I was recently in Arkansas, about 500 miles from the closest refinery. Gas prices are about half what they are in California, where I live across the street from a refinery. I have been shopping for an electric vehicle (I have a hybrid now), but the ones I want are not available. Something is wrong here.

Figure 1 – Caption: “Arkansas Gas Prices Reach Record High” Figure 2 – California gas price almost twice that of Arkansas Figure 3 – According to this breakdown, the costs of crude oil is the largest component of gasoline cost.