Gas for 85 Cents a Gallon

WBAY ^ | 5/27/05 | Tricia Parker

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Since Thursday, some drivers in our area have a new option at the gas pump that could save them some cash. The area's first ethanol fueling station opened in Auroraville in Waushara County, and drivers waited in long lines to try it out.

In fact, the line snaked around the corner. But drivers were patient to save lots of cash on gas.

"I don't mind," said Les Coates. "We saw the sign, 85 cents a gallon for gas. We had to stop!"

Eighty-five cents a gallon isn't for ordinary gasoline. It's E-85, an ethanol-based fuel.

"It's very environmentally-friendly. It has less emissions than gasoline," said Paul Olsen, president of Utica Energy.

It was hard to find in Northeast Wisconsin. The Auroraville station is the first pump north of Milwaukee offering E-85 but energy officials say it won't be the last.

"This is the twelfth E-85 station in Wisconsin. Not very many. Our goal is to get many more of them," said Olsen.

But there's a catch. E-85 only works in some cars, which are flex-fuel vehicles, or FFVs. Energy officials say most cars -- about 97 percent -- are not equipped to handle E-85.

"These vehicles have the emissions and the computer systems in them to be able to handle a high-octane, high-oxygen blend of fuel," Olsen explained.

If you're not sure your car is an FFV, there is an easy way to tell. All you have to do is pop open your gas cap and see if you have an ethanol fuel sticker.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

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[Last Dakotan]

Be $12/gal without the subsidies.

[kingattax]

What is a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)?
Where can I find one?

A Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) is able to operate on any blend of ethanol and gasoline from 0 percent to 85 percent ethanol. Because a FFV can efficiently utilize a fuel made from 85 percent renewable and domestically produced ethanol, it is classified as an Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV). The FFV option is standard equipment on select automobile models -- you might currently own a FFV -- 90,000 Minnesotans already do.

Many automakers are manufacturing FFV vehicles today. They have responded to a federal policy, which requires a gradual conversion of government fleets to AFVs. Auto manufacturers also receive credits toward their federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements for each AFV they produce.

The following E85 vehicles are available from your local auto dealer:

FORD

* Select 1999-2002 3.0L Ranger pickups
* Select 2000-2002 3.0L Taurus sedans & wagons
* Select 1995-1999 3.0L Taurus sedans
* Select 2002 4.0L Explorers

MERCURY

* Select 2001 3.0L Sables
* Select 2002 4.0L Mountaineers

CHEVROLET

* All 2000-02 2.2-L Sonoma pickups
* All 2000-02 2.2-L S-10 pickups
* All 2002 5.3LSuburban and Tahoe SUVs
* All 2003 5.3L Avalanche SUVs
* Select 2002 5.3L Chevy Silverado pickups

GMC

* All 2002 5.3L Yukon SUVs
* Select 2002 5.3L Sierra pickups

MAZDA

* Select 1999-2002 3.0L B3000 pickups

ISUZU

* All 2000-2002 2.2-L Hombre pickups

DAIMLER CHRYSLER

* All 2003 2.7L Chrysler Sebring sedans
* Select 2003 3.3L Caravan cargo vans
* All 1998-2002 Chrysler 3.3-L minivans
* All 1998-2002 Dodge 3.3-L minivans
* All 1998-2002 Plymouth 3.3-L minivans

[lil varmint]

What about Saabs?

[idkfa]

You also need to fill 'er up about 20% more often.

[FreedomCalls]

None manufactured after 2002?

[CPT Clay]

E-85 is good if you can get it.
Not available in Texas


,

[kingattax]

i dont think they make saab FFVs ..i didnt see a saab on any FFV list i could find

[kingattax]

check here for newer cars :


http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm

[Obadiah]

You also need to fill 'er up about 20% more often.

Yeah, that's what most people don't know about ethanol versus pure gasoline. The energy content of ethanol is less than that of pure gasoline. Therefore you don't get as many miles per gallon with it. Most gas now contains at least 10% ethanol and your milage drops a bit as a result. Not sure what degree of mileage loss is with 85% ethanol.

[Graybeard58]

What about Saabs?

I saab every time I fill my tank.

[Drew68]

They have responded to a federal policy, which requires a gradual conversion of government fleets to AFVs.

This explains a lot. I'm in the navy and my squadron's duty van is powered by natural gas. The on-base natural gas depot is always empty so the duty van rarely goes anywhere. This necessitates us using POVs (privately owned vehicles) to conduct official business -which is frowned upon and in some cases (like picking up ordnance from the armory) absolutely prohibited.

Government efficiency at work!

[HiTech RedNeck]

I'd wonder if earlier models could be made e85 capable too by "rechipping" their engine controllers. Although I suppose only a manufacturer could legally do that and there's no gain for them in teaching their old dogs new tricks.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The on-base natural gas depot is always empty so the duty van rarely goes anywhere.

Any civilian sources in the vicinity that could answer to the need? Or would that be verboten too.

[Politicalities]

"It's very environmentally-friendly. It has less emissions than gasoline,"

Uh huh. And the heavy farm equipment used to plant and harvest the corn, the pumps used to irrigate the fields, the trucks that delivered the corn to the processing plant, all of these things are powered by sunshine and rainbows, right?

[kingattax]

thank you for your service :)

[HitmanLV]

I'm a Saab driver, too. Aren't they cool? :-)

[Drew68]

Any civilian sources in the vicinity that could answer to the need? Or would that be verboten too.

Heck no. You see, the fuel is "purchased" via a special fuel card that keeps track of fuel expenditures. There would be no way to pay a commercial gas station shorting of routing a chit all the way up the chain of command!

[FreedomCalls]

Thanks.

[Drew68]

thank you for your service :)

Thanks for acknowledging what often feels like a thankless job!