2026 11:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124360060#Comment_124360060

We hope

jackboy · 03-04-2026 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124360060#Comment_124360060

Since Covid, lockdowns are a new tool the government can consider for any emergency, which was not a realistic option before Covid. Now, it will always be one of the options discussed and they have a template to do it. Like most things, doing something the first time is by far the hardest.

harr · 03-04-2026 11:59AM

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/02/dated-brent-oil-price-actual-cargo-highest-level-2008.html While we might not see shortages for a while yet the most concerning issue is price . We could be looking at well over 2:50 for diesel by end of the month or probably sooner

Flinty997 · 03-04-2026 12:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124360327#Comment_124360327

People didn't obey it then either.

Especially the people complaining about govt oppression. They obeyed it least of all.

People being hysterical about rules they don't obey anyway is a bit silly.

Worry about a shortage when there is one. Nothing you can do about it either way. Unless you have a home tank for diesel. Which we used to have. Then you can get a reserve in.

JVince · 03-04-2026 06:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124360327#Comment_124360327

Will people like you stop the utter crap

jackboy · 03-04-2026 06:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124361214#Comment_124361214

If the war does not end in the next few weeks people like you will be subjected to some harsh realities.

Hotblack Desiato · 03-04-2026 09:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124360327#Comment_124360327

Bullshît.

The lockdowns during Covid were enabled by specific public health legislation (from the 1940s as it happens)

Hotblack Desiato · 03-04-2026 09:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124360060#Comment_124360060

The problem then was the tanker drivers' strike.

A 10% cut in supply could easily have been accommodated by people cutting out non-essential driving.

The recent price rises are an incentive to do just that.

rayman10 · 03-04-2026 11:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124360308#Comment_124360308

The same as investing in a petrol or diesel.

Hotblack Desiato · 04-04-2026 02:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124361824#Comment_124361824

? You can buy a viable ICE car for a little over 1000 euro.

_Kaiser_ · 04-04-2026 08:36AM

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/carpool-slow-down-and-do-your-laundry-at-night-families-to-be-warned-to-cut-energy-use-in-government-campaign-amid-iran-crisis/a121366807.html

This morning's Indo reporting that various measures are being considered including the above as well as reducing speed limits by at least 10 km/h to save fuel consumption.

WFH may be recommended but not mandated because (as I said a few days ago) of the impact on cafes and restaurants - which is frankly idiotic as those will be the first things cut anyway if people really start feeling the pressure!

Apparently there's going to be a big media campaign over the next few weeks to get everyone used to these ideas, just as this article is likely intended to test the waters of public opinion as well.

FatBudda · 04-04-2026 08:42AM

2 weeks to flatten the curve.

Wouldn't be surprised of they stopped people from driving more than 5klms from home if not going to work. They've already got a taste of just how compliant the average Irish person is

josip · 04-04-2026 08:42AM

Indo shíte probably, but why should BEVs have to reduce speed?

Now that would be an effective way to move motorists to BEVs, if BEVs were allowed drive faster on motorways :)

_Kaiser_ · 04-04-2026 09:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124362101#Comment_124362101

The issue with that though as I said above/previously is they're worried about the pushback from coffee shops and restaurants who can't sell overpriced lattes and lunches/dinner if people are WFH.

You are right though that most people were shown to be ridiculously compliant and willing to handover critical thought and decision making to civil servants and wannabe celeb experts 5 years ago.

Flinty997 · 04-04-2026 09:21AM

Probably more coffee shops in local suburbs than in city centers. Right besides those WFH..

_Kaiser_ · 04-04-2026 09:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124362102#Comment_124362102

I know the above is mostly in jest, but people who can't afford to fill a tank of petrol or diesel can't afford to buy new/newer cars and the infrastructure/home chargers to go with it.

Plus BEVs are not for everyone anyway regardless. Those who rent can't install chargers, some may not have a driveway or private parking at all, and not everyone wants to waste 30-60 minutes hanging around a petrol station - assuming they can find a charger that works/is free (amazing how that's become somehow normalised by EV adopters).

Besides, people can't drive at the limit as it is on motorways. Lane hogging dawdlers are a daily frustration for those of us who can drive at speed and who already have a long enough commute (thanks to the property crisis and largely unnecessary return to office mandates) without having to make it longer by indulging people trying to save a few cents per litre.

Flinty997 · 04-04-2026 10:33AM

Bit of false narrative there. If someone can't afford to fill a tank of fuel. They can't afford any car. Even a cheap one. Probably public transportation or a bicycle is more their budget.

Used 1st gen EVs are now at the 3-5K price point. The minimum infrastructure you need is a 3pin plug.

Lots of vehicles are limited by law to drive a lower speeds. Trucks, trailers, buses, and it perfectly legal to drive at under the speed limit. What do you do when you meet them. Shouldn't be "frustrated daily". Its just normal driving.

Amazing how much FUD has become normalised. Anyone with an ICE has spent more time at fuel pumps than I have at public chargers in the last year.

"…Key Petrol Station Time Statistics:

Average Stop Duration: While quick stops can be under 5 minutes, studies of service stations on main routes show an average stop time of 20 minutes, with 65% of drivers stopping for 5 to 30 minutes.

Monthly Time Lost: Drivers typically lose 90 to 155 minutes per month (roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours) visiting petrol stations.
Annual Impact: On average, drivers spend about 31 hours per year on gas station errands.

Frequency of Visits: The average driver visits a service station 5 to 14 times per month, with 18% of drivers visiting more than 15 times per month.

"Dwell" Time: Drivers often leave their vehicle at the pump while visiting a convenience store, toilet, or ATM, which increases "station dwell time" and overall stop duration.

