More details on the California state flex-fuel vehicles not using any E85
As we mentioned, last year the state of California spent $13 million on flex-fuel vehicles for state officials to use. Most of the 1,500 vehicles were Chevy Impalas. The state Department of General Services has revealed that not one ounce of ethanol has been used in any of these vehicles to date. When they bought the vehicles there were no E85 stations in California and the investment in the fleet did not include any money for such facilities.
Even now the only state-operated E85 pump is in San Diego making it of little use to most of the vehicles. The flex-fuel vehicles have accumulated over ten million miles using nothing but gasoline. The main reason behind the purchase was because new federal guidelines required three-quarters of state vehicle purchases to be alternative fuel models and flex-fuel vehicles were the most available and practical even though the alternative fuel itself was unavailable in the state.
[Source: KGO-TV]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GreyFlcn 5:56PM (7/23/2007)
Duh.
http://greyfalcon.net/e85stations.png
Reply
Kardax 6:00PM (7/23/2007)
Here in Minnesota, we have hundreds of E85 pumps. We have the other problem: very few E85-compatible cars are on sale. The state orders them in bulk from the car manufacturers, but ordinary consumers don't have many choices.
At least, though, we don't have any controversy on E85 state vehicles not being used as intended.
Reply
GreyFlcn 6:02PM (7/23/2007)
Frankly, I have no idea why someone would buy an E85 car over a diesel car with modern emmisions controls.
http://greyfalcon.net/lcarough7.png
Reply
Kardax 6:13PM (7/23/2007)
Diesels have a bad reputation. People who've never actually owned one think they make a lot of noise, pollute like crazy, and don't work in the winter. You say "diesel" to a typical American, and the first thing that comes to mind is a dump truck belching smoke every time it shifts gears.
Reply
GreyFlcn 7:29PM (7/23/2007)
Yeah, but that reputation is gonna change in 2008 when Diesels will be clean enough to be sold in all 50 states.
Including California, which has the most stringent diesel emmisions standards in the world.
3x more strict than in Europe.
_
But really it doesn't have much to do with the fuel. Infact diesel fuel is slightly dirtier than gasoline.
It's primarily all about how energy effecient the car is.
Way I see it: (roughly)
Gasoline Engine: 20% efficient
Diesel Engine: 40% efficient
Hybrid Engine: 50% efficient
Electric Engine: 90% efficient
Reply
MikeW 12:04AM (7/24/2007)
Gasoline is ~1/3, diesel is ~1/2
What is an electric engine?
Reply
John Rowell 12:08AM (7/24/2007)
Let's first get lots of E85 pumps installed all across the state and then require government vehicles to refuel at these locations when feasible. I'd also like to see seaweed farms off the California coast churning out thousands of barrels of cellulose ethanol every day :)
Reply
Bill 7:58AM (7/24/2007)
What ever happened to compressed natural gas for fleet vehicles?
Very low emissions, cheap ongoing fuel costs.
There are plenty of CNG stations in CA.
Is the financial incentive now better for E85 vehicles than CNG vehicles?
Reply