Stephens: GM is seeking more ethanol fueling-stations in the U.S.

Posted: Feb 17, 2010
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There are currently 2,200 ethanol fuel-station in the United States and that, according to GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens, is not enough to help cut polluting emissions or U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Stephens said that the growing output of vehicles capable or running on ethanol means nothing until fuel-stations capable of providing ethanol are greatly expanded.

He said that by the 2012 model year, half of GM’s vehicle lineup will be able to run a mix of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol.

“GM is spending about $100 million a year adding flex-fuel capability to our vehicles. We can’t afford to leave this capital stranded,” Stephens said. He said that adding the capability to run on E86 costs GM as much as $70 per vehicle.

GM has produced 4 million of the 7.5 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. roads now.

The Detroit automaker has worked with the National Governor’s Association and ethanol producers and dispensers to add 350 more ethanol-blend pumps in the United States.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Reuters


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  • J Man

    They worked out a deal with Meijer in MI, that needs to be extended to all Meijer gas stations. That would help make it available in OH, IN and KY that I know of.

    Another problem is that with it being a cleaner fuel it gets worse gas milage. The cost of the E85 needs to be low enough to compensate for the lack of milage that it generates.

    Vehicle capacity will increase with the addition of the 1.4L family zero block coming out in the Cruze, Aveo, Orlando and Volt. Sadly if other iron block engines are replaced with aluminum blocks this will decrease the # of new vehicles that can use it.

  • PabloKoh

    How about GM making all it's vehicles Flex-Fuel, $130 per car. Get on it GM. Then go to Walmart/Sam's Club and ask for a 3 pump station in every parking lot. All the GM customers buy E-85 at Walmart when they buy their groceries every week. Win Win. And BONUS no government intervention at all.

  • PabloKoh

    To go a step further we could make all gasoline 40% ethanol and get rid of dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

  • j man

    For some reason the Aluminum blocked engines can not run on ethanol so the whole fleet can not be E85. Also I will have to disagree with the WalMart part (they suck).