Detroit Three’s Flex-Fuel Builds Increasing

The Renewable Fuels Assn. says General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are keeping their promises to produce 50% of their new vehicles as flexible-fuel vehicles by 2012.

RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen says ethanol-ready vehicles are essential if the U.S. is to increase its use of domestically produced ethanol and reduce reliance on imported oil.

U.S. seeing more vehicles able to run on ethanol blend.

“To see this industry continue to grow and evolve, including the commercialization of new ethanol technologies, we must continue to invest in FFVs, blender pumps and other infrastructure to maximize the benefits of using a homegrown renewable fuel,” Dinneen says in a statement.

The association says data it has compiled from expected FFV model production and conversations with GM and Ford indicate the Detroit Three are on pace to produce half of all new vehicles as FFVs in 2012. About 9 million FFVs now are in use.

Dinneen says vehicles are just one part of the plan needed to open America’s fuel market to higher-level ethanol blends and other alternative fuels.

“Investments in blender pumps that can dispense a wide range of ethanol blends and the passage of legislation like the Open Fuel Standard are needed to end oil’s monopoly on how Americans get to work or go on vacation,” he says.

“With changing federal regulations and fuel-quality needs in the years to come, ethanol producers and auto makers have an opportunity to work constructively together to help America achieve its environmental and energy-security goals, all while creating jobs and economic opportunity here at home.”

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency reports a U.S.-record 119 million gallons (450 million L) of biomass-based diesel fuel were sold in September.

That marks the sixth consecutive monthly record and is an 8% increase over the previous high of 110 million gallons (416 million L) in August.

Biodiesel sales totaled 686 million gallons (2.6 billion L) from January through September.