Major Auto Makers Expand Commitment to Ethanol
Ford will step up development of vehicles running on alternative fuels and GM plans to distinguish E85 compatible vehicles from regular gasoline powered vehicles.
Compiled by staff
Published: Sep 21, 2005
Momentum for ethanol, and E85 specifically, continues to build as witnessed by announcements from Ford and GM that they will take steps to expand E85 marketing and education.
Ford announced plans today to step up development of vehicles running on alternative sources of energy, such as ethanol, and hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars in a bid to recapture the high ground from leading Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.
General Motors Corporation, one of the top three automotive manufacturers in North America, also announced plans that will easily distinguish their E85 compatible vehicles from their regular gasoline powered vehicles. In about 400,000 of their new flexible-fuel vehicles (FFV), GM will replace their original gas caps with ones that are colored yellow.
"We applaud both of these manufacturers, these American companies, for increasing their commitment to ethanol and flexible fuel technology. Consumers deserve a choice in fuels and fuel prices, and this announcement shows Ford and GM think so too. Based on increased ethanol sales and the number of E85 fueling sites, consumers are clearly becoming a factor in the fuel market.•bCrLf said Roger Sy, president of Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) of Newman.
At this time, there is no universal labeling that is used for the almost 5 million FFVs on American roads. It is difficult to determine a vehicle's compatibility with E85. GM's new fuel cap will alert a driver if their vehicle is compatible.
GM is also considering a large marketing strategy that will help promote FFVs and E85. These plans include placing educational newspaper ads and distributing mailings to flexible-fuel vehicle owners informing them of their vehicle's fuel capability and their closest E85 fueling site. There are now about 480 public E85 fueling sites in the U.S, with more than 70 located in Illinois.
Earlier this year Ford CEO Bill Ford, said the auto industry faced huge challenges in developing new powertrains. "But the potential rewards of this new technology are great. The 100-year reign of the gas-powered internal combustion engine could come to an end in our lifetime,"
With its new strategy, Ford is also trying to push back Japan's biggest automakers, which have stressed safety and environmental technology to bolster their brands and limit their reliance on profit-eroding incentives to sell their vehicles.
Ford Motor Co. also plans to offer hybrid versions of half the models in its Ford, Mercury and Lincoln brand lineups by the end of the decade as part of a bold strategy to distinguish itself as a leader in safety and environmental innovation.
There are currently about 1.5 million GM model flexible-fuel vehicles. GM's model year 2006 line include the 3.5 liter Impala and Monte Carlo; and the 5.3 liter Avalanche, Tahoe, Silverado, Sierra, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon and Yukon XL.
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