WASHINGTON -- In meetings late last week with Congressional leadership, the CEOs of America's top automotive companies pledged their support toward developing more advanced technology and building more flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) to promote energy security. The CEOs discussed how alternative fuels like ethanol and advanced diesel can diversify America's transportation energy sources and called for greater availability of E85 at the nation's gasoline pumps.
Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda, Ford Motor Co. Chairman and CEO Bill Ford and General [image-nocss] Motors (GM) Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner told Congress that they support the 25X25 Initiative, which is an effort led by the Energy Future Coalition and supported by agriculture and forestry groups to get 25% of the nation's transportation energy needs met by renewable fuels by 2025.
All three companies discussed plans to continue to ramp up production of E85-capable vehicles for consumer sale. Today there are more than five million E85-capable FFVs on the road. This year, the three companies will sell nearly one million additional FFVs. If all of these vehicles were running on E85, it would displace the need for 3.6 billion gallons of gasoline per year.
While all three companies are working with fuel providers to expand the consumer availability of biofuels, the companies said there will need to be a significant movement forward on fuel availability to make the 2025 goal a reality. Alternative fuels will need to be available at about 20% to 30% of the nation's approximately 170,000 fueling stations to support increased vehicle production. Right now, only about 600 retail gas stations carry E85.
Such an increase in availability would put E85 within reach of 90% of the U.S. population. The CEOs said that without meaningful movement on fuel availability, the opportunities for alternative fuels will be limited.
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Meanwhile, Ford's vice president for environmental and safety engineering, Sue Cischke, joined members of congress to promote bipartisan legislation that would offer a reimbursement of up to $30,000 to gas station owners who convert their pumps to renewable fuels.
By providing the necessary incentives, this innovative measure will help us expand the infrastructure and use of renewable fuels in Americahelping provide relief to Americans at the pump and lessening our dependence on foreign oil, said Cischke, who appeared on Capitol Hill with co-sponsors Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.).
The Alternative Energy Refueling System Act of 2006 (S. 2614)and its companion measure in the Housewould provide incentives for station owners to convert their pumps, giving consumers greater opportunities to opt for cleaner, renewable fuels such as those containing ethanol, compressed natural gas or biodiesel.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.