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 …
Eleven BYG Winners in Garst Giveaway
Garst Seed Company has announced the grand prizewinners in its Blue + Yellow = Green (BYG) sweepstakes. Eleven growers won free one-year leases for new Chevy 1500 Flex Fuel pickup trucks and Garst awarded 110 first-place prizes of $100 ethanol certificates. David Witherspoon, head of Garst says, “This initiative is part of our continuous efforts to provide seed and traits …
Stars of the Show
New vehicles capable of running on up to 85 percent ethanol are the stars of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this year, according to the Detroit Free Press. For the first time, several automakers unveiled concept and production models capable of burning E85, the blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline backed by Detroit automakers as the …
Looking at Bright E85 Future
A recent pledge by the nation’s top automakers to produce more E85 vehicles is great news for the industry, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. “The automobile manufacturers are behind this effort,” said NEVC Deputy Director Michelle Kautz. “Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and Nissan all agreed that they’re going to have half their production flexible fuel by the year …
Jumpstarting E85 in California
The U.S. Department of Energy has provided a major grant to build 15 public E85 stations in California. According to a news release, the effort will include the collaboration of some major environmental and corporate partners, including CALSTART, General Motors, Pacific Ethanol, and CleanFUEL USA. Currently, there is currently only one public station that sells E85 ethanol in California, despite …
E85 Pump Hearings
Underwriters Laboratories and the U.S. Department of Energy are holding two days of hearings this week at the testing group’s headquarters outside Chicago, inviting oil companies, automakers and researchers to help develop standards for E85 equipment. The National Ethanol Vehicle Association is “confident” that the meeting will address E85 pump safety concerns that first surfaced in an October 5 memo …
Flex Wars
Geez, guys, can’t we all just get along? Flex-Tek and Full Flex, competing E85 conversion kits, are having a little war on Domestic Fuel. (see previous post comments) For the sake of transparency, readers should be aware that Full Flex asked their satisfied customers to comment on the post about the interview I did with them. Here’s the way I …
Florida Living Green, Going Yellow
E85 has arrived in the Sunshine State. Florida’s first E85 pump opened in Tallahassee Wednesday, with Governor Jeb Bush doing the honors of filling the first tank full.
Full Flex Fuel Facts
Got a call today from FullFlex USA, a company in Idaho that sells a conversion system to make most any car a flex-fuel vehicle. Seems they saw the post on Flex Tek we did a while back (see previous post) and thought I might be interested in doing an interview about their system – and I was. According to their …
Strong Interest in FFVs and Hybrids
A new market research study shows very strong consumer interest in flex fuel vehicles, but fuel economy is an issue with them. The study, by global market research company Synovate, shows that 37% of US consumers would consider purchasing a Flex Fuel vehicle that runs on gasoline or E85 (85% Ethanol) the next time they are in the market to …