AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Democrats battling Republicans over military biofuels]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It looks like Blue's fighting Red over the Green.

Democratic members of Congress and some U.S. military leaders are planning to fight the Republican-led effort to quash efforts to expand use of biofuels for the U.S. military, the Colorado Independent reports.

Proponents of more biofuel use by the military say they can help hedge against the type of fuel-price increases that will cost the federal government $1.3 billion in 2012. Petroleum use also causes safety issues. About one in 30 convoys designed to ensure the operation of refueling lines in Iraq and Afghanistan has led to a soldier casualty. More petroleum use also causes more greenhouse gas emissions, and the resulting climate change causes natural disasters that boost disaster-relief requirements from the military, biofuel proponents say.

Last week, the Talking Points Memo blog reported that a Republican-led group within the House Armed Services Committee put at risk hundreds of millions of dollars worth programs approved during the past few years by voting to disallow the U.S. Department of Defense from paying more for biofuels that would be used in military vehicles than regular fuels. Such a ban would reverse projects such as last August's a three-year, $510 million project with the USDA and DoD that was designed to develop biofuels for the private sector.

Democrats battling Republicans over military biofuels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 23 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofueldefense departmentdodethanolmilitaryu.s. department of defenseWed, 23 May 2012 19:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243623/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20243623/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/23/democrats-battling-republicans-over-military-biofuels/20243623/article-detail.xml 20243623 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank-1337811521_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank-1337811521.jpg <![CDATA[House Committee votes to end military biofuel programs]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



So about those plans for more military biofuel production...

A Republican-led group within the House Armed Services Committee recently voted to ban the U.S. Department of Defense from paying more for biofuels used for military vehicles than regular fuels, putting at risk hundreds of millions of dollars worth programs approved during the past few years for the purpose of cutting foreign-oil dependency, according to Talking Points Memo.

The projects that may be on the chopping block include the Air Force's testing of a blend of camelina (made from a mustard-like plant) and jet fuel for its Thunderbirds show-pilot team and the Navy's testing of other biofuels used in both ships and planes flown by its Blue Angels team. The biofuels programs had been enacted in part to cut some of the $300 billion in annual U.S. spending on crude oil as well as to boost revenue flowing through U.S. farms. Last year, the Pentagon said it pays around $400 a gallon for fuel in Afghanistan.

Last August, the USDA teamed with the Defense Department on a three-year, $510 million project that involved developing biofuels for the private sector. The prior month, ASTM International, which writes technical standards for global industries, green-lit the use of renewable fuels in military and commercial aircraft. Components of the renewable fuel were to come from sources such as algae, camelina, jatropha or tallow (animal fats).

House Committee votes to end military biofuel programs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 20 May 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air forcearmybiofuelblue angelscommitteegovernmenthouseHouse Armed Services CommitteemilitarynavyrepublicanthunderbirdsSun, 20 May 2012 16:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239781/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239781/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/20/house-committee-votes-to-end-military-biofuel-programs/20239781/article-detail.xml 20239781 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/armytank.jpg <![CDATA[BYU wins SAE 'Formula Hybrid' competition]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/byu-wins-sae-formula-hybrid-competition/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/byu-wins-sae-formula-hybrid-competition/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/20/byu-wins-sae-formula-hybrid-competition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

byu sae formula hybrid

We can't say we've ever seen a Toyota Prius rip through a slalom course like this, either.

A team of engineering students from Brigham Young University won the 2012 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Formula Hybrid competition at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after finishing second last year.

BYU's "Hybrid Blue" used its 100-horsepower, 450-foot-pounds-of-torque hybrid powertrain to win the competition's acceleration, endurance and autocross heats. BYU, which has been competing in the annual event since 2009, beat out teams from 40 other universities. BYU has released a video of the winning car, which you can see below.

Hybrid Blue, which runs on a combination of E85 (gasoline with an 85 percent ethanol blend) and electricity, had 75 percent of its electric charge remaining after a 14-mile endurance run. The students boosted the car's performance by cutting the car's length by more than a foot and reducing its weight by 80 pounds.

Continue reading BYU wins SAE 'Formula Hybrid' competition

BYU wins SAE 'Formula Hybrid' competition originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 20 May 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brigham Young UniversitybyuFormula Hybridhybridnew hampshiresaeSociety of Automotive ENgineersSun, 20 May 2012 08:33:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240226/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240226/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/20/byu-wins-sae-formula-hybrid-competition/20240226/article-detail.xml 20240226 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/byuracecarhybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/byuracecarhybrid.jpg <![CDATA[Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No E15 gas cap

Another day, another opinion on the feasibility of E15.

