A bipartisan group of congress members has introduced a bill that would require that 80 percent of all new automobile and light trucks sold or manufactured in the U.S. be capable of running on either E85, M85 (a methanol-gasoline blend of 85 percent) or biodiesel.

The measure, H.R. 1476, would require half of the new cars and light trucks sold or built here in 2012 to be E85 or M85 flex-fuel capable, ratcheting up to 80 percent three years later. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY], Rep. Roscoe Bartlett [R-MD], Rep. Steve Israel [D-NY], and Rep. Bob Inglis [R-SC].

Ford, GM and Chrysler all have said they do not need a mandate. The groups promise to produce half their lines as flexible fuel by the year 2012 should there be fueling infrastructure to support the vehicles. There are currently less than 2,000 E85 fueling locations for more than 7 million E85 vehicles now on American roads.