Could the HUMMER H3 run on corn flakes? Maybe, maybe not. GM is busy reviewing such questions. But Cadillac Escalade has been given an answer, not quite as crunchy but nevertheless a giant step in the direction Bob Lutz and Rick Wagoner want to take America’s number one.
An announcement has been made that every 2009 Escalade model will be able to run either on everyday gas, E85 or a mix of both.
“The success of E85 as an alternative fuel” says GM Vice President of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy Beth Lowery, “depends on having the fuel readily available and having a range of cars and trucks that can use it. We will offer more than 15 flex-fuel capable models for 2009 compared with 11 this year.”
Brazil is a leader in the use of E85 and is the leading producer of ethanol in the world. The US is rapidly catching up though as demand for E85 increases dramatically due to the current oil price.
GM’s Flexfuel solution is already being used in HUMMER H2, H2 SUT, Buick Lucerne and Chevrolet HHR.
“We continue to believe that ethanol used in high blends like E85 offers the best near-term solution to offset increased oil demand,” Lowery explained. “There are more than 7 million vehicles today that can use E85.” Lowery urged on that what’s needed now are significantly more stations that offer the fuel.
2009 Cadillac Escalades to Run On E85
GM / Cadillac Escalade Platinum Edition
All Models Capable of Greener Future
By Thami Masemola
June 8, 2008 4:00 AM
Filed Under: American, Cadillac, General, Green
Comments
BabyMilo
June 8, 2008 6:33 AM
i guess that it is a good thing that cadillac r now giving us a green alternative for their SUV...
jai_mav
June 8, 2008 6:37 AM
yea, hopefully others will follow suit. the only problem is that E85 also has awful mileage.
GT-RunSPECtacularV-
March 10, 2009 3:46 PM
All over the US. They usually have at least one pump at stations, you just have to look!
On the trip from LA to Vegas there are 12 different places that have E85. I know, because I have a 2009 E85 Chevrolet 2500HD crew cab Truck, which happens to get a real world 29mpg average with it's 6.0 360hp/385lbftt V8 and 6 speed auto. I get this on my round trips to Vegas every other month!
odysseus
June 8, 2008 12:14 PM
greener alternative? you're joking! an escalade is pathetic car for idiots ? even with a "greener alternative", which is - as benz_man said ? energy-intensive to produce. and beause E85 is made of corn and wheat the price of nourishments will rapidly rise.
joelynn
June 8, 2008 12:54 PM
Bio fuels are very convenient for the car makers- a manufacturable alternative to oil that 'seems' green, and is easy to convert cars to, but really its an environmental and economic disaster that continues the high level of pollution we currently emit and forces up food prices, probably leading to mass starvation. Its not the future, electric cars or hydrogen is. They should make a smnaller hydrogen powered car instead.
si1982
June 8, 2008 1:38 PM
The first gen bio fuels are nothing but false economy. Just coz it comes from green things does not make it green... the production of bio fuels is in itself energy intensive process. As the article states in its opening line if Hummer could run on corn flakes or not? well this race for fuel is affecting food supplies. GM is just trying to hang onto anything that will create publicity and fool the general public into believing that their cars are green too. Sorry GM but your efforts are just pathetic!
eddie
June 8, 2008 5:23 PM
Do you buy E85 next to the hydrogen pump. Even with high gas prices people are still waiting in their cars running in pic up window line for fast food places and starbucks. Gas is too expensive in Europe so there are no pic up windows, people stop their cars and walk in to order. Maybe that is why europeans are thinner.
trailer
June 9, 2008 11:53 AM
Yes, we will get thinner not just because of walking but also because of hunger...MadMax comes TRUE.
trailer
June 9, 2008 11:54 AM
I am also worried about my Harley Davidson. Does anyone know if E85 can be consumed by motorcycles :)
chile
June 9, 2008 7:58 PM
Who ever came up with the idea of putting food into gas tanks is a moron. Do you think the worlds poorest countries are worried about gas prices or driving cars? No! They are worried about eating! Plus, per energy usage it is worse than oil. From the crops it takes to fill up one SUV tank, you can feed one person for a year. How smart is this! Dumb!
benz_man
June 10, 2008 5:39 AM
The only reason American manufacturers are head-over-heals for Ethanol is because its a CAFE right off. Although E85 gets poorer fuel economy than gasoline, CAFE counts only the 15-percent gasoline content of E85. Not counting the ethanol, which is the other 85 percent, produces a seven-fold increase in E85 mpg over standard non flex-fueled vehicles. Its appalling!
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