This time, a group called the Coordinating Research Council released a study saying that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to push for allowing gas with a 15-percent ethanol blend (aka E15) to be sold to the general public for newer cars may have been a bad one because of potentially harmful effect the fuel may have on older vehicles, the New York Times reports.

E15 may compromise the durability of the engines of most of the cars on the road because automakers didn't design the vehicles to run on E15, which has 50% more ethanol than the current maximum of a 10-percent ethanol blend (i.e. E10), the group says.

Of course, Coordinating Research Council is backed by - wait for it - eight automakers as well as the American Petroleum Institute (API), according to the Times. The automakers have long pushed to delay E15 approval because of engine durability concerns while the API represents a petroleum industry whose demand is inversely related to how much ethanol's being used in light-duty vehicles.

With that in mind, Patrick B. Davis, an Energy Department program manager specializing in vehicle testing, said in a blog post that the new study is "flawed" in part because the study didn't involve the testing of E10's impact on engines. Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen called the report "junk science."

The EPA in April approved the first applications to make E15 amid protests from automakers and recreation vehicle makers that have claimed that the higher alcohol content may damage engines and fuel systems. The government has gone back and forth on the issue, both pushing for higher ethanol production levels to cut foreign-oil dependence while last year terminating a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol.

Recently, The Auto Channel reported that researchers at University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University estimated that ethanol production cut the average cost of fuel last year by $1.09 a gallon because of lower ethanol prices and broader use of fuels such as E10.

Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelsCoordinating Research Councile10e15e15 safetyenvironmental protection agencyepaethanolFri, 18 May 2012 16:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240465/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240465/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/automaker-backed-study-sounds-the-alarm-against-e15/20240465/article-detail.xml 20240465 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15-1337355368_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15-1337355368.jpg <![CDATA[Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

ethanol pump

If you thought last year was a bad one at the gas pump, it could've been worse. That's what one report partially funded by ethanol advocate Renewable Fuels Association says.

U.S. ethanol production actually cut wholesale gas prices by $1.09 a gallon last year because of relatively lower ethanol prices and the greater use of ethanol blends, The Auto Channel said, citing a PDF report written by researchers at University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University for Iowa State's Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.

Ethanol production cut the typical U.S. household's spending on gas by more than $1,200 last year and by an average of $340 a year since 2000, according to the report.

Ethanol advocates have been pushing for blends with a higher percentage of ethanol as a way to cut both gas costs and dependency on foreign oil, while opponents have decried subsidies given to ethanol producers. Late last year, Congress ended a three-decade tax subsidy for the corn-based ethanol, which was reported to have received $45 billion in subsidies since 1980.

Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelethanolgas pricesiowa state universityrenewable fuels associationsubsidiesuniversity of wisconsinFri, 18 May 2012 11:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240111/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240111/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/ethanol-production-shaved-1-09-a-gallon-off-of-last-years-gas/20240111/article-detail.xml 20240111 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ethanol_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ethanol.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Leaf ensures high-quality whisky from Isle of Islay]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/nissan-leaf-ensures-high-quality-whisky-from-isle-of-islay/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/nissan-leaf-ensures-high-quality-whisky-from-isle-of-islay/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/nissan-leaf-ensures-high-quality-whisky-from-isle-of-islay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Nissan Leaf Scotch whisky

The Bruichladdich Distillery has been making artisan single malt Scotch whisky since 1881 on the Isle of Islay in the UK. As the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, you may not expect the island's 620 square kilometers (239 square miles) to be the ideal habitat for electric cars.

Apparently, though, the Nissan Leaf works out quite well for Mark Reynier, managing director at the distillery. The island's inhabitants are also benefited, says Reynier, by Nissan's Power Control System, which allows the Leaf's high-capacity lithium ion battery to power other devices - important when a single storm can completely cut the island's link to the outside world.

Watch Reynier describe how the Nissan Leaf has improved his life and his distillery in the video below. And, if you're interested in other ways to use Bruichladdich's whisky as a biofuel, you can also watch James May run a Radical SR4 race car on the spirit in a separate video.

Continue reading Nissan Leaf ensures high-quality whisky from Isle of Islay

Nissan Leaf ensures high-quality whisky from Isle of Islay originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 May 2012 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BruichladdichBruichladdich distilleryelectric vehicleisle of islayleafnissanscotchscotch whiskywhiskyThu, 17 May 2012 19:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240344/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240344/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/17/nissan-leaf-ensures-high-quality-whisky-from-isle-of-islay/20240344/article-detail.xml 20240344 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/nissan-leaf-distillery_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/nissan-leaf-distillery.jpg <![CDATA[E15 brings many questions, no consensus on widespread use]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/e15-brings-many-questions-no-consensus-on-widespread-use/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/e15-brings-many-questions-no-consensus-on-widespread-use/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/e15-brings-many-questions-no-consensus-on-widespread-use/#commentsFiled under: , ,



For some drivers, ethanol-blended fuels such as E15 and E85 generate the same kind of confusion as stalactites and stalagmites do for high school geography students. Now, E15, which is fuel sold with a 15 percent blend of ethanol, is creating confusion all on its own.

