Food and Fuel America.com: FFV

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Friday, July 10, 2009

Ethanol Flex Fuel Vehicles Go Postal

United States Postal Service FFV E85 ethanol vehicles

The U.S. Postal Service will add 1,000 E-85 ethanol-capable and 900 gasoline/electric hybrid vehicles to its delivery fleet, part of a vehicle purchase by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

At nearly 220,000, the Postal Service operates and maintains the largest civilian fleet in the country. The 1,900 vehicles from GSA will bring the total number of alternate fuel-capable vehicles in the Postal Service fleet to more than 43,000.
“With our fleet traveling more than 1.2 billion miles a year, the Postal Service consistently looks for ways to reduce the environmental footprint that results from visiting every home and business in America six days a week,” said Sam Pulcrano, vice president, Sustainability. “The GSA fleet upgrade program will help us continue these strategies.”
The Postal Service has increased alternative fuel use by 41 percent since 2006, and plans to reduce petroleum use by 20 percent over the next five years. Replacing aging vehicles with more fuel-efficient and alternative fuel-capable vehicles is key to reaching that goal.
“This is a unique opportunity for the Postal Service to continue work on our goals for improved fuel economy, greenhouse gas reductions, and on our position as an environmental leader,” said Wayne Corey, manager, Vehicle Operations, who is overseeing the vehicle delivery.

Source: United States Postal Service

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Finding E85 Fuel Goes Mobile

Finding E85 fuel is easier with the new mobile fuel station finder from the Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicle Center.

Just visit http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/m/station/ from your mobile phone to search for E85 Ethanol and other alternative fuel stations.

The Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center provides a wide range of information and resources to enable the use of alternative fuels.

This site joins the existing Near 85 site, http://www.neare85.com/ in providing locations to finding E85 ethanol fueling stations.

We also have a complete lists of site HERE for more resources on finding E85 stations.

Source: Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center

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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

DOE Secretary Chu Supports E85 Flex Fuel Vehicles

US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu gave support for all new automobiles to be able to use E85 ethanol-blended fuel.

Chu gave his support for E85 Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV) during a trip to Des Moines on Monday:

“I’ve been told it costs about $100 in gaskets and fuel lines to turn a car so that it can go all the way to E85,” said Chu. “But a new car , it would only cost $100 out of $15,000. Wouldn’t it be nice to put in those fuel lines and gaskets so that we can use any ratio we wanted. It’s just a thought, I don’t think you’re going to get any objections in this audience.”

Moving our nation's vehicle fleet to Flex Fuel Vehicles is really a no-brainer. And it's always been a chicken or egg issue. To move the country from being held hostage to foreign oil, we need a transportation fuel that performs, fueling stations across the country and vehicles that can run on the fuel. And ethanol is the model that works, now.

Secrerary Chu also commented positively on the pending waiver for E15 that the EPA has under consideration:

“I don’t want to prejudge what they’re going to find, but if the existing automobile fleet can handle 15 percent, I would say let’s make that a target and go to 15 percent.”

While Chu was in Des Moines, the secretary announced more than $16 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Iowa.

Speaking in a news conference with Governor Chet Culver:

“This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence,” said Secretary Chu. “It reflects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly.”

Source: DOE, Des Moines Register

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Saturday, September 20, 2008

New GM Volt Charges Ahead with E85 Ethanol

At General Motors' 100th birthday celebration this week, the production version of the Chevrolet Volt was unveiled to the public.

The Chevrolet Volt is an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV that runs on electricity at all times but has an engine to extend its range.

When its lithium-ion battery is depleted, the Volt uses a gasoline/E85 ethanol powered engine that provides electricity to power its electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery.

The Chevrolet Volt plugs in and charges in about 8 hours on a standard household 120v outlet or in about 3 hours on a 240v outlet.

It is set to be released in 2010 as a 2011 model, and it will go up to 40 miles on a single charge.

Source: General Motors

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Saturday, July 26, 2008

Open Fuel Standard Act Will Open Way for Flex Fuel Vehicles

The Open Fuel Standard Fuel Act (pdf), a tri-partisan legislation, was introduced in both houses of Congress this week to reduce dependence upon foreign oil by developing vehicles that use fuels other than gasoline.

