Under the plan, General Motors (GM) will use expertise gained in helping bring 300 E85 pumps on line in 15 US states over the last three years, to assist more states in strategically locating pumps to allow owners of flex-fuel vehicles to choose between ordinary gasoline and E85, which consists of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
In addition to helping connect fuel retailers with available grants for pump installations and conversions, GM assists in determining the best locations for pumps based on flex-fuel vehicle registrations. It will expand these efforts to as many as eight states under the National Governors Association (NGA) team partnership.
GM said that it is steadily increasing the number of cars and trucks offered with flex-fuel capability at no extra cost to consumers. For 2009, GM will have 18 flexfuel models including the four-cylinder Chevrolet HHR. GM has committed to making 50% of production flex-fuel capable by 2012, providing the infrastructure is progressing.
Beth Lowery, vice president of environment, energy and safety policy, said: The infrastructure development for E85 needs to expand now if the nation is to be ready for the significant growth in ethanol coming from new sources. We need a range of alternatives to offset growing energy demand in this country and globally.