That's what the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting now that many gas stations are on the verge of adding so-called "blender pumps" that can distribute E15. While the pumps will have a government warning saying E15 can be used for cars made after the 2000 model year, automakers aren't so clear. Toyota and Lexus, for example, say on their model-year 2012 gas caps that E15 shouldn't be used (pictured), and Ford is also warning its customers against using E15.

Iowa and Kansas are states where E15 may be sold as soon as this month, Bob Dinneen, the CEO of ethanol trade group Renewable Fuels Association, told the Tribune. Dinneen called E15, "probably the single most studied fuel in the history of EPA waivers." But then there's the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, among other automakers and says E15 hasn't been adequately tested.

Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as expected, approved the first applications to produce E15, which can be made with as much as 50 percent more ethanol than standard fuel, which so far has been limited to 10 percent ethanol. Automakers and recreation vehicle makers are among the entities that have fought against allowing widespread use of E15, claiming that the higher alcohol content may damage engines and fuel systems. Still, the government continues to push ethanol as a way to cut foreign-oil dependence, even though last year U.S. Congress terminated a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol. The ethanol industry received an estimated $45 billion in subsidies since 1980.

E15 brings many questions, no consensus on widespread use originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 03 May 2012 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blender pumpsbob dinneene10e15e85ethanolrenewable fuels associationThu, 03 May 2012 10:05:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20229499/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20229499/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/03/e15-brings-many-questions-no-consensus-on-widespread-use/20229499/article-detail.xml 20229499 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/gas-cap-e15.jpg <![CDATA[EPA gives E15 go-ahead despite objections, approves production applications]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/02/epa-gives-e15-go-ahead-despite-objections-approves-production-a/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/02/epa-gives-e15-go-ahead-despite-objections-approves-production-a/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/02/epa-gives-e15-go-ahead-despite-objections-approves-production-a/#commentsFiled under: ,



As predicted and expected, the Environmental Protection Agency today approved the first applications to make E15, a blend of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol in it. This means that E15 is now a "significant step" closer to production and sale in America.

For decades, gasoline in the U.S. has had up to 10 percent ethanol in it, but the extra five points were enough to generate resistance. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and the Science Committee in the House of Representatives both took steps to prevent E15 from entering the national supply. Even the EPA admits not every vehicle should use the new blend, saying it is approved only for Model Year 2001 vehicles and newer.

Many automakers have been hesitant about E15, fearing fuel system and engine damage, so a number of them joined a lawsuit against it in 2010 through the Auto Alliance. Some have even gone so far as to say that any older vehicles that use E15 will have their warranties voided. The EPA's rules say that any pump dispensing E15 must be clearly labeled. The EPA is not requiring any station to sell E15 in any way, but the Obama Administration does want to encourage its use, and thus wants to help get 10,000 blender pumps installed in the U.S. over the next 5 years.

In late 2011, the U.S. Congress ended a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol while also stopping tariffs on ethanol imported from Brazil. Since 1980, the ethanol industry has received an estimated $45 billion in subsidies. Check out the official EPA press release for further details after the jump.

Continue reading EPA gives E15 go-ahead despite objections, approves production applications

EPA gives E15 go-ahead despite objections, approves production applications originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelblender pumpse15environmental protection agencyepaethanolMon, 02 Apr 2012 16:31:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20206866/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20206866/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/02/epa-gives-e15-go-ahead-despite-objections-approves-production-a/20206866/article-detail.xml 20206866 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/ethanol-gas-pump-wide_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/ethanol-gas-pump-wide.jpg <![CDATA[EPA accepts E15 Misfueling Mitigation Plan, opens door to sales]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/17/epa-accepts-e15-misfueling-mitigation-plan-opens-door-to-sales/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/17/epa-accepts-e15-misfueling-mitigation-plan-opens-door-to-sales/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/17/epa-accepts-e15-misfueling-mitigation-plan-opens-door-to-sales/#commentsFiled under: , ,



It may not have the most interesting name - the Misfueling Mitigation Plan for E15 - but it does do something interesting for the fuel supply in the United States. After passing through what Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen calls "rigorous testing and mountains of challenges," the higher ethanol blend called E15 - which is fifteen percent biofuel and 85 percent gasoline - is now one step closer to making its way to pumps around the country. RFA submitted the Misfueling Mitigation Plan (MMP) and the EPA now says it meets that organization's requirements. Thus, Dinneen said in a statement, "Americans will soon have a safe and effective new fuel option at the pump that is domestically made and significantly cheaper than gasoline."