The act, Senate bill 3303 and House bill 6559, would require that starting in 2012, 50% of new automobiles; and starting in 2015, 80% of new automobiles, be flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) that can operate with gasoline blends up to E85 (85%) ethanol or M85 (85% methanol), or be warranted to operate on biodiesel.

The bills were sponsored by Senators Sam Brownback (KS), Ken Salazar (CO) and Joseph Lieberman (CT) and by Representatives Eliot Engel (NY-17), Jack Kingston (GA-1), Steve Israel (NY-2), and Bob Inglis (SC-4)

The alternative fuels can be made from a variety of sources, including switchgrass and other energy crops, coal, agricultural bi-products, corn, soybeans, natural gas and other materials. Making a flex-fuel vehicle costs the manufacturer about one hundred dollars per vehicle.

"This legislation gives Americans a choice at the pump by making fuel flexibility a standard feature of the majority of cars and trucks produced in the United States," said Senator Salazar. "In doing so, we will protect consumers from soaring gas prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and spur the further development of renewable fuel technologies that are central to our energy future. As our presence here today demonstrates, setting America on a path of energy independence is an effort that transcends party lines. We must all work together to make this vision of energy independence a reality."

Each year, well over half a trillion U.S. dollars are spent on oil imported from OPEC and non-OPEC nations.

Source: Senator Brownback

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Sunday, July 6, 2008

First Central Florida E85 Station Opens

Florida Governor Charlie Crist E85 ethanol

Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced this week that the first station in Central Florida to offer E85 ethanol for sale to the motoring public has opened in the Florida’s Turnpike Turkey Lake Service Plaza.

While there are more than 500,000 flex-fuel vehicles traveling on Sunshine State roadways, before today’s announcement, the only E85 fueling stations were in Tallahassee and Miami.

The addition of the E85 pumps heralds an initiative to offer ethanol as an alternative fuel choice at three of the most-heavily visited service plazas located along the 312-mile Turnpike.

Recognizing that more alternative fuel vehicles are appearing on Florida’s highways, Governor Crist lauded the addition of ethanol as a responsible, renewable fuel choice for both commuters and the millions of visitors who travel the Turnpike to reach their vacation destinations.

The Turnpike service plazas at Port St. Lucie/Ft. Pierce and Pompano will add ethanol later this summer.

“The rising cost of gasoline is affecting Floridians’ driving decisions, so it makes sense for us to offer a viable alternative,” said Governor Crist. “It makes even more sense to offer travelers the opportunity to choose ethanol and reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions.”

Governor Crist also applauded the Florida Department of Transportation's role in helping state government lead by example. About one-third of the Turnpike’s motor vehicle pool is comprised of flex fuel vehicles.

On July 13, 2007, Governor Crist signed three executive orders to reduce Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and remove market barriers for renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind energy.

Since the executive orders were signed, Florida has stepped onto the world stage as a major marketplace for advanced energy technologies.

Source: Florida Governor's Office

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Saturday, June 28, 2008

Cadillac Goes Green with Hybrid SUV

The rich will ride in green style with the new 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid luxury vehicle.

The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is the world’s first fuel-saving hybrid applied to a large luxury SUV, delivering a 50-percent fuel economy improvement in city driving. It is powered by GM’s innovative, fuel-saving two-mode hybrid system.

General Motors also announced it will offer 18 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) in model year 2009. This is an increase from the past and marks the company's plan to having half their line at least E85 Flex Fuel capable by 2012.

According to a GM spokeman, the models cover the gamut from the four-cylinder Chevrolet HHR small crossover to the full-size Cadillac Escalade ESV luxury utility.

General Motor vehicles account for about 3 million of the 7 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. roadways. The company produced more than 1 million flex-fuel models in North America and Brazil last year.

The 2009 model lineup includes the following flex-fuel capability at no additional charge to the customer:

Chevrolet: Avalanche, Express, HHR, HHR Panel, Impala, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
GMC: Savana, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL
Cadillac: Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT
Hummer: H2, H2 SUT
Buick: Lucerne

Source: General Motors

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1,600th E85 Station Opened

National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition NEVC E85 ethanol

The number of E85 stations reached the milestone of 1,600 with the opening of a station in New York.

