Energy Secretary Chu: All American cars should be E85 capable
In early May, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $786.5 million "third-generation" biofuel program. Yesterday, ex-biofuel researcher Stephen Chu, the Energy Secretary, said that all cars made in America should be able to burn ethanol (E85). Earlier this month, Chu said electric vehicles were "inevitable."Predictably, Chu made the E85 statement deep in corn ethanol country – in Des Moines, Iowa - yesterday, even though he has previously said that, "corn is not the right crop for biofuels." Chu's promotion of E85 capability seems to be driven by the low cost of making a standard internal-combustion vehicle able to burn the biofuel. Chu said that:
I've been told it costs about $100 in gaskets and fuel lines to turn a car so that it can go all the way to E85. But a new car, it would only cost $100 out of $15,000. Wouldn't it be nice to put in those fuel lines and gaskets so that we can use any ratio we wanted?While Chu made clear that the Obama Administration is not ready to mandate any flex-fuel capability at this time, that "any ratio" line surely caught the attention of those pushing for an increase in the nation ethanol blend to 15 percent. For more on the E15 debate, click here.
Gallery: Ford E85 Escape Hybrids
[Source: Des Moines Register]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Roger 11:02AM (6/23/2009)
This seems like a bunch of political mumbo jumbo. I thought ethanol was craptastic because of the amount of energy that it takes to resource it?
Reply
Sea Urchin 11:33AM (6/23/2009)
Ethanol is the biggest lie sold to Americans by the farm belt Senators, it does nothing but harm to environment, technology, fuel efficiency and taxpayers money.
Giving money to AIG made more sense than giving ethanol subsidies.
Luis 12:16PM (6/23/2009)
Lame. Agri-business is causing the destruction of America. Don't blame the corn farmers, blame ConAgra, Monsanto, etc. as they seek to continue corn's subsidies for their own insatiable appetite to drive their processed corn profits. All the while we get this crap and more corn syrup in our diets.
Big business really is the enemy of the state. From corn to healthcare, the industrial complex continues to grind America into the ground.
paul34 12:55PM (6/23/2009)
Yes, not to mention that unit for unit, ethanol produces less energy. It also requires completely new infrastructure, both in your vehicle as well as pipelines and tankers, due to the nature of ethanol. It would corrode or otherwise damage existing infrastructure. So even more cost.
It's such a ridiculous and silly political play. I'm very saddened to see the Obama administration continue one of the stupidest mistakes of Bush energy policy (and the set up to ethanol by a few administrations prior as well). Some "change" there, huh.
Butanol would have been a far, far better thing to research mass production for. It can even be DIRECTLY replaced for gasoline RIGHT NOW, with existing infrastructure.
Needless to say, as with many "environmental" things, it has little to do with the environment and all about enriching various politicians and companies.
Kitko 1:07PM (6/23/2009)
Ethanol - worse mileage, less power, more engine wear to compensate for thermodynamicly substandard fuel.
My experience with getting gas/ethanol mix in a E85 capable car was exactly that - the engine became very reluctant to work climbing up the hills, any dynamics went south. The mileage fell from 30 mpg to 22. I don't know how that's supposed to be help us.
SimbaDogg 2:47PM (6/23/2009)
e85 is great...but using ethanol from corn is just playing fuggin retarded. using high yield/energy crops like sugarcane would be a much more viable option, i mean...look at the brazilians. i dunno if this is tru, but last i heard the us govt had made it so ethanol imports from brazil were off limits. jesus christ i hate lobbyists.
anonymous j 10:36PM (6/23/2009)
considering the energy secretary is an ex biofuel researcher, I'm slightly more inclined to take his word over yours. nothing personal.
Max Palmer 11:05AM (6/23/2009)
$100 in gaskets and fuel lines? How about remapping the engine computer to run properly on ethanol? My Mini already cold-starts like crap on summertime gas with the extra corn in it because the computer doesn't know how to alter the fuel on startup properly.
Reply
info2x 11:11AM (6/23/2009)
Exactly, You need to create an entirely new map and calibrate all of the algorithms and diagnostics to recognize the EXX mixture and adapt accordingly.
dave1w41 11:23AM (6/23/2009)
His estimate of $100 is only off by about $500. LoL!
BigTeebo 11:57AM (6/23/2009)
I have an '02 MINI in MInnesota, and I get the cold start problems too, but it works on the 2nd try. Is that what's doing it? It doesn't seem to like BP gas.
Max Palmer 12:01PM (6/23/2009)
yup, that's exactly what it does, but it's not consistent.
the4thheat 12:52PM (6/23/2009)
I think that has more to do with the fact that it's a Mini than with the idea of multiple fuel blends.
Max Palmer 12:58PM (6/23/2009)
Of course it does, it's poor engine software- but how many cars do you know of that are going to run well, and for a long time, making a switch to e85? I'm not even talking about e85 in my Mini either- simply regular premium gas found at the gas station!
Shawn 11:06AM (6/23/2009)
I'm beginning to think no one in the current administration have any concept of cost/savings...just big ideas and a blank check
Reply
Cornelius 11:19AM (6/23/2009)
I'm beginning to think you're right.
Kumar 11:26AM (6/23/2009)
Watch politics much? Dumb ideas propped up by lobbyists don't pick sides.
This was in full swing back when the repubs ruled, with the mandated inclusion of ethanol. Gotta keep those midwest farmers happy...and the dems don't seem to want to change that either.
You'd think that by now we'd be reading about exceptions for motorists on the coasts, but the 'ideamakers' are in the midwest, and don't think about things like extra transportation costs of the fuel from the midwest. They just charge more in tariffs for fuel from South America.
AC 11:09AM (6/23/2009)
politician + politic...
let's see what's for lunch..
Reply
Avinash machado 11:12AM (6/23/2009)
"The government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem" - Ronald Reagan.
Reply
nbarry 11:14AM (6/23/2009)
Couldn't agree more. I miss that guy.