2007 Flexible Fuel Vehicles Announced
Jefferson City, MO – Twelve new flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) models will soon be available for purchase. DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes Benz and Nissan have announced their model year 2007 E85 compatible vehicles.
“We are pleased to see the automobile manufacturers follow through with their promise to increase their number of FFV offerings,” stated Phil Lampert, Executive Director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC). “This increase in production along with recent pledges for additional new vehicles, demonstrates the commitment of the auto industry to respond to consumer demands for E85 vehicles.”
Along with the continuation of many 2006 models, the automobile manufacturers will offer the following new FFVs in 2007:
DaimlerChrysler:
4.7 liter Chrysler Aspen
4.7 liter Jeep Commander
4.7 liter Jeep Grand Cherokee
4.7 liter Dodge Dakota
General Motors:
5.3 liter Chevy Express
5.3 liter GMC Savana
3.9 liter Chevy Uplander
3.9 liter Pontiac Montana
3.9 liter Saturn Relay
3.9 liter Buick Terraza
Mercedes Benz
2.5 liter C230 sedan
Nissan
5.6 liter Armada
“We must now focus on increasing the infrastructure across the entire U.S. to help fuel these vehicles with 85 percent ethanol,” Lampert added. “We are continuing to work with the Congress to consider incentives that would advance alternative fuel systems and are hopeful that the Senate will continue to appropriate funds to assist us in this effort.”
A listing of all thirty-one FFV models can be found at www.E85Fuel.com.
Gas Mileage Figures Remain Flat
Despite $3 plus gallon gasoline, the fleet averages of each of the automakers remains flat. This according to a report published by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Toyota and Honda have the most fuel efficient fleets while DaimlerChrysler’s fleet is the most fuel consuming. Even with hybrids in the mix, no automaker is able to crack a fleetwide average of 25 mpg.
Xethanol To Build High Capacity GA Plant
Because of the dearth of ethanol producing plants in the USA, a New York Company — Xethanol — is planning on building a cellulosic ethanol plant in Augusta, GA. The plant is expected to come online in the Summer of 2007 and will produce as much as 50 million gallons of ethanol per year. This news comes via a report published in an Atlanta newspaper.
Xethanol [trading as XNL on the American Stock Exchange] will be using a variety of feedstocks to produce ethanol. The plant is expected to later have the ability to produce to biodiesel as well.
With gas prices averaging more than $3 per gallon, this additional capacity is certainly to be welcomed by motorists who currently drive vehicles capable of running on ethanol but are having a difficult time finding the fuel.
In related news, a Texas company has also announced that they will be breaking ground on an ethanol plant capable of producing 100 million gallons of fuel annually.
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