According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC), the Glenville Mobil Mart in Glenville, New York (map), is the 1,600th E85 fueling facility in the country. The milestone was achieved when the station began selling the alternative fuel recently. At this time last year, only 1,230 stations were providing E85.

E85 ethanol, 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is a clean-burning renewable fuel used in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). FFVs can use either E85 or gasoline as fuel. Learn how to tell if you have a Flex Fuel Vehicle HERE.

For a list of alternative fuel stations, including the NEVC E85 directory, click HERE.

Source: National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition

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Sunday, June 15, 2008

DOE Announces $30 Million for Hybrid Vehicle Research

DOE Energy flex fuel hybrid vehicle research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $30 million in funding over three years for three Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) projects.

The selected projects will accelerate the development of PHEVs capable of traveling up to 40 miles without recharging, which includes most daily roundtrip commutes and satisfies 70 percent of the average daily travel in the U.S.

The goal is to develop PHEVs that can be mass produced, compete effectively in the marketplace, and substantially reduce petroleum consumption by offering fuel flexibility to American consumers. DOE’s funding for these projects will be combined with an industry cost share of 50 percent.

The DOE selected three projects for the cost-share research funding:

General Motors has been selected for negotiation of an award for a project aimed at enhancement of Lithium-Ion battery packs, charging systems, powertrain development, vehicle integration, and vehicle validation.
Ford Motor Company has been selected for negotiation of an award for a project to identify a pathway that accelerates commercial mass-production of PHEVs. The project will focus on development of battery systems and deployment of prototype PHEVs.
General Electric has been selected for negotiation of an award for a demonstration of PHEVs that relies upon an innovative dual-battery energy storage system capable of 40 miles accumulated electric driving range.

Source: Department of Energy

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Bill O'Reilly: We Are All in Danger

Never one for subtlety, Bill O'Reilly laid it out pretty clear this week how foreign oil is a threat to America.

In his "Talking Points" segment on Tuesday, he left little doubt about the danger America faces without alternatives to high-price foreign oil:

"We have been closely watching this oil chaos, and it is becoming clear that high fuel prices will be the most important issue in the upcoming presidential campaign. Our enemies now realize they can wreck the U.S. economy by creating hysteria in the oil market."

What was also interesting was O'Reilly's support for Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) that can run on E85 ethanol fuel or regular gasoline:

"So, this is obviously a national security issue and Congress must mandate by law that American auto companies begin mass producing flex-fuel vehicles and quickly phase out gas-only products....

A combination of flex-fuel, nuclear, and increased domestic oil production could save this country in 10 years. If we don't do this now, every one of us will suffer. Every one of us."

O'Reilly is backing a reduction in the tariffs for imported ethanol which many think could cripple domestic production. But as US biofuel capacity grows and matures, policy makers will have to look at that option. But we should not replace one cartel (OPEC) with another (foreign ethanol).

Unlike most other news commentators, O'Reilly has the courage to state the obvious dangers of foreign oil. We wonder when the talking heads at MSNBC, NBC, CBS or ABC will do the same.

Read O'Reilly's full essay HERE.

Source: Fox News/Bill O'Reilly

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Ford Delivers Flex Fuel Hybrid to DOE

Ford Escape Hybrid Flex Fuel Vehicle Department of Energy DOE

Ford Motor Company made history by delivering its first-ever flexible fuel capable plug-in hybrid SUV to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid, which runs on gasoline or E85, is part of a demonstration fleet Ford is developing in a partnership with Southern California Edison and the Electric Power Research Institute. Advanced testing on the vehicles is underway in California.

The Department of Energy will include the Escape Flexible Fuel Plug-in Hybrid in its fleet to showcase the marriage of technologies and obtain real world experience with the vehicle as it continues its support of advanced fuel technologies.

The flexible fuel Escape Plug-in Hybrid runs up to 30 miles at speeds less than 40 mph in electric mode until the battery's charge is 70 percent depleted. At higher speeds or when the battery is depleted, the vehicle switches to traditional hybrid mode - a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine assisted by the lithium ion battery. The vehicle leased to the DOE also is equipped with an innovative interactive vehicle display, which shows the driver how efficiently the vehicle is operating and calculates the fuel savings for each trip .

