GoodFuels

Chu would like to see all cars running on E85

The NYTimes transportation blog Wheels took on ethanol this weekend with a post about Energy Secretary Chu’s comments on ethanol last week.

In a speech in Des Moines this week, Mr. Chu said, “I’ve been told it costs about $100 in gaskets and fuel lines to turn a car so that it can go all the way to E85.”

The problem with that, the blog continues, is not with E85 compatible cars, but with lacking infrastructure and filling stations to fill the demand.

Asked about Mr. Chu’s comments, Scott Tobin, a vehicle line director for Ford, said, “E85 is something we know how to do, and the technology for it is well developed. It’s a direction the industry can take, but ethanol presently lacks infrastructure and consumer demand. If there is a breakthrough in cellulosic ethanol development, that might change the equation.”

The 2,000th ethanol station opened at the end of May in Miami. Ethanol is indeed spreading across the country and more stations are set to open in the coming months.

If the infrastructure was in place, would you be more likely to purchase a flex-fuel vehicle? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Photo from post406.