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Will ethanol E85 catch on in the US? Will we Live Green and Go Yellow? - READ ONLY

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Messages Page 56 of 211

#551 of 2104 2006 E85 Capable autos NOW - GM by seniorjose

Jun 05, 2006 (9:05 am)

2007
 
5.3L V-8 engine Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton pickups 2WD & 4WD
5.3L Vortec-engine Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon & Yukon XL
3.5L Chevy Impala (LS, 1LT & 2LT)
3.5L Chevy Monte Carlo (LS and LT models only)
 
2006
 
3.5L Chevy Impala (LS, 1LT & 2LT)
3.5L Chevy Monte Carlo (LS and LT models only)
 
2005 - 2006
 
5.3L Vortec-engine Avalanche
5.3L Vortec-engine Police Package Tahoe*
 
2003 - 2006
 
5.3L V-8 engine Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton pickups 2WD & 4WD
5.3L Vortec-engine Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon and Yukon XLs
 

#552 of 2104 Not all politicians are feeding at the Ethanol trough by gagrice

Jun 05, 2006 (9:10 am)

For years, conventional wisdom was that presidential candidates could not survive the first-in-the-nation caucuses in Iowa unless they supported subsidies for the corn-based ethanol fuel. But strategists say Iowa no longer is a single-issue state - if it ever was. At least one presidential hopeful intends to test the premise.
 
"Ethanol is very important, but Iowans are more sophisticated than that," said a former Iowa Republican chairman, Michael Mahaffey. "I think ethanol could be a bright part of Iowa's future, but it's only a part. I don't think there's going to be some kind of litmus test when it comes to presidential candidates."
 
Republican Sen. John McCain, an early front-runner in the 2008 sweepstakes, told Iowa audiences recently that he is opposed to all farm subsidies, including special deals for ethanol production.
 
That is not exactly what people are used to hearing from candidates, but it has not stopped the Arizona lawmaker from collecting some important early backing.
 
"I don't think it's a make or break issue," said Steve Roberts, a Des Moines lawyer who sits on the Republican National Committee.
 
Pragmatic Iowa caucus-goers take a lot into account when pondering their picks, strategists say.
 
Ethanol "is an issue that is probably more important to the Iowa economy than for Iowa voters," said veteran Democratic activist Phil Roeder. "I don't think it's an exclusive issue right now for any candidate for any office."

#553 of 2104 2006 E85 Capable autos NOW - Mercedes by seniorjose

Jun 05, 2006 (9:14 am)

2005
 
2.6L C240 luxury series
 
2003-2005
 
3.2L Mercedes-Benz C320 sport series

#554 of 2104 E85 and Environment NOW by seniorjose

Jun 05, 2006 (9:23 am)

E85 and the Environment
 
E85 has the highest oxygen content of any transportation fuel available today, making it burn cleaner than gasoline. Fewer exhaust emissions result in reduced production of smog and a decline in respiratory illness associated with poor air quality. E85 also reduces greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, the main contributor to global warming, as much as 39 to 46 percent compared to gasoline.
 
Since E85's main ingredient is ethanol, which is non-toxic, water soluble and biodegradable, E85 is simply a better fuel for the world around us.
 
The Argonne National Laboratory has completed several significant studies.

#555 of 2104 And...the beat goes on and on and on...NOW by seniorjose

Jun 05, 2006 (9:34 am)

GENERAL MOTORS ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH STATE OF INDIANA AND MEIJER GAS STATIONS TO HELP MORE INDIANA MOTORISTS POWER THEIR GM FLEXFUEL VEHICLES WITH E85 ETHANOL
 
INDIANAPOLIS – General Motors today announced that it has facilitated plans for the addition of several new E85 ethanol fueling sites throughout Indiana thanks to a collaborative partnership with Meijer and the state of Indiana. GM has been the catalyst behind several similar partnerships across the country as part of a broader, national GM campaign to boost the use and awareness of ethanol-based E85 fuel in the United States.
 
The announcement was made today during a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of an E85 ethanol pump at the Meijer Pike Plaza 129 store. Governor Mitch Daniels and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman were on hand for the event along with U.S. Secretary of Energy, Samuel Bodman.
 
“Flexible fuel vehicles and E85 are proven options for substituting a clean burning renewable fuel for gasoline, and I believe it should be our common goal that E85 become a nationwide fueling option,” Secretary Bodman said. “I want to thank Governor Daniels, Lt. Governor Skillman, GM and Meijer for their commitment to this goal. Efforts like these—to educate the public and expand the network of stations that can deliver E85 fuel—will help us meet the President’s goal to reduce our reliance on foreign sources of oil.”
“GM already has nearly two million vehicles on the road today that are capable of using E85 ethanol fuel. ,” said Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president of environment and energy.
  