The first of the Escape Plug-in Hybrid SUV was delivered to Southern California Edison in December and road testing has begun. The vehicle delivered to the DOE represents the first flexible fuel Escape Plug-in Hybrid developed as part of the partnership.

Source/photo: Ford

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Automakers Urged to Research Higher Ethanol Blends

Are automakers researching higher blends of ethanol for the autos?

That's the question one senator is asking domestic and foreign auto manufacturers.

Senator Chuck Grassley (IA) recently sent letters to six top automakers asking about their research efforts on higher ethanol blends.

These letters follow-up on efforts late last year, after Grassley and several colleagues urged President George Bush to begin testing higher blends of ethanol and gasoline.

“This is becoming even more important as we see the maximum market demand for E10 blends quickly approaching. Our national interest in cleaner burning fuels and energy independence requires cooperation between the public and private sectors,” Grassley said.

Letters were sent to Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. A separate letter was sent to Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen.

April 1, 2008

Dear_______________

I’m writing regarding our nation’s efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and the need to increase the use of clean, home-grown renewable fuels. Increasing the use of renewable fuels like ethanol is good for the environment, good for rural America, and good for our national security.

I recognize that Chrysler (Ford, General Motors) has made a significant commitment to produce flexible-fuel vehicles. I commend you for those efforts. However, given the rapid growth in the renewable fuels industry, timely action needs to be taken to ensure the greatest possible use of alternative fuels in the near term.

The domestic ethanol industry is quickly approaching a level of production that will exceed the market demand for E10, or gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol. The E10 market could be saturated as early as 2012, or when production reaches 12 to 14 billion gallons a year. For this reason, a number of my colleagues and I wrote President Bush on the necessity to begin testing higher blends of ethanol and gasoline. We asked that the Environmental Protection Agency approve appropriate higher blends of ethanol in a timely manner following the necessary scientifically-based testing.

The results of a year-long study undertaken by the State of Minnesota and the Renewable Fuels Association on 20 percent ethanol blends was recently released. The study evaluated the effect and performance of gasoline blended fuels containing 20 percent ethanol on today’s automotive engines and components. Importantly, the study concluded that the higher ethanol blends did not cause problems for current motor vehicle equipment. They further state, “Based on the materials compatibility and drivability testing results of this scoping report, there are no issues that would prevent moving forward with the comprehensive testing required to certify E20 as a federally-approved motor fuel.”

When I visited Brazil in 2006, I saw first-hand non-flex fuel vehicles capable of running on gasoline with blends of 20 to 25 percent ethanol. Given that Chrysler (Ford, General Motors) sells automobiles in the Brazilian market, it seems your company could provide relevant, real-world data on the effects of intermediate ethanol blends in non-flex-fuel vehicles and engines.

Is Chrysler (Ford, General Motors) conducting research or doing testing on non-flex fuel automobiles with higher ethanol blends for the U.S. auto market? Does Chrysler (Ford, General Motors) have data or technical analysis on the effects of higher blends on materials, performance and emissions systems? Are you currently sharing your findings with the Department of Energy and the EPA that will help determine if today’s non-flex fuel automobiles are capable of operating on intermediate blends of ethanol? To what degree is Chrysler (Ford, General Motors) making available to the DOE and EPA findings on the compatibility, drivability and emissions results from Chrysler’s (Ford, General Motors) vehicle testing?

If we’re going to address the technical issues related to higher ethanol blends and decrease our dependence on foreign oil, it needs to be a cooperative effort between the public and private sectors. I hope to hear from you soon regarding your efforts to address the feasibility of higher ethanol blends in non-flex-fuel vehicles and learn of Chrysler’s (Ford, General Motors) efforts to share this information.

Thank you for your consideration and prompt reply.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator

Source: Senator Chuck Grassley

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Monday, March 3, 2008

Kroger Expands E85 Sales in Texas

VE85 E85 Ethanol FFV Kroger VeraSun Pimentel Patzek

Kroger will offer VeraSun’s branded E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, for Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) at 20 different locations in and around the Dallas and Houston metro areas.

