Automakers talk of stabilizing the price of gas

“My personal opinion is we’d be better served in the U.S. if we could somehow establish a comparable floor that you see in Europe,” Queen said. “And I think with the new administration we may have a shot under the umbrella of an energy policy to start talking about these things.”

Currently federal and state gasoline taxes combined average about 40 cents per gallon in the U.S., far less than many European countries. The European Union has set a minimum gas tax of 0.38 euro per liter, or about $1.80 per gallon, and most countries tax above the minimum, said Nigel Griffiths, director of global automotive forecasting for the consulting firm IHS Global Insight in London.

Raising the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal gas tax would have benefits other than helping the automakers, because higher prices would reduce consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, said Kenneth Medlock, an energy fellow who teaches economics at Rice University in Houston.

He is against a mandated floor on oil prices because it wouldn’t be a constant revenue source for government, but he favors a gas tax increase with money going for mass transit and research in alternative fuel vehicles.

“That’s where in my mind the role of government comes in, sort of subsidizing the uncertainty in the market,” he said.

Raising taxes also is a political risk, even though it could lead to lower oil prices because it would reduce demand, Medlock said.

“It’s a difficult pill to swallow right now, especially given the financial hardships we’ve all been facing,” he said.

Obama transition team spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to comment on the automakers’ statements.

Absent a change in government policy, automakers continue to pursue everything from electric- and hydrogen-powered cars, to hybrid gas-electric cars, to improved fuel economy for the internal combustion engine.

“Part of it is you have to look at what you think long-term trends are going to be, and I think on a long-term trend basis the cost of gas is going to be higher rather than lower than it is today,” said Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA. “Along that path, you may have spikes and you may have valleys. Hopefully we don’t see too many spikes and valleys as tight as these last two have been.”

Chrysler’s Klegon said the company is designing future vehicles, such as the midsize Chrysler 200C concept car unveiled at the auto show, so they can handle electric or conventional powertrains. Daimler AG showcased its BlueZero concept, which offers the same model of car but with three possible powertrains: one with a hydrogen fuel-cell, one with battery-electric drive, and a gas-electric hybrid.

“You’ve got to be able to offer these alternatives,” Klegon said. “Certain people still want performance in a car like that over fuel economy in a market like it is today. But you cannot ignore future regulations and likely gasoline spikes in the future.”

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