From: michael.trew@att.net   
      
   On 10/1/2021 8:16 AM, HVS wrote:   
   > On 30 Sep 2021, Michael Trew wrote   
   >> On 9/29/2021 10:06 AM, Howard wrote:   
   >   
   >>> I've read a bunch of articles blaming "panic buyers" for the   
   >>> gasoline shortages in the UK following stations not receiving   
   >>> deliveries. That's basically BS, isn't it? It sounds like it's   
   >>> basically conflating anger over closures with panic buying, when   
   >>> they're two very different things.   
   >>   
   >> (Snip)   
   >>   
   >>> But it's almost impossible for almost everyone to radically   
   >>> change total gasoline purchases without driving a whole lot more.   
   >>> People rarely have any significant gas storage capacity -- at   
   >>> most they might top off the tank of a car they don't drive very   
   >>> often. But otherwise, if you burn ten gallons a week of gas, you   
   >>> won't be buying significantly more than that. There's no way to   
   >>> fit 30 gallons in a 10 gallon tank.   
   >>   
   >> As I see it, and what happened in the US, many more people bought   
   >> fuel than normally would in that time period, also in larger   
   >> quantities than normal.  I saw videos of people in the US filling   
   >> 55 gallon drums and more with fuel.  IMHO, the pumps should shut   
   >> off after a "reasonable" amount of fuel, maybe 30 gallons.  Much   
   >> more than that is excessive for a fuel trip.   
   >   
   > To stop people adding to the length of the queue by topping up with   
   > small "just in case" amounts, wouldn't it be more efficient to set a   
   > minimum purchase, rather than a maximum?   
   >   
   > "You want to top up when your 40-litre tank[1] is still half full?   
   > Sorry, you need to buy at least 30 litres, so come back when you're   
   > down to a quarter of a tank or less."   
   >   
   > [1] That's the size of the tank in my Honda Jazz.   
   >   
      
   I own a couple of Geo Metros at the moment, and even if I run the gauge   
   down, they only take about 8 and a half gallons.  If I'm going on a long   
   trip, and want to fill it so I don't have to stop for a while, I might   
   only fill half of that or less.  Lets not forget people who only get a   
   gallon for their power mowers.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)