More Alternative Fuels Coming

This comes from Journalist Matthew Clarke of Brigham Young University's newspaper, "The Daily Universe":

Ethanol is produced from agricultural products like corn and other grains, and major auto manufacturers have begun modifying their vehicles to use ethanol as a major fuel source. Daimler Chrysler, General Motors and Ford Motor Company have all partnered with Verasun Energy to promote demand for E 85 and to cater to drivers of flexible-fuel vehicles. The companies have sold more than 1.6 million flexible-fuel vehicles nationwide since 1998.

Ford spokeswoman Kristin Kinley said Ford's partnership with Verasun is meant primarily to promote E 85 distribution by getting more ethanol pumps in place throughout the country.

Kinley said the major obstacle to getting E 85 on the road is that consumers are not aware that flexible-fuel vehicles are available at competitive prices.

"It doesn't cost any more," she said.

Kinley also said there are four differences between a typical vehicle and a flexible-fuel vehicle. Injectors, fuel pumps, fuel system calibration and fuel tanks in flexible-fuel vehicles are slightly different from their conventional counterparts. These upgrades make the vehicle compatible with gasoline, ethanol and natural gas.

E 85 ethanol produces fewer emissions than gasoline and, because ethanol is produced by biomass materials like corn, it is produced domestically and it is entirely renewable.

Beverly Miller, director of Utah Clean Cities, said General Motors' "Live Green, Go Yellow" campaign is one of the first attempts by an automaker to promote the use of ethanol as an auto fuel. She said automakers are promoting flexible-fuel vehicles in interest of profit.

Miller said automakers have been making flexible-fuel vehicles for the past few years to keep stride with something called the cafe standard. "Cafe" is an acronym for the corporate average fuel economy. Miller said automakers must predict the average fuel economy years down the road and stay near or below that mark if they want to make a profit, and one way they are trying to undershoot the dollar-per-mile fuel economy is by promoting ethanol.

"With the nation facing an energy crisis of record high oil prices and refining capacity that is stretched to the max, now is the time for bold policies to help increase the availability of homegrown and renewable alternatives to oil," said Brian Jennings, executive vice president of American Coalition for Ethanol, in a press release. "Dramatically increasing the production and consumption of ethanol will confront America's energy crisis head-on."

The American Coalition for Ethanol unveiled a plan Monday to increase availability of E 85 and flexible fuel vehicles. By 2017, the coalition plans to see half of all major gas stations offering E 85 and all new automobiles being compatible with the fuel. The coalition's communications director, Kristin Brekke, said senators Tom Harkin and Richard Lugar will soon introduce bipartisan legislation promoting the use of E 85.

Utah's four E 85 fueling stations are located in Draper, Clearlake, Provo and Orem.

Flexible-fuel vehicles are available from several car companies and, with the first of these vehicles having been manufactured several years ago, some drivers do not know their vehicles are E 85 compatible.

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition allows consumers to check their vehicles for compatibility at www.e85fuel.com.

Gallon-for-gallon, E 85 ethanol is slightly less fuel-efficient than gasoline, but it is often less expensive. Miller said ethanol prices in Utah are slightly higher than they are in other states due to a lack of competition. While much of the ethanol produced in the United States is produced from corn, other biomass materials like potatoes, cheese whey, paper sludge, wood waste and switchgrass are also used.