GM Announces 18 FFVs for Model Year 2009
DETROIT – General Motors will offer 18 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) in model year 2009. The number of E85 compatible vehicle models available in 2009 is a sharp increase from the past following the group’s commitment to making their line at least half E85 compatible by 2012.
“We continue to believe that biofuels, specifically E85, is the most significant thing we can do in the near-term to offset future energy demands,” said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. “We are on target to make 50 percent of our vehicles flex-fuel capable by 2012 providing the infrastructure is in place.”
The models cover the gamut from the four-cylinder Chevrolet HHR small crossover to the full-size Cadillac Escalade ESV luxury utility.
Infrastructure includes both the availability of the E85 fuel and stations where it is sold. Currently, there are more than 1,600 E85 stations thorughout the U.S.
GM cars and trucks account for 3 million of the 7 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. roadways and the company produced more than 1 million flex-fuel models in North America and Brazil last year.
Below is the listing of 2009 models GM offers that include flex-fuel capability at no additional charge to the customer:
Chevrolet: Avalanche, Express, HHR, HHR Panel, Impala, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
GMC: Savana, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL
Cadillac: Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT
Hummer: H2, H2 SUT
Buick: Lucerne
“We are pleased to see the increasing number of models of FFVs that General Motors will be offering during model year 2009 and are especially excited about the new 4 cylinder addition to their E85 model lineup,” stated Executive Director of the NEVC, Phil Lampert.
2 Comments »
Corny
There is a hidden proponent of Ethanol in the form of the car companies. The auto industry has to meet CAFÉ standards which require that all cars meet an average fuel economy of 27 mpg. As you know the big 3 have a love for the gas guzzler SUV. Rather than be dragged down by a 10 mpg Escalade they are able to use an E85 loophole. As the law reads an E85 vehicle (regardless of whether it ever uses it) is only counted for the amount of gasoline used (15%). If you divide 100% E85 by 15 you get a multiplier of 6.66 meaning that the 10 mpg Escalade is given credit for 66.6 mpg. If 5 out of every six auto companies vehicles averaged 20 mpg and 1 out of six were the escalade they would be credited as averaging 27.66 mpg while not one of the vehicles met the standard.
Stevo
I think you’re looking at this in a specifically-negative fashion.
I own three late model GM vehicles. My 2004 Suburban, my daily driver, is FlexFuel and is not my first. I travel the atlanta area on a daily basis as a tech consultant, and get a full tank of E85 to last a week. I paid $1.65 a gallon on Sunday to fuel up and filled my tank for about $35.00. Pretty cool. People always talk about the lower mileage, but with the higher-octane I just don’t “get on it” as much. For some, small, fuel efficient cars are the answer. For others, an alternative but ABUNDANT fuel source is the answer. This summer/fall when the southeast region was without gasoline, I continued to have abundant supplies fo E85 and got the word out for people who didn’t know they have FFV’s. I’d rather drive a vehicle that does what I need it to do (haul equipment) than drive a boring Toyota Corolla because it gets about 30mpg city. To each their own.
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