The president of the South Dakota Farmers Union took issue with remarks made by a General Motors executive at the recent National Ethanol Conference that 98 RON (Research Octane Number) or higher gasoline was not feasible. In a letter to General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra, Doug Sombke challenged GM vice president Don Nicholson’s claim that “98 RON fuel …
Ethanol Meets the Need for High Octane
Dan Nicholson has been with General Motors since 1982 and was appointed vice president, Global Electrification, Controls, Software and Electronic Hardware in January 2019. He is responsible for all electrified propulsion products including batteries and electric drive units. He is also responsible for all electronic control systems and strategies, software and associated electronic hardware for all General Motors products globally. …
RFA Finds Over 93% of 2019 Vehicles Approved for E15
More than 93 percent of 2019 model year (MY) vehicles are “explicitly approved by the manufacturer to use 15 percent ethanol blends (E15),” according to the latest analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). That’s four percent more than the approximately 89 percent of MY 2018 vehicles that were E15 approved. Automakers began specifically approving E15 in owner’s manuals and …
Ethanol Groups Praise Emissions Rules Review
President Trump announced Wednesday that the administration is reinstating the Midterm Evaluation of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) standards for the automotive industry, which is good news for the ethanol industry. “Today’s actions allow the opportunity for EPA to slow down, remove politics from the process, and take a more comprehensive approach to fuel …
High Octane, Low Carbon Future Panel at #RFANEC
Automakers, DOE scientists, and other experts agree that octane is the key to enabling greater efficiency and reduced emissions in the internal combustion engines of the future. The question is making that happen and that is the discussion had at the National Ethanol Conference this week. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Senior VP Geoff Cooper moderated the conversation with Ricardo Executive …
GM and Honda Join for Fuel Cell Production
General Motors and Honda are teaming up to mass produce an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system in the auto industry’s first manufacturing joint venture. Fuel Cell System Manufacturing, LLC will operate within GM’s existing battery pack manufacturing facility site in Brownstown, Michigan, south of Detroit. Mass production of fuel cell systems is expected to begin around 2020 and create nearly …
General Motors Pleased to Take Biodiesel Lead
General Motors was very pleased to announce its expanded portfolio of B20-capable vehicles during the recent 14th National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego, taking the lead among auto makers with 20 trucks, cars and crossovers able to use 20% biodiesel. “We listen to what our customers are asking us for,” said John Schwegman, GM Director of Commercial Product and Medium …
Record Number of #Biodiesel Vehicles Available
U.S. auto manufacturers have introduced a record number of new biodiesel capable diesel vehicle options, several of which were on display at the 2017 National Biodiesel Conference Vehicle Showcase, presented by NBB and General Motors Fleet. One of GM’s flagship models, the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado HD pickup with a 6.6L Duramax® turbo diesel engine, is on proud display in the …
GM Announces 20 for B20 in Diesel Vehicle Lineup
General Motors is fueling America’s future with biodiesel by expanding its B20-capable lineup to include new cars, crossovers and trucks. John Schwegman, Director of Commercial Product and Medium Duty Product for General Motors, delivered the news during the general session at the 2017 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in San Diego Tuesday. “Diesel propulsion deserves wider consideration by fleet managers …
High Octane, Low Carb #Biofuels Better for Fuel Economy
Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle, is leading an effort to ensure that high octane, low carbon fuels are part of EPA’s midterm evaluation of the progress of federal fuel economy standards. Daschle was the author of the reformulated and oxygenated fuel provisions of the Clean Air Act, and also the lead sponsor of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), …