The “Ethanol Summit” included an impressive list of speakers and both local and national press arrived to cover it. The Ethanol Information and Promotional Council, IndyCar Series, Indianopolis Motor Speedway and Rahal Letterman Racing sponsored the event. EPIC officials said the summit was meant to commemorate what the company calls “monumental use” of 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in the IndyCar® …
35 MPG SUV
Looking to beat the three-and-half bucks a gallon gasoline sweeping the country… but don’t want to give up the size and security of your SUV? Students at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology have built a sport utility vehicle able to get up to 35 miles a gallon. They’ve put together a biodiesel hybrid electric Chevy Equinox in General Motors’ Challenge X …
GM Exec Promotes Biofuels
The vice chairman of General Motors says converting automobiles to ethanol is “entirely realistic.” Forbes reports that GM’s Bob Lutz spoke at an automotive conference in Louisville on Monday and said that instead of being satisfied with incremental change, the country should make it a priority to replace fossil fuel with renewable energy in “huge chunks.” Lutz said that ethanol …
AFVi Awards
The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) recently recognized outstanding leadership in the alternative fuels and vehicles industry at the 13th Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference & Expo 2007. General Motors received the Green Award for the “Live Green Go Yellow” marketing and advertising campaign. American Honda was honored with the Green Fleet Award for “leadership and consistency in manufacturing …
Black and White and Green All Over
Ford Motor Company‘s new 2008 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor will be offered as a flexible fuel vehicle allowing it to operate on E85 ethanol or gasoline. According to a news release, Ford is the largest producer and seller of police vehicles with more than 80 percent of the market. As police and government agencies move toward becoming more environmentally conscious …
Saab Gives 100 Percent a Go
Saab plans to unveil a 100 percent bioethanol-powered engine in Geneva next month. According to a news release: GM Powertrain CEO Kjell ac Bergstrom said: ‘Bioethanol is a potent, high-quality fuel which opens up exciting possibilities in helping to meet the environmental challenges that face us. As the need to reduce energy consumption increases, we are exploring ways to run …
More E85 Pumps for Colorado
Colorado motorists will soon have 40 more pumps to fill up with 85 percent ethanol. According to a press release from Colorado Governor Bill Ritter’s office, 40 new E85 fuel pumps will open at 22 gas stations around this state this year, thanks to an effort by General Motors to expand the availability of the ethanol blend. In addition to …
NC Company Steps up Productions of Tiny Fuel Cells
Raleigh-based Microcell has announced in a press release on its web site that it has bought an 80-thousand square foot facility in Eastern North Carolina to ramp up production of its microcell… the world’s smallest fuel cell (not just a clever title). This fuel cell is expected to help power cars in the future. “Microcell is moving beyond research and …
Interview with GM Executive
Mary Beth Stanek, GM’s director for Environment and Energy, has been making the midwest rounds recently talking about ethanol and the auto industry. This week she was in Des Moines at a biofuels forum sponsored by Successful Farming magazine. Last month she hit the Jackpot – Jackpot Junction, that is – in Morton, Minnesota where she attended the Minnesota Ag …
Riding & Driving
The Ride & Drive is bigger and better than ever here at the National Biodiesel Conference this year. If you want, you can drive any of several vehicles like this 2007 Volkswagen Toureg TDI. You can see a list of all the vehicles involved here: Ride & Drive List (pdf file) If you’re interested you can also see a list …