The effort is similar to announcements GM has already made with other state government, oil industry, ethanol producers, and retail partners in California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas. Since May of 2005, GM has announced partnerships with states and fuel providers around the country to locate, to date, up to 130 new E85 ethanol fueling locations by the end of 2006.
 
Corn is the leading source of income for Indiana farmers contributing $1.45 billion annually. Indiana produces 786.9 million bushels of corn a year, providing a basis for millions of gallons of ethanol to be produced in the future. There are currently nearly 70,000 GM flexible fuel vehicles in Indiana, with a total of 90,000 flexible vehicles in the state.
 
E85 flexible fuel vehicles can run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85 ethanol, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85 ethanol can contribute to energy independence because it diversifies the source of transportation fuels beyond petroleum, and it provides positive environmental benefits in the form of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

#556 of 2104 E85 is still the Answer - NOW by seniorjose

Jun 05, 2006 (9:40 am)

NEVC - Jefferson City, MO – E85 refueling locations have more than doubled in the past year, making more availability for the almost six million compatible vehicles on American roads. Unfortunately, the price at the pump has not been the most attractive in recent months.
 
When using E85 in a flexible-fuel vehicle, one will receive a 5 to 12 percent mileage reduction than when using unleaded gasoline in the same vehicle. This reason is simple – E85 contains less energy, lower British Thermal Units (BTUs) than regular unleaded gasoline. Thus, to be advantageous for a consumer, the price of E85 must be lower than that of regular unleaded gasoline. Unfortunately, at this time, the price of E85 is sometimes higher than regular unleaded at many refueling locations.
 
What are the factors that are resulting in these high E85 prices? One of the main reasons is that ethanol demand has recently been at an all-time high. The reasons for this unprecedented demand of ethanol is the phase out of MTBE in parts of the United States and continued reductions in refining capacity. The hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast in late 2005 created a gasoline shortage throughout the country and in some cases, refinery supplies are still being impacted. Major gasoline retailers needed to extend their fuel supplies, and adding a small percentage of ethanol to their gasoline blend was a short term answer.
 
Most persons associated with the industry indicate believe that the high cost of E85 is short term. “The price [of E85] is higher but it is being driven by market forces due to a short term market shortage.

#557 of 2104 Re: E85 is still the Answer - NOW [seniorjose] by gagrice

Jun 05, 2006 (2:57 pm)

Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 05, 2006 9:40 am)
What are the factors that are resulting in these high E85 prices?
 
No sniveling about the high price of corn ethanol. Did I say, I told you so? I hope you continue to support and run E85 in your vehicle when the price continues to rise. If not I would say that borders on hypocrisy.

#558 of 2104 Re: E85 dispenser - NOW [seniorjose] by gridflash

Jun 05, 2006 (3:36 pm)

Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 05, 2006 8:37 am)
Good post.
It's surprising that it's taken this long to get an Industry-Approved E85 fuel dispenser.
 
It's too bad that they aren't publicly traded. Cause we are going to need a lot of them.

#559 of 2104 Re: E85 is still the Answer - NOW [gagrice] by seniorjose

Jun 06, 2006 (7:52 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Jun 05, 2006 2:57 pm)
Removing the influence of the oil cartel or at least dissipating it is our national goal. South America and now Iran are threatening to cut off the oil spigot...this terrorist blackmail has to stop!
 
It is hilarious to see even our USA TREE-HUGRs scramble, whine and ineptly try to denigrate renewable resources such as Ethanol and Biodeisal. Of course Hydrogen powered autos are decades away from being practical, just as Electric autos have been phased out as impractical so far.
E95 and Biodeisal will allow us to push diesels technology NOW! Of course E85 continues to impact auto sales NOW.
 
Ford currently is running a new ad that is advertising their E85 capable F150 as having NO price increase over 100% gasoline models. Good advertising...shows a stalk of green corn slowly turning into an E85 green corn like hose that is fueling a bright red F150...and the beat goes on...NOW! Like Mikey..."Buy it, you'll like it."

#560 of 2104 Re: E85 is still the Answer - NOW [seniorjose] by gagrice

Jun 06, 2006 (8:03 am)

Replying to: seniorjose (Jun 06, 2006 7:52 am)
You and I may be closer together than you think. First though I am not worried about oil being shut off from Iran. They have crap oil with real high sulfur that no one wants. That may cause them to use their big guns to take over other Middle East countries. That could be problematic. South American oil is much more stable. They talk a lot but love our money. They have horrible leaders, but not ones that have a religious fervor of hatred toward the USA.
 
It is good that Ford and GM are offering FFVs for those that have access to E85. Right NOW today we are just about maxed out on what we can produce from corn. Until a process is in place to make ethanol from biomass we have reached our potential for supplying ethanol. We can waste a lot of money building more stills and without the corn to fill them it is a waste of money. You have already seen the price of E85 pass up regular. What does that mean to you. I do think biodiesel will have a more positive impact on our oil usage than ethanol over time.

Messages Page 56 of 211

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