I'm pretty sure we were talking about 'At the Pump' prices though, in which case, our fuel is 3 times more expensive than yours.
I know full well that our taxes on fuel are stupid. We pay around 85% of the fuel price in taxes alone IIRC.

 

Our gas here in NC in the USA the price of gas rose above $3/gallon (US, at the pump). Our gallon here is less than gallon in UK if memory of my last trip to UK and Europe serves, it was based on 4 liters, about 6% greater than US 4 quarts.)
Our tax here is about 50 cents gallon federal and 55 cents for NC so our at-the-pump taxes are about 30 per cent. If our tax was increased to 85 % our per gallon US would be about $13/gallonUS, or about US$3.50 per liter, based on our actual gas cost of $1.95/gal being 15% of the cost at the pump.
Here we not only have varying taxes for states but also costs differing formulations for the gasolines as a result of enviromentalist lobbying so prices vary by as much as a dollar fifty per gallon.
As for being stupid, gas is one of the few 'fair' taxes but it is badly abused by politicians. Right now this country has the most incompetent politicians in the world. Can't manage a balanced budget that we all know we need and Greece isn't far away. 2011 promises to be very entertaining for those in the UK watching us.
Thats what this administration wants.
cheers.