With this addition in Texas, VeraSun now has more than 140 retail fueling stations in 13 states and the District of Columbia. VeraSun and Kroger initially partnered in August 2007 to open VE85™ fueling locations at 20 Kroger convenience stores primarily in Ohio, making Kroger the first national retailer to sell VE85™.

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Kroger operates almost 2,500 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states. The company also has more than 750 convenience stores and 650 supermarket fuel centers. Currently the state of Texas has 30 retail E85 fueling locations, 20 of which are Kroger locations.

“We look forward to offering VE85™ to our customers who have flexible fuel vehicles,” stated Roman Williams, Kroger southwest fuel merchandiser. “Our Kroger fuel centers have been leaders with new fuel products and services like E85 and fuel rewards.”

According to the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, Texas has more registered flexible fuel vehicles than any other state. The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition estimates that number to be more than 500,000 registered FFVs.

E85 is a high-octane, cleaner-burning fuel, with an octane rating of 100 or greater and the highest oxygen content of any fuel available today. The Argonne National Laboratory reported that the use of 6.5 billion gallons of ethanol in the United States during 2007 resulted in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 10 million tons. The use of E85 alone contributes to a 20 percent reduction in ozone-forming pollution and a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Locate a nearby Kroger HERE.

Source: VeraSun

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

E85 for 85 Cents in Los Angeles

conserv fuels LA Los Angeles ethanol E85

Motorists in car-lovin' Los Angeles will be loving E85 for 85 cents a gallon this week.

The rising price of gasoline is hard to avoid in Los Angeles, but owners of Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) capable of running on E85 ethanol will pay only 85.9 cents a gallon for the cleaner, alternative fuel.

On February 26th from noon to 2:00 p.m., Conserv Fuel at 11699 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood will offer E85 ethanol for 85 cents a gallon courtesy of General Motors.

E85 is 85% cleaner-burning ethanol and 15% regular gasoline that can be used in millions of Flexible Fuel Vehicles on the road today.

Conserv Fuel is the first filling station in L.A. where drivers can find the fuel alternatives from a company that shares and promotes values of quality, conservation, and sustainability. In addition to offering E85, Conserv also offer biodiesel fuels and regular gasoline.

Smog smoggy Los Angeles California air pollution

General Motors is sponsoring the promotion to help raise awareness about the first station in Los Angeles to offer E85 ethanol, and to encourage drivers of Flexible Fuel Vehicles to use this cleaner, renewable fuel instead of gasoline.

“At GM, we believe the biofuel with the greatest potential to displace petroleum-based fuels and help reduce tailpipe carbon gas emissions in the United States is ethanol, and so we have made a major commitment to vehicles that can run on E85 ethanol,” said Susan Docherty, general manager of GM’s 16-state Western Region, which includes California.

GM is the automotive industry leader in producing vehicles that run on E85 ethanol with more than 2.5 million Flexible Fuel Vehicles on the road today,

Source: GM, Conserv, EPA

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

GM Asks "What's Next?"

What should power the world's vehicles in 20 years? How can personal transportation become more sustainable in an age of increasing global competition for resources? What role will the automotive industry play in developing markets?

Decisions on issues like these will largely shape transportation in the 21st century. To speed the process, GM will mark its 100th anniversary by launching a global dialogue through an initiative called GMnext.

"We're starting our second century at a time of fundamental change in the auto industry," said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. "We'll use GMnext to introduce some of our ideas for addressing critical issues concerning energy, the environment and globalization. In the process, we also hope to spark a broader, global discussion on these important topics."

To initiate that dialogue, GMnext will spotlight GM’s introduction of next‐generation vehicles and technologies, including new applications of the E‐Flex drive system and continued work on GM’s line of Plug‐In and Two‐Mode hybrids.

Source: GMnext

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Q: What's Black and White and Green All Over?

Checy Tahoe Police Package Vehicle PPV E85 Ethanol

A. The new 2008 Chevy Tahoe Police vehicle that runs on E85 Ethanol!

The Tahoe Police Package Vehicle (PPV) is the only SUV rated as a police pursuit vehicle.