The EPA has been moving recently to approve E15 and says the fuel is safe to use in model year 2001 vehicles and anything made since then. But, since there are still plenty of vehicles on the road that were made before 2001, there may be problems if you put E15 into an unapproved vehicle. The MMP says that any pump that offers E15 needs to be clearly labeled and that product transfer documents must accompany all transfers of the fuel. The RFA is also offering a free E15 Retailer Handbook that describes these steps in detail.

Just because the EPA says E15 is acceptable does not mean anyone can sell it, since state rules can still forbid its sale. Ethanol Producer Magazine says that Iowa, Illinois and Kansas are three states where the fuel will be cleared for sale. The Science Committee in the House of Representatives has also approved a bill that prevents E15 from going on sale unless its effects are further studied.

EPA accepts E15 Misfueling Mitigation Plan, opens door to sales originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuele15epaethanolmisfueling mitigation planSat, 17 Mar 2012 09:11:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20195306/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20195306/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/17/epa-accepts-e15-misfueling-mitigation-plan-opens-door-to-sales/20195306/article-detail.xml 20195306 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/ethanol-gas-pump-wide_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/ethanol-gas-pump-wide.jpg <![CDATA[Advocacy group pitches 100% ethanol over Keystone XL pipeline]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/advocacy-group-pitches-100-ethanol-over-keystone-xl-pipeline/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/advocacy-group-pitches-100-ethanol-over-keystone-xl-pipeline/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/advocacy-group-pitches-100-ethanol-over-keystone-xl-pipeline/#commentsFiled under: ,

e100 logo

An ethanol advocacy group has got an unusual message: having 100 percent ethanol is a better way to cut gas prices and dependency on foreign oil than building the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline.

E100 Ethanol Group, which is led by a former Ford dealer and a couple of ex-General Motors executives, recently told EPA officials that pushing for 100 percent ethanol as a primary transportation fuel and mandating engines that can run on 100 percent ethanol would improve fleetwide fuel economy, because engines run cleaner, while moving the U.S. away from having to import most of its oil. Even with the XL pipeline, the group says, the U.S. would still import two-thirds of its oil from overseas in 2026.

E100 Ethanol Group is one of the many political, environmental and energy-related entities weighing in on the pipeline as gas prices continue to rise. The Keystone XL pipeline, which is at least two years away from completion, would carry oil from Alberta, Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Republicans have pushed for the pipeline as a way to potentially reduce gas prices; the Obama Administration wants more time to gauge the environmental impact of the project.

Last year, the U.S. federal government ended ethanol subsidies after three decades. The government was paying out an estimated $6 billion a year in incentives in order to boost ethanol production. Some analysts have said ending the subsidies further pushed up gas prices.

Meanwhile, analysts and officials have long debated the environmental benefits of ethanol. Many environmentalists have said using corn as a feedstock has worsened food shortages while potentially worsening waterway contamination from the additional fertilizer required to grow crops.

Continue reading Advocacy group pitches 100% ethanol over Keystone XL pipeline

Advocacy group pitches 100% ethanol over Keystone XL pipeline originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E15, which is gasoline with a blend of 15 percent ethanol, may be cleared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be sold as commercial gasoline in time for the busy summer driving season, website DomesticFuel.com reports, citing statements by ethanol advocates Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy.

EPA's investigation into E15 testing by the two groups "clears the way for the final steps in registering E15 as a fuel and offering it in the marketplace," the website said. E15 would be legalized for vehicles that have been made since the 2001 model year.

Ethanol advocates are pushing E15 as a way to both cut dependency on foreign oil and reduce gas prices, especially as fuel prices have spiked in the past year. Ethanol sells for about 20 percent less a gallon than gasoline, the website said, citing Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.

Still, others have opposed commercializing E15. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives' Science Committee approved a bill that would stop the EPA from clearing E15 for commercial use without conducting more studies. Among those pushing for a deeper look at E15 were the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the American Petroleum Institute, the Friends of the Earth, the Milk Producers Council, the American Bakers Association and the National Turkey Federation.

Late last year, the U.S. Congress ended a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol and stopped tariffs on the fuel imported from Brazil. The ethanol industry had received an estimated $45 billion in subsidies since 1980.

