Ford to Create "Midwest Ethanol Corridor"
Ford today announced its plans to help create an Ethanol Corridor in the Midwest by expandin E85 ethanol availability by approximately one-third in Illinois and Missouri this year. Through the company’s ongoing partnership with VeraSun Energy, a renewable energy company. Actions to increase the availability of ethanol in neighboring states are planned, as well.
Ford also announced that it is working with the city of Chicago to put hybrid vehicles into service as taxi cabs beginning in 2007, as part of a plan being considered today by the Chicago City Council. Ford is loaning the city an Escape Hybrid to serve as a training and education tool with taxi fleets and the public. The Ford Escape Hybrid will help taxi companies reduce fuel expenses while helping to improve the air quality in the city.
E85 ethanol is a fuel blend that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Ethanol is a completely renewable fuel that, in the U.S., is most commonly made from corn. Gasoline sold in the U.S. frequently contains up to 10 percent ethanol, but an increasing number of vehicles on the road today can operate on blends containing up to 85 percent ethanol. To date, approximately 500 of the more than 180,000 fuel stations in the United States currently offer E85 ethanol.
The first phase in the creation of the Midwest ethanol corridor is to convert approximately 40 existing gasoline fuel pumps in Illinois and Missouri to E85. The move will increase availability by approximately one-third this year. Ford estimates there are 50,000 owners of Ford flexible fuel vehicles (FFV) in Illinois and 28,000 in Missouri. Ford will work with fuel providers and officials in other states to further develop the Midwest ethanol corridor.
With the introduction of four new 2006 models that have the E85 option – including the Ford F-150 pickup, Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car – the company will produce up to 250,000 ethanol-capable vehicles in 2006.
Comments
This is very interesting. Here in Wisconsin, we are concerned that our State Government is forcing the 10% ethanol fuel on all of us. We understand that this fuel:
1) actually causes more pollution and wastes more energy in the production process.
2) results in poorer fuel mileage in the vehicle.
3) burns hotter, and is therefore harder on the engine itself.
4) is more expensive.
5) and is only being promoted because of the huge ($) effort by the ethanol producer's lobby.
I would assume that an 85% mixture would be worse in all categories. Somebody enlighten me if I'm wrong.
Posted by: Scott Lindberg | February 9, 2006 09:17 AM