In recent years, many argued that the path away from Middle East oil and toward reduced vehicle greenhouse gas emissions would be led by a switch to ethanol and biodiesel. That argument—and the biofuels movement championed by entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and some researchers—is quickly dying. In the past week alone, VeraSun—the largest public ethanol producer in the country—filed for bankruptcy, and Germany became the first country to formally scale back its commitment to biofuels.
The green car movement has historically been comprised of many camps, each one arguing that he or she has the winning fuel or propulsion system. Yet the notion that no single solution will solve our energy and environmental problems is now gaining widespread acceptance. A smorgasbord of promising technologies was on display last week at a meeting of the Western Automotive Journalist in South San Francisco.
Europeans are far ahead of North Americans in eco-awareness, and it’s most evident at auto shows. This year’s London show, July 23 to August 3, is a perfect example; despite the UK’s traditional abundance of small supercar-makers and its luxury brands, the popular market seems now to be all about green cars—specifically those with low carbon emissions, or electric cars with no emissions at all.
A $2.5 million dollar grant from the Florida Renewable Energy Grants Program will allow Central Florida’s public bus system, Lynx, to power its 290 diesel-powered buses on a biodiesel blend.
Two new studies cast doubt on the ecological benefits of biofuels. Researchers found that, when all relevant factors are considered, biofuels produce more greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels.
GMC is introducing the 2009 Sierra Two-Mode Hybrid pickup truck at the Chicago Motor Show this week. The Sierra Hybrid is due out in late 2008. In addition, GMC will unveil a hybrid pickup concept called the Denali XT, which can run on E85 ethanol.
If you’re looking for small, fuel-efficient vehicles that use E85, you may be disappointed. Half of the 2006 flexible-fuel vehicles are full-sized pickups or SUVs, including the Dodge Durango (rated at 12 mpg in the city and 15 mpg on the highway).
Proponents of ethanol emphasize its environmental and energy security benefits.
You’ve probably been hearing a lot lately about ethanol. From politicians to advertisements by major automakers, ethanol is being discussed more regularly as an alternative to gasoline.
What's the next step to the ultimate hybrid? According to engineer Chris Ellis, it's adapting hybrids to take an Ethanol-85 blend.