E15 may be cleared for commercial sales by summer, advocates say originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuele15epaethanolgrowth energyrenewable fuels associationrfaWed, 22 Feb 2012 11:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20176655/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20176655/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/22/e15-may-be-cleared-for-commercial-sales-by-summer-advocates-say/20176655/article-detail.xml 20176655 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/ethanol_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/ethanol.jpg <![CDATA[House panel blocks sale of E15]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/house-panel-blocks-sale-of-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/house-panel-blocks-sale-of-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/09/house-panel-blocks-sale-of-e15/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Science Committee in the House of Representatives has a approved a bill that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from allowing the use of gasoline with a higher ethanol content without additional study.

According to The Detroit News, the bill was sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin and passed 19-7 along party lines after numerous groups spoke out against E15. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the American Petroleum Institute, the Friends of the Earth, the Milk Producers Council, the American Bakers Association and the National Turkey Federation all pushed for further E15 study.

Last year, the government estimated more domestic corn was used for ethanol than to feed farm animals, and opponents of ethanol argue E15 would only lead to steeper food prices across the country.

Congress just recently ended a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol and put a stop to tariffs on the fuel imported from Brazil. The subsidy alone reportedly cost taxpayers $6 billion annually. All told, Congress has awarded the ethanol industry $45 billion in subsidies since 1980.

House panel blocks sale of E15 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e15environmental protection agencyepaethanolhouse of representativesscience committeeThu, 09 Feb 2012 09:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20168070/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20168070/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/09/house-panel-blocks-sale-of-e15/20168070/article-detail.xml 20168070 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/gyi0055894548628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/gyi0055894548628.jpg <![CDATA[Sugar beets are better for ethanol production than corn, report says]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/sugar-beets-are-better-for-ethanol-production-than-corn-report-s/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/sugar-beets-are-better-for-ethanol-production-than-corn-report-s/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/sugar-beets-are-better-for-ethanol-production-than-corn-report-s/#commentsFiled under:



Sugar beets are a more efficient source for ethanol production than corn for a lot of reasons: they use less land, less water and, they can grown in many regions during the winter where it's too cold to grow corn.

Sugar beets, which are mostly water, use 40 percent less water for growth than corn does, and require about half as much land, according to oil-industry website OilPrice.com. Also, there's little waste involved in processing sugar beets to alcohol because much of the waste material can be converted to either fuel or fertilizer.

Finding new sources for ethanol is topical because of both rising federal quotas for renewable fuel and the push by many to cut corn-based ethanol production because of concerns over food shortages, waterway contamination and water and electricity requirements. Late last month, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency boosted its 2012 goals for production of non-corn-based biofuels by about 36 percent. This includes quota hikes for sugarcane and algae-based ethanol and cellulosic biofuels, or biofuels produced from grasses, wood and plants. Could sugar beets be the next reasonable large-scale ethanol crop?

Sugar beets are better for ethanol production than corn, report says originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beetscorncorn ethanolethanolrenewable fuelssugarbeetsSun, 22 Jan 2012 17:36:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20153564/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20153564/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/22/sugar-beets-are-better-for-ethanol-production-than-corn-report-s/20153564/article-detail.xml 20153564 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/sugarbeets-1327105782_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/sugarbeets-1327105782.jpg <![CDATA[Oil companies pay $6.8 million in fines for not using cellulosic biofuels that don't exist]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/oil-companies-pay-6-8-million-in-fines-for-not-using-cellulosic/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/oil-companies-pay-6-8-million-in-fines-for-not-using-cellulosic/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/oil-companies-pay-6-8-million-in-fines-for-not-using-cellulosic/#commentsFiled under: ,



Oil companies will pay $6.8 million in fines for not meeting federal quotas for blending in cellulosic biofuels - those produced from grasses, wood and plants - even though there weren't enough of those biofuels available for use, the New York Times reported. Those fines are likely to rise in 2012 because the cellulosic biofuel quotas that refiners have to meet will rise more than 30 percent to 8.65 million gallons.

Charles Drevna, the president of the National Petrochemicals and Refiners Association, said the imposition of the fines "belies logic," while Dennis McGinn, a retired vice admiral who serves on the American Council on Renewable Energy, said that the quota "is the right thing to do" even if the imposition of the fines "doesn't seem to make a lot of sense," the Times reported. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spokeswoman Cathy Milbourn said the 2012 quota was "reasonably attainable." Hence the fines.

The fines illustrate the emphasis the federal government is putting on production of biofuels in an effort to cut dependency on foreign oil. Last month, the EPA said it boosted its 2012 goals for production of non-corn-based biofuels by about 36 percent. Specifically, the EPA increased its production goal for advanced biofuels, whose feedstocks range from sugarcane ethanol to algae, by 48 percent, while increasing its goal for cellulosic biofuels by 34 percent. Production of biomass-based biodiesel is set to rise 25 percent this year, according to the EPA.