Convenience Store Usage: Stops that include entering the store for food, coffee, or restrooms significantly increase the overall time spent, often matching the 15–20 minutes required for fast-charging an electric vehicle.

Peak Times: During peak hours, pump utilization can reach 99%, increasing wait times.
Location: Service stations on busy commuter routes or holiday routes experience higher, longer-duration traffic.

For fleet vehicles, minimizing this downtime is a major focus for operational efficiency, with studies showing an average of over 2 hours of non-productive time per month per vehicle…"

Flinty997 · 04-04-2026 10:38AM

What happened in 1970s Oil Crisis.

"…

The oil crisis of the 1970s (primarily the 1973 embargo) fundamentally altered driver behavior by forcing a shift away from high-consumption, large vehicles toward efficiency, conservation, and altered travel patterns due to severe gasoline shortages and soaring prices.

Key changes in driver behavior included:

Adoption of Smaller, Efficient Vehicles: Faced with shortages and high prices, consumers began abandoning "gas-guzzling" vehicles in favour of smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, marking a significant shift in the automotive market toward compact vehicles.

Reduction in Travel/Gasoline Consumption: Driver behavior shifted to conserve fuel, characterized by less discretionary driving, carpooling, and in some areas, compliance with government requests to reduce driving.

Compliance with Restrictions: In several European nations, such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany, governments introduced "car-free Sundays" to drastically cut consumption, which drivers complied with.

Lower Speeds: Motorists were encouraged to adopt lower driving speeds to improve fuel economy, a shift from the previous era of high-speed, high-consumption driving.

While the primary driver of these changes was the acute shortage, the crisis, along with growing environmental concerns, ultimately compelled a long-term shift toward a greater focus on vehicle energy conservation.

…"

http://rte.ie/brainstorm/2026/0402/1286447-1970s-energy-shocks-oil-shortages-ireland/

Allinall · 04-04-2026 10:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124362262#Comment_124362262

The national speed limit was reduced from 60mph to 55mph.

rayman10 · 04-04-2026 10:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124361979#Comment_124361979

What's your point?

Unless you can only afford a banger EV drivers are laughing at the moment.

Flinty997 · 04-04-2026 10:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124362263#Comment_124362263

Lot of frustrated drivers.

"…

Traveling 15 miles at 45 mph instead of 35 mph saves about 5 minutes.
Traveling 15 miles at 75 mph instead of 65 mph saves about 2 minutes.
A 50-mile trip at 65 mph instead of 55 mph saves about 8.5 minutes.
Over a 100 km trip, driving at 120 km/h instead of 100 km/h saves only 10 minutes.

While these time savings might seem helpful on paper, they shrink in real-world conditions due to stoplights, traffic, weather, and road conditions. At highway speeds, it takes progressively longer to shave off additional minutes as you increase speed…"

I'd guess any time saved while long distance commuting is lost once they hit a tailback enroute. The longer the route the more bottlenecks on it.

_Kaiser_ · 04-04-2026 10:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124362257#Comment_124362257

Can't exactly cycle a county or two to work! Buses and public transport generally outside Dublin is slow, overcrowded and unreliable in many cases - or unavailable entirely! I'll grant you though that for those doing local trips it may be worth considering.

As above, those without a driveway or (enough) private parking (think apartments or even some of the newer developments) have no option to plug anything in and I'd imagine even running a cable to a car parked right outside would cause liability issues.

As for the whole bit about average petrol station trips, like most people I drive up, fill the car and pay. In my case I use a fuel card at the pump so often don't even set foot inside. I will suggest that data may be skewed by many larger forecourts now acting as fast food restaurants and coffee shops too so the visit may be less about fuel and more about lunch.

EV's make sense for some absolutely but they're not a one-size-fits-all solution either.

SodiumCooled · 04-04-2026 11:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124359354#Comment_124359354

Sorry but it is very poorly paid given the level or responsibility, the hours worked, the abuse, the constant media spotlight on you and many other factors.

You would have half the building in a MNC doing a 39 hour week, wfh half the time and earning as much as a TD working 7 days a week. Just look at Pascal Donaghue - went from probably 150k ish a year to 800k a year (tax free too I believe) by making a move to a position his skill set was commanded. The Taoiseach earns about 250k a year a job easily comparable to a CEO of a multi national company or a world wide bank who could be earning upwards of 50 million a year.

So if you actually think about it and make a fair comparison they are under paid significantly.

Flinty997 · 04-04-2026 11:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124362286#Comment_124362286

I think someone who can't afford a tankful of fuel and lives in the middle of nowhere hasn't really thought how they are going to get to a job 2 counties over. That said we've a number of people coming from 2 counties away by bus. But it's a trek. But it doable. If you can't afford a tank of fuel what choice do you have.

So often you don't step instead. Which implies you do step inside sometimes. It's a detour regardless. The statistics are clear on that.

Flinty997 · 04-04-2026 11:24AM

I can see where an increase in fuel is a big factor for business users. But private commuters how much extra is it 20%?

josip · 04-04-2026 11:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124362151#Comment_124362151

The affordability of new EVs is already well covered. There's no longer a price premium for EVs over ICEs. Some people buying new ICEs in the last few years and were influence by the fear mongering FUD will now be regretting their decision. But only some.

That's all beside the point I was discussing. If the 120 and 100mph speed limits are lowered to reduce national fossil fuel consumption, it doesn't make any sense to apply the reduction to BEVs. Very easy now to check the vehicle registration database to check fuel type before issuing an FCN or no so it's definitely an option. Hopefully the Indo journalists are following this thread and will float the idea in next Saturday's edition.

Also, there's little or no point lowering the lower limits because the efficiency savings are minimal.