E85 Ethanol Flex-Fuel Vehicle Comparison

E85 ETHANOL FLEX-FUEL VEHICLES are designed to operate on gasoline, E85 (a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline), or any mixture of the two fuels. Annual fuel cost is estimated assuming 15,000 miles of travel each year (55% city and 45% highway) and an average fuel cost of $2.20 per gallon for E85, $2.65 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, and $2.85 per gallon for premium unleaded gasoline. The price of ethanol is highly variable from region to region; it is typically lower in the midwestern United States and higher in other areas. Therefore, actual consumer experience may differ significantly from the annual fuel cost estimate presented here.

Fuel economy and driving range values are shown for both gasoline and E85. When operating your FFV on mixtures of gasoline and E85, such as when alternating between using these fuels, your driving range and fuel economy values will be somewhere between those listed for the two fuels, depending on the actual percentage of gasoline and E85 in the tank.

Compact Cars
Mercedes Benz    
C230A-72.5/614/8$2,062E85310
19/25$1,945P420
C230M-62.5/614/8$2,062E85300
19/25$2,035P400
Midsize Cars
Chevrolet    
Monte Carlo A-43.5/616/23$1,736E85320
21/31$1,590Gas425
Chrysler    
SebringA-42.7/615/22$1,835E85300
22/30$1,590Gas420
Large Cars
Chevrolet    
ImpalaA-43.5/616/23$1,736E85320
21/31$1,658Gas400
Ford    
Crown Victoria A-44.6/813/17$2,356E85270
17/25$1,988Gas380
Lincoln    
Town Car A-44.6/813/17$2,356E85270
17/25$1,988Gas3
80
Mercury    
Grand Marquis A-44.6/813/17$2,356E85270
17/25$1,988Gas380
Standard Pickup Trucks Two Wheel Drive
Chevrolet    
C15 Silverado 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/440
16/21$2,210Gas470/610
C1500 Silverado Classic 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/440
16/21$2,337Gas440/580
Dodge    
Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD A-54.7/89/13$3,000E85300
14/19$2,484Gas420
Ford    
F-150 2WD A-45.4/811/14$2,749E85310
15/19$2,484Gas420
GMC    
C15 Sierra 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/440
16/21$2,210Gas470/610
C1500 Sierra Classic 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/440
16/21$2,337Gas440/580
Nissan    
Titan 2WD A-55.6/810/13$3,000E85310
14/18$2,651Gas420
Minivans 2WD
Chevrolet    
Uplander FWD A-43.9/613/19$2,201E85360
18/25$1,892Gas500
Dodge    
CaravanA-43.3/6TBDTBDE85NA
19/26$1,892Gas420
Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD
Chevrolet    
C1500 Avalanche 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/400
15/21$2,337Gas440/560
C1500 Suburban 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/400
15/21$2,337Gas440/560
C1500 Tahoe 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/440
16/21$2,210Gas440/560
Chrysler    
Aspen 2WD A-54.7/810/14$3,000E85300
14/19$2,484Gas420
Dodge    
Durango 2WD A-54.7/810/14$3,000E85300
14/19$2,484Gas420
GMC    
C1500 Yukon 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/400
15/21$2,337Gas440/560
C1500 Suburban 2WD A-45.3/812/16$2,538E85340/400
15/21$2,337Gas440/560
Jeep    
Commander 2WD A-54.7/810/14$3,000E85230
15/19$2,337Gas340
Grand Cherokee 2WD A-54.7/810/14$3,000E85230
15/20$2,337Gas340
Nissan    
Armada 2WD A-55.6/810/14$3,000E85310
13/19$2,651Gas420
Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD
Chevrolet    
K1500 Avalanche 4WD A-45.3/811/15$2,538E85340/400
15/21$2,337Gas440/560
K1500 Suburban 4WD A-45.3/811/15$2,538E85340/400
15/21$2,337Gas440/560
K1500 Tahoe 4WD A-45.3/811/15$2,538E85340/440
15/21$2,210Gas440/560
Chrysler    
Aspen 4WD A-54.7/810/14$3,000E85300
14/19$2,484Gas420
Dodge    
Durango 4WD A-54.7/89/13$3,000E85240
14/18$2,651Gas380
GMC    
K1500 Yukon 4WD A-45.3/811/15$2,538E85340/400
15/21$2,337Gas440/560
K1500 Suburban 4WD A-45.3/811/15$2,538E85340/400
15/21$2,337Gas440/560
Jeep    
Commander 4WD A-54.7/810/13$3,000E85230
15/19$2,337Gas340
Grand Cherokee 4WD A-54.7/810/13$3,000E85230
15/20$2,337Gas340
Nissan    
Armada 4WD A-55.6/810/13$3,000E85310
13/19$2,651Gas420