Annual increases in the EPA's renewable-fuel production guidelines are a response to the Renewable Fuel Standard 2 (RFS2) and 2007's Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which, in part, set a U.S. production goal of 36 billion annual gallons of renewable fuel by 2022.

Oil companies pay $6.8 million in fines for not using cellulosic biofuels that don't exist originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelscellulosicepafinesoil companiespenaltiesrenewable fuelsFri, 20 Jan 2012 19:32:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20153110/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20153110/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/20/oil-companies-pay-6-8-million-in-fines-for-not-using-cellulosic/20153110/article-detail.xml 20153110 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/ethanol-gas-pump-wide_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/ethanol-gas-pump-wide.jpg <![CDATA[Ferrari FF converted to run on bio-ethanol packs 875 hp]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/ferrari-ff-converted-to-run-on-bio-ethanol-packs-875-hp/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/ferrari-ff-converted-to-run-on-bio-ethanol-packs-875-hp/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/ferrari-ff-converted-to-run-on-bio-ethanol-packs-875-hp/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ferrari FF FlexFuel

There are drawbacks to every kind of alternative to burning fossil fuels in our cars. Electric cars don't have enough range. Hybrids are burdened with what essentially boils down to two parallel powertrains. Hydrogen is limited to where it is available. Bio-ethanol has its own drawbacks, but don't tell that to the performance enthusiast. That's because E85 - similar to what IndyCars run on but mixed with 15 percent pump gasoline - is not only a renewable and cleaner source of energy, it also provides more power.

Take the Koenigsegg Agera R, for example. With 927 horsepower on tap from ordinary 95-octane gasoline, the Koenigsegg is already one of the fastest, most powerful cars money can buy. But fill it with E85 and it offers up almost 1,100 hp. Now, a Norwegian firm is offering an aftermarket bio-ethanol conversion for the Ferrari FF that provides a similar transformation.

Whereas the stock FF (which could now just as easily stand for Flex Fuel) already drives a prodigious 650 horsepower to all four wheels, the converted version packs a whopping 875 hp for a sub-three-second sprint to sixty, all the while dropping the car's emissions figures by some 80 percent. The conversion costs just €1,500 ($1,930 U.S., at today's exchange rates) - rather insignificant considering the FF's $300k+ sticker price - and has reportedly been fitted by an authorized Ferrari dealer to at least one customer's car, though that doesn't mean it's covered by (and very well might invalidate) the FF's warranty.

Ferrari FF converted to run on bio-ethanol packs 875 hp originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bio ethanolbio-ethanolbioethanole85ethanolferrariferrari ffferrari fourffflex fuelflexfuelThu, 19 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20151852/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20151852/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/19/ferrari-ff-converted-to-run-on-bio-ethanol-packs-875-hp/20151852/article-detail.xml 20151852 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bioethanolff_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bioethanolff.jpg <![CDATA[U.S. ethanol subsidy expiration may be driving up gas prices]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/u-s-ethanol-subsidy-expiration-may-be-driving-up-gas-prices/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/u-s-ethanol-subsidy-expiration-may-be-driving-up-gas-prices/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/u-s-ethanol-subsidy-expiration-may-be-driving-up-gas-prices/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Last month's expiration of ethanol subsidies from the U.S. federal government may already be driving up gas prices.

Average gas prices as of Friday were $3.39 a gallon, up three cents from a week ago and up from $3.26 a month ago, according to AAA. Fuel prices for the three weeks ended January 6 rose 12 cents to $3.36 a gallon, marking the first three-week increase since late October, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week, citing Lundberg Survey Inc. Bloomberg said prices rose almost 28 cents from a year earlier.

The culprit may be the end of thirty years of subsidies for corn-based ethanol. By failing to vote in an extension, Congress allowed the $0.45 per gallon production subsidy to expire with the start of 2012. With an annual payout of $6 billion, the subsidy was a popular target for politicians looking to show their dedication to reducing the deficit, but its expiration may have triggered a 4.5-cent increase in cost for gasoline suppliers.

Such rising fuel prices may spell further bad news for consumers already battered by record refueling costs last year. Average gas prices jumped about 27 percent last year to $3.53 a gallon, and fuel prices surpassed the $4 threshold last May. As a result, vehicle-refueling costs totaled more than $4,100 for the typical U.S. household in 2011 and likely accounted for the largest percentage of a average U.S. family's annual income since 1981, the Associated Press reported late last month.