The 2008 Tahoe PPV is powered by the Vortec 5.3L V-8 engine delivering 320 horsepower (238 kW)* and 340 lb.-ft. of torque (470 Nm)*.

Source: Photo courtesy (c) General Motors

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Monday, February 4, 2008

GM Goes E85 Green with Denali XT

General Motors will unveil a redesigned Denali XT concept vehicle, built on a car-like unibody frame, at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show.

It's the first GM vehicle that combines an E85 ethanol-capable engine with the two-mode hybrid system.

The Denali XT's new 4.9-liter V-8 engine features fuel-injection and active fuel management. Paired with the 2 mode hybrid system and E85 ethanol capability, it delivers a 50 percent increase in fuel economy over similar small pickup trucks.

E85 Ethanol is a cleaner-burning renewable fuel, 85% ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline, that can be used in the many Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) sold today in America. Ethanol is produced from a variety of sources including corn, wood and other cellulosic materials.

The Chicago Auto Show will run from Feb. 6-17, 2008.

Photo Courtesy of (c) General Motors

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Sunday, February 3, 2008

MN Government Doubles Use of E85 Ethanol

It's one thing to mandates other to do something. So it's good to see that Minnesota is practicing what it preaches.

Minnesota state government agencies more than doubled their use of E85 fuel in 2007 according to a new report from the the MN Department of Administration.

State agencies last year purchased 412,483 gallons of E85 from retailers, nearly a 250 percent increase over the 165,526 gallons bought in 2006.

In 2004, Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed an executive order to have state government reduce its on-road fleet's use of gasoline 25 percent by 2010 and 50 percent by 2015; and petroleum-based diesel fuel 10 percent by 2010 and 25 percent by 2015.

Minnesota is working toward these reductions through a combination of increased use of agricultural fuels, increased fuel efficiency of the state fleet by purchasing hybrid and more fuel-efficient vehicles and increased use of electronic government activities.

What is YOUR state doing to reduce gasoline usage?

Source: MN Department of Administration

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Critics Ignoring Success of Ethanol?

(Helpful readers send us some really good stuff everyday. So thanks to Steve in LA for this real nugget.)

John McElroy, the host of Autoline Detroit has an essay at AutoBlog worth reading, The Breakthrough We've Been Waiting For?

His chief point is the anti-ethanol chorus nearly drowned out the story on General Motors' investment in Coskata. The GM partnership will drive the ethanol-from-waste technology and help to make ethanol an even more affordable fuel. John thinks the partnership deserved much more attention from the media than it received. And he also realizes he's not making friends with the ethanol critics:

I know that none of what I've written here will placate the anti-ethanol crowd. They continue to ignore Brazil's amazing success with this fuel and will do everything possible to prevent us from doing the same.

What we found most interesting was John's prediction on American's ability to change quickly in face of a real crisis:

But mark my words. If there is any kind of oil disruption, like if we start trading missiles with the Iranians in the Straits of Hormuz, there will be a stampede of Americans running to their local car dealers, banging on the doors, begging for flex-fuel vehicles that run on ethanol.

When we read about professional alarmists, with their pre-existing grudges against the world, hammering on renewable fuels, we wonder when they'll have solutions rather than press releases. Ethanol plays an important part in denting America's fuel needs.

Source: AutoBlog

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Corvette Racing Goes Green with E85

General Motor's Corvette Racing team will be powered by E85 ethanol, a high-octane, renewable alternative fuel, in the 2008 American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

The most successful team in ALMS history will switch to E85 ethanol--a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline in the demanding arena of endurance road racing.

Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper praised the switch to the higher-performing, cleaner burning fuel:

"Since its inception, Corvette has always been a platform for Chevrolet and GM to introduce and develop new technology... The use of E85 ethanol fuel by America's premier production sports car racing team in a high-profile, high-tech racing series like the ALMS shows that Chevy is continuing to lead by example"

E85 ethanol is an option for millions of American motorists and GM has produced more than 2.5 million E85-capable cars, trucks and SUVs on the road in the United States.

GM produces about 400,000 E85-capable vehicles a year and will double that to 800,000 a year by 2010. Chevrolet offers seven E85-capable models in 2008.

Source: General Motors

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