Gas stations selling ethanol to grow in 2006
As fuel economy is now in radar of significant number of the general population Ethanol is starting to get in major car makers to take it seriously.
Below I have posted verbatim a good article on Gas stations selling ethanol to grow in 2006.
LOS ANGELES _ Drivers soon will have another choice at the pump beyond regular, premium and diesel.
This year, thousands of filling stations are expected to begin selling E85, a blend of gasoline and ethanol made from corn or other crops.
Advocates of E85 tout the fuel as a made-in-America alternative to imported oil that cuts dirty tailpipe emissions, boosts performance and, in some cases, can also save a little money.
Millions of vehicles already on the road can burn E85, but most owners instead fill up with regular gasoline because of a shortage of filling stations offering the alternative fuel.
"You may have an ethanol vehicle in your driveway and not even know it," said Anthony Pratt, senior manager of global powertrain forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates. "It was kind of the dirty little secret of the auto industry."
In years past, automakers made many of their trucks capable of burning E85 to comply with federal gas mileage regulations. But they didn't widely promote ethanol use, so consumers were unaware it was available.
That will likely change in 2006 with gas stations installing more pumps, U.S. automakers stepping up their marketing of E85, and more states such as Michigan supporting a fuel that helps farmers.
Currently, there are only about 500 filling stations, including four in Michigan, that sell E85, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, which promotes ethanol use. But by the end of the year, that number will rise to about 2,500, as filling stations take advantage of new tax credits for the costs of retro-fitting pumps and tanks, said Michelle Kautz, director of communications for the group.
"There seems to be a sea change in people's interest," said Beth Lowry, vice president of environment and energy matters for General Motors Corp. "Everybody has different reasons why they're interested."
Interest in E85 has surged along with the surge in gas prices. The war in Iraq has also attracted some consumers hoping for an alternative to imported oil.
The costs of E85 vary widely, but at times last fall, it cost 50 cents to 70 cents less than a gallon of gas, Kautz said.
But usually the cost is close to gas prices, and any price advantage is usually lost because vehicles usually burn E85 quicker than regular fuel, Pratt said.
Ford Motor Co., as part of its effort to put more innovative features in its vehicles, has set a target of building as many as 280,000 vehicles this year that can run on either E85 or regular gasoline.
Below I have posted verbatim a good article on Gas stations selling ethanol to grow in 2006.
LOS ANGELES _ Drivers soon will have another choice at the pump beyond regular, premium and diesel.
This year, thousands of filling stations are expected to begin selling E85, a blend of gasoline and ethanol made from corn or other crops.
Advocates of E85 tout the fuel as a made-in-America alternative to imported oil that cuts dirty tailpipe emissions, boosts performance and, in some cases, can also save a little money.
Millions of vehicles already on the road can burn E85, but most owners instead fill up with regular gasoline because of a shortage of filling stations offering the alternative fuel.
"You may have an ethanol vehicle in your driveway and not even know it," said Anthony Pratt, senior manager of global powertrain forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates. "It was kind of the dirty little secret of the auto industry."
In years past, automakers made many of their trucks capable of burning E85 to comply with federal gas mileage regulations. But they didn't widely promote ethanol use, so consumers were unaware it was available.
That will likely change in 2006 with gas stations installing more pumps, U.S. automakers stepping up their marketing of E85, and more states such as Michigan supporting a fuel that helps farmers.
Currently, there are only about 500 filling stations, including four in Michigan, that sell E85, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, which promotes ethanol use. But by the end of the year, that number will rise to about 2,500, as filling stations take advantage of new tax credits for the costs of retro-fitting pumps and tanks, said Michelle Kautz, director of communications for the group.
"There seems to be a sea change in people's interest," said Beth Lowry, vice president of environment and energy matters for General Motors Corp. "Everybody has different reasons why they're interested."
Interest in E85 has surged along with the surge in gas prices. The war in Iraq has also attracted some consumers hoping for an alternative to imported oil.
The costs of E85 vary widely, but at times last fall, it cost 50 cents to 70 cents less than a gallon of gas, Kautz said.
But usually the cost is close to gas prices, and any price advantage is usually lost because vehicles usually burn E85 quicker than regular fuel, Pratt said.
Ford Motor Co., as part of its effort to put more innovative features in its vehicles, has set a target of building as many as 280,000 vehicles this year that can run on either E85 or regular gasoline.
posted by George at 2:12 PM
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