U.S. ethanol subsidy expiration may be driving up gas prices originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corncorn ethanolethanolfuel pricesgas pricesgovernmentsubsidiesu.s. governmentWed, 18 Jan 2012 09:48:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20148402/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20148402/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/18/u-s-ethanol-subsidy-expiration-may-be-driving-up-gas-prices/20148402/article-detail.xml 20148402 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/corn-1326481075_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/corn-1326481075.jpg <![CDATA[Can we credit the Tea Party for ending ethanol tax credit?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/07/can-we-credit-the-tea-party-for-ending-ethanol-tax-credit/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/07/can-we-credit-the-tea-party-for-ending-ethanol-tax-credit/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/07/can-we-credit-the-tea-party-for-ending-ethanol-tax-credit/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Tea Party movement was a key factor in ending corn-based ethanol subsidies because it pushed Republican candidates to speak out against spending, in this case monies that would provide little benefit to the transportation industry while exacerbating the national debt and deficit situation, the Atlantic reported.

Tea Party members also highlighted the fact that high oil prices continued to make ethanol price-competitive without the subsidies, which cost United States taxpayers about $6 billion a year. Additionally, the EPA's Renewable Fuels Standard ensured a quota of ethanol production whether the subsidy was in place or not, the Atlantic reported.

Last month, the United States Congress decided against extending corn-based ethanol subsidies in a move that's drawn praise from environmental groups and taxpayer advocates. While ethanol supporters say more ethanol production lessens domestic dependency on foreign oil and creates more farming jobs, many environmentalists, academic researchers and economists have questioned using corn as a fuel feedstock, citing both spikes in corn prices that at times have exacerbated worldwide shortages of many grain-based foods, and environmental concerns related to potential waterway contamination from fertilizer and additional water and electricity requirements for corn production.

Meanwhile, the EPA recently boosted its 2012 goals for production of non-corn-based biofuels by about 36 percent, reflecting the federal government's efforts to both cut its dependency on foreign oil and find alternatives to corn- and alcohol-based fuels. The EPA boosted its production goal for advanced biofuels, whose feedstocks range from sugarcane to algae, by 48 percent, while increasing its goal for cellulosic biofuels, or biofuels produced from grasses, wood and plants, by 36 percent. Production of biomass-based biodiesel is set to rise 25 percent this year, according to the EPA.

Can we credit the Tea Party for ending ethanol tax credit? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biodieselcornethanolreneable fuelrepublicanrepublicanssubsidiestea partythe atlanticSat, 07 Jan 2012 16:17:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20140694/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20140694/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/07/can-we-credit-the-tea-party-for-ending-ethanol-tax-credit/20140694/article-detail.xml 20140694 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/corn_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/corn.jpg <![CDATA[When it comes to infrastructure, EVs are easier to charge than E85 is to pump]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/when-it-comes-to-infrastructure-evs-are-easier-to-charge-than-e/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/when-it-comes-to-infrastructure-evs-are-easier-to-charge-than-e/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/when-it-comes-to-infrastructure-evs-are-easier-to-charge-than-e/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ready Kilowatt vs Green Giant

Quick, which is easier to find: a public charging station for an electric vehicle or a station that offers E85? Despite the much larger number of flex-fuel vehicles on the road, it turns out that when you bring the fight down to electricity vs. ethanol, EV drivers have nearly a 2-1 edge.

Based on data from the Department of Energy, the U.S. is studded with 4,448 public charging stations. That makes for about one charging slot for every four EVs on the road. On the other hand, despite there being over 7 million ethanol-capable vehicles on our highways, there only 2,468 stations offering E85, meaning that over 3,000 flex-fuel drivers are fighting over each available hose. Theoretically, of course.

Why are flex-fuel drivers going thirsty? Well, mostly it's because they're not. Since nearly all of those 7 million ethanol-capable vehicles can also run on plain vanilla E10 gasoline, there have to be specific incentives in place to make installing E-85 pumps worthwhile.

And why do EV drivers have it so relatively plush? As it turns out, the numbers are a bit deceiving. The ratio between electric vehicles and charging stations may seem rather low, but when you consider that an EV is likely to spend much longer attached to its charging cable than an internal combustion vehicle spends drinking from a fuel hose, the ratio seems far more equitable. Considering the limited range of many EVs and the number of new models coming on the market, the number of charging stations will likely continue to grow rapidly.

On the other hand, with the end of ethanol subsidies, the cost of E85 is likely to see a sharp bump. This may cause a decrease in the number of sites offering this fuel.

