The Arizona Republic, 2-11-05
PARADISE VALLEY AZ - Ethanol can help U.S. motorists kick the
gasoline habit and reduce dependence on foreign oil, General Motors
officials said this week in Paradise Valley as they kicked off a campaign to
promote the alternative fuel.
As part of its ethanol push, GM is providing 28 state governments, including Arizona's, with Chevrolet Avalanche demonstration vehicles that are equipped to run on a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, known as E85.
The E85 blend could help reduce national gasoline consumption as well as provide a clean, renewable energy resource.
As part of its ethanol push, GM is providing 28 state governments, including Arizona's, with Chevrolet Avalanche demonstration vehicles that are equipped to run on a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, known as E85.
The E85 blend could help reduce national gasoline consumption as well as provide a clean, renewable energy resource.
GM officials said during the Renewable Fuel Association's
annual National Ethanol Conference held at the Camelback Inn.
Vehicles are ready today that can run on E85, but the
challenge is to create widespread availability of the fuel, said Thomas
Stephens, vice president of GM Powertrains group and keynote speaker at the
conference, attended by about 1,000 people associated with the ethanol
industry.
"As far as we're concerned, the challenge is getting the ethanol infrastructure in place and getting the production up to the point where E85 becomes a real, viable alternative," said Stephens, who's responsible for development and production of GM engines and transmissions worldwide.
General Motors already has sold about a million flexible-fuel vehicles, which can run on fuel mixtures ranging from pure gasoline to E85 in the United States, Stephens said, and other manufacturers have about 3 million more flex-fuel vehicles on the road today.
"If they all ran on E85 fuel, it would equate to 45 million barrels of crude that we wouldn't have to import annually," he said. "This is really a big deal toward reducing our dependence on foreign oil."
"As far as we're concerned, the challenge is getting the ethanol infrastructure in place and getting the production up to the point where E85 becomes a real, viable alternative," said Stephens, who's responsible for development and production of GM engines and transmissions worldwide.
General Motors already has sold about a million flexible-fuel vehicles, which can run on fuel mixtures ranging from pure gasoline to E85 in the United States, Stephens said, and other manufacturers have about 3 million more flex-fuel vehicles on the road today.
"If they all ran on E85 fuel, it would equate to 45 million barrels of crude that we wouldn't have to import annually," he said. "This is really a big deal toward reducing our dependence on foreign oil."
Currently, about 30 percent of gasoline used in the United
States is 10 percent ethanol, with all vehicles in the Phoenix and Tucson
areas using the blend during winter months to reduce air pollution. That
blend, called E10, already produces a reduction in oil dependence, Stephens
said, but industry can do more with higher percentages of ethanol.
During 2004, the use of E10 in this country reduced carbon-dioxide greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 7 million tons compared with pure gasoline, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.
GM is the largest producer of E85-capable vehicles, mainly pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, and will introduce flex-fuel versions of Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo models in 2006, Stephens said.
"We have the opportunity of developing ethanol as a viable alternative fuel now instead of waiting around another two decades for hydrogen," said Gary Herwick of GM's Public Policy Center for Mobile Emissions and Fuel Efficiency.
Ethanol, made from corn and other crops, could help relieve growing international pressure on petroleum supplies, Stephens said, as emerging nations rapidly build their economies and use more cars and trucks. China's fuel use rose 15 percent over the past year, he added.
Ethanol, natural gas, bio-diesel, gas/electric hybrid vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells are all part of an alternative-energy future, Stephens said.
The ethanol industry is expanding and providing an essential service, said Bob Dineen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association.
During 2004, the use of E10 in this country reduced carbon-dioxide greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 7 million tons compared with pure gasoline, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.
GM is the largest producer of E85-capable vehicles, mainly pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, and will introduce flex-fuel versions of Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo models in 2006, Stephens said.
"We have the opportunity of developing ethanol as a viable alternative fuel now instead of waiting around another two decades for hydrogen," said Gary Herwick of GM's Public Policy Center for Mobile Emissions and Fuel Efficiency.
Ethanol, made from corn and other crops, could help relieve growing international pressure on petroleum supplies, Stephens said, as emerging nations rapidly build their economies and use more cars and trucks. China's fuel use rose 15 percent over the past year, he added.
Ethanol, natural gas, bio-diesel, gas/electric hybrid vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells are all part of an alternative-energy future, Stephens said.
The ethanol industry is expanding and providing an essential service, said Bob Dineen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association.
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