Why Silicon Valley Doesn’t Mind Rising Gas Prices
Why Silicon Valley Doesn’t Mind Rising Gas Prices
By Eric Newcomer Bloomberg July 6, 2018
Gas prices have been steadily climbing since February
2016. In June, the average U.S. retail cost of a gallon of gasoline was $2.97,
up more than 20 percent from the same time last year. We're a few cents away
from a national psychological milestone, $3 a gallon. Meanwhile, the price of a
barrel of crude oil recently hit $72.94, up 62 percent in just one year. The
Drudge Report, always with a finger on the pulse of America's anxieties, blared
a warning about the soaring gas prices in its lead headline on Tuesday. And
President Trump demanded that OPEC "REDUCE PRICING NOW" in a tweet
the same day.
But companies like Facebook and Alphabet Inc. don't spend
much time worrying about the cost of gasoline, so why am I musing about rising
oil prices in a tech newsletter? With new investments all over the
transportation industry, what happens in Silicon Valley is more connected to
the Permian Basin than ever.
What's bad for the internal combustion engine-propelled
vehicle owner could actually be good for tech, which has bet big on
electrification. For Tesla, rising gas prices will be a welcome nugget of good
news. The company has positioned itself as a full-service electric company with
solar panels, batteries and, of course, all-electric cars. High prices at the
pump should drive sales. However, the slowly rising price of oil hasn't been
enough to insulate the company from questions this week over its Model 3 production
and management turnover.
Increasing gas prices could also be good for electric
scooter-sharing companies like Lime and Bird. Right now, scooter companies are
actively trying to convince local regulators that scooters can replace car
travel. That story gets more powerful as the price of gasoline climbs.
But gasoline prices will have perhaps the biggest effect
on Uber and Lyft, though how they're impacted isn't obvious. Car
owning-customers might turn to them instead of shelling out for gas. And by
dint of their business models, ride-hailing companies are relatively insulated
since drivers pay their own way, fuel and all.
Drivers are certainly feeling the pain, though.
"It's been a pretty hot topic for drivers lately," said Harry
Campbell, author of The Rideshare Guide. "Generally it hurts Uber's
reputation with drivers because drivers are the ones who have to shoulder 100
percent of those increased gas costs." Uber says it has increased prices
in dozens of cities so far, partly in response to gas prices. And Lyft rolled
out a program with Shell to offer Lyft drivers a discount on fuel. It's a small
gesture toward ameliorating their rising expense.
But the companies aren't totally protected from rising
prices. Theoretically, their marketplaces should adjust as they're constantly
balancing supply and demand. If gas prices make driving less appealing, drivers
should quit, pushing up income for those who remain. But even a self-correcting
marketplace can shrink.
If fuel prices keep rising, car travel as a whole is at a
disadvantage to more energy-efficient forms of transit like scooters, public
transportation, and electric cars. Clearly, Uber and Lyft are aware of this
fact. Uber purchased the electric bike company Jump Bikes, while Lyft just
bought the bike-rental company Motivate. Both companies are exploring ways to
encourage their drivers to buy electric cars while promising to integrate
public transportation into their apps.
While much of the country stands to suffer from rising
oil prices, Silicon Valley has positioned itself to cash in as it builds the
city of tomorrow.
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