When it comes to infrastructure, EVs are easier to charge than E85 is to pump originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charging stationse10e85electric vehicleelectricityethanolflex-fuelplug-in hybridThu, 05 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20139623/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20139623/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/05/when-it-comes-to-infrastructure-evs-are-easier-to-charge-than-e/20139623/article-detail.xml 20139623 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/kilowatt-vs-giant_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/kilowatt-vs-giant.jpg <![CDATA[Next Ford EcoSport now playing at New Delhi Auto Expo]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/ford-ecosport-concept-new-delhi-auto-expo/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/ford-ecosport-concept-new-delhi-auto-expo/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/ford-ecosport-concept-new-delhi-auto-expo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ford EcoSport concept - 2012

While we've been consumed with the ramp-up to next week's Detroit Auto Show, there's a more pressing matter on the international car events calendar - this week's New Delhi Auto Expo. Ford Motor Company isn't overlooking the burgeoning biennial show, and it's taking the opportunity to reveal its first-ever world debut at the show, the next Ford EcoSport.

Debuting with a sliver of show-only frosting (check out those glitzy headlamps), the tiny crossover is about the same size as the Fiesta five-door, and it's built on the Blue Oval's new global B-Car architecture. Ford isn't revealing much in the way of powertrain specifics for this thinly disguised model, but our sources tell us the EcoSport will see the first application of the company's new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine in India (yes, that means there will be an EcoSport EcoBoost), and presumably there will be an ethanol variant as well.

The upright CUV has been designed with emerging markets in mind, namely portions of Asia and South America, so we're unlikely to see it in North America (we'd be more likely to receive the B-Max MPV), though our sources tell us that an eventual European market appearance is not out of the question. Roughly 90 percent of cars in those markets are B-Segment or smaller, and the previous generation of the Brazilian-built EcoSport has sold some 750,000 units since hitting the market nine years ago.

While the original EcoSport sold almost exclusively in Brazil, the new model will spread its wings to take on a more global role as part of the company's One Ford agenda. To be assembled in both India and Brazil, the EcoSport represents the first time that Ford's team in Camacari, Brazil has taken the lead in conceiving a global product, another indication of the market's growing importance. The new EcoSport will be a lynchpin for the Blue Oval, who expect the Asia Pacific region to swallow up to one out of every three Ford vehicles sold by 2020 (it's just one in six today).

Want more proof of India's rise in importance? Officials tell us that Ford plans to treat the Delhi show as a first-tier show going forward, on par with Detroit, the Frankfurt Motor Show, and so on. Ostensibly, the show will replace a Tokyo Motor Show presence for the Dearborn automaker, as Ford was absent from last month's show in Japan.

Next Ford EcoSport now playing at New Delhi Auto Expo originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 ford ecosportcamacaridelhi auto expoecoboostecosportnew delhinew delhi auto expoWed, 04 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20139822/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20139822/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/04/ford-ecosport-concept-new-delhi-auto-expo/20139822/article-detail.xml 20139822 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2012-ford-ecosport-debut-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/2012-ford-ecosport-debut-628.jpg <![CDATA[Canceling ethanol subsidy likely to raise the price of gas at the pump]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/03/canceling-ethanol-subsidy-likely-to-raise-the-price-of-gas-at-th/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/03/canceling-ethanol-subsidy-likely-to-raise-the-price-of-gas-at-th/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/03/canceling-ethanol-subsidy-likely-to-raise-the-price-of-gas-at-th/#commentsFiled under: , ,



That falling ball in Times Square didn't just signal the end of 2011, it was also the death knell for thirty years of ethanol subsidies. That in turn could signal an abrupt rise in prices at the pump.

By failing to vote in an extension, Congress allowed the $0.45 per gallon production subsidy to expire with the start of 2012. With an annual payout of $6 billion, the subsidy was a popular target for politicians looking to show their dedication to reducing the deficit.

However, just because the subsidy is going away doesn't mean that ethanol is going away. Most gasoline sold in the United States contains at least 10 percent ethanol, and that's not changing. In fact, targets for both corn-based and next-generation biofuels have been increased. Still, removing the 45-cent subsidy could mean a 4.5-cent increase in cost for gasoline suppliers, and perhaps an even sharper rise for what consumers pay at the pump. Logically, price increases are expected to be even higher for fuels that contain larger percentages of ethanol, like E85.

In addition to allowing subsidies on U.S.-made ethanol to lapse, Congress has dropped barriers to imported ethanol. Previously, ethanol from Brazil faced a tariff of $0.54 per gallon. Eliminating this charge could mean that some corn-based ethanol used in U.S. gas ends up being replaced by sugarcane-based ethanol from Brazil. What this will ultimately mean to consumers is not yet clear.

Canceling ethanol subsidy likely to raise the price of gas at the pump originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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