GM Says Hybrids Were Pushed for Public Relations and Politics

With all the problems faced by GM, one would assume they wouldn’t go ahead and shoot themself’s in the foot with this.

Last week, the struggling automotive giant General Motors admitted with a surprisingly candid admission: They apparently created Hybrid vehicles for the sole purpose of improving public relations and perception.

The unusual statement was given by the company’s vice chairman, Bob Lutz. "Hybrids are technologically of doubtful benefit, and expensive, but necessary from a political and public relations point of view," remarked Lutz.

"The reduction in fuel consumption does not pay for the technological content and cost of the vehicle." Nonetheless, the company is attempting to do what it can to help turn the tide in what is undoubtedly viewed as a desperate financial situation.

Lutz’s other comments consisted of…

"Toyota has said, economically, hybrids make no sense. The reduction in fuel [consumption] does not pay for the technological content and cost of the vehicle so therefore economically it remains fairly nonsensical, so that’s the left-brain analytical argument.

The right brain is it’s the popular thing to do, many people believe that if we all drove hybrids the world would suddenly get cooler again and then it’s the patriotic thing to do because if you drive a hybrid you will no longer be funding the Arab terrorists, and so forth.

So, with all those beliefs out there, you have to do a hybrid for public policy reasons."

Lutz believes hybrids are just not cost effective. But then again, GM should consider why they have lost billions of dollars in the past few years.

e-85 Ethanol stations on the rise – updated list of renewable fuels, a state by state list

Near the end of April, the USA had 619 e85 ethanol fueling stations. Today the number of e85 ethanol fueling stations has grown to 637. Even though there may be 18 more stations out there, the ethanol stations only seem to be poping up in states in Minnesota and Illinois, leaving the rest of the nation with sparse coverage. South Carolina actually was the big gainer for the past couple of months with 5 new stations, nearly a 14% increase in the number of ethanol stations in the state. Not too bad, however it is still concerning to see 14 states that have 0 ethanol stations.

Below you will find a listing of Alternative Fuel Station counts by state and fuel type, CNG – Compressed Natural Gas, E85 – 85% Ethanol, LPG – Propane, ELEC – Electric, BD – Biodiesel, HY – Hydrogen and LNG – Liquefied Natural Gas.

As of 6/16/2006

STATECNGE85LPGELECBDHYLNGTotals
Alabama1174010077
Alaska0011000011
Arizona3156813414126
Arkansas4057000061
California179325740620930904
Colorado21116821900121
Connecticut11019310034
Delaware10303007
DC10000102
Florida222707400105
Georgia166480170087
Hawaii0041030017
Idaho8128020140
Illinois111027301100197
Indiana1119420100082
Iowa03829080075
Kansas3849040064
Kentucky0531050041
Louisiana8014000022
Maine10602009
Maryland13419030039
Massachusetts90282710065
Michigan1568301320119
Minnesota3205340200244
Mississippi0040060046
Missouri628880300125
Montana2531060044
Nebraska12623010051
Nevada151250101052
New Hampshire301410100037
New Jersey15011010027
New Mexico8355020068
New York37628040075
North Carolina1196503600121
North Dakota42316000043
Ohio1277501500109
Oklahoma534721500135
Oregon141344140067
Pennsylvania3116301100106
Rhode Island604200012
South Carolina5363423500112
South Dakota03522000057
Tennessee6551080070
Texas23462721102669
Utah63327030096
Vermont107150014
Virginia122260100050
Washington142600180094
West Virginia228000012
Wisconsin181456020090
Wyoming114330130061
Totals by Fuel:742637271049036214374992