_____________________________________________________________ What is E85 FlexFuels All About? Common Questions and Answers About E85 FlexFuels | Bio Fuels Which 2007 Chevy Vehicles Use E85 FlexFuel Technology? How Available is E85 FlexFuel? _________________________________________________

What is E85 FlexFuels All About? E85 FlexFuel vehicles can run on either gasoline or E85 — a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline — or a combination of both. E85 ethanol fuel is a cleaner-burning, mostly renewable fuel source made from U.S.-grown biomaterial, such as corn or other grain products. It helps reduce greenhouse gases and can enhance the nation’s economy and energy independence. Availability of this special fuel varies by state. _________________________________________________

E85 Facts     E85 FlexFuel helps to reduce greenhouse gases           Using E85 ethanol helps to reduce dependence on petroleum, and helps create greater diversity in our nation’s energy supplies and sources.           Ethanol, the major component of E85, is a renewable fuel.           Using E85 ethanol has the ability to help improve vehicle performance because E85 ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline which allows for more horsepower and torque.

			Did You Know?
			Driving a new FlexFuel Tahoe on 100 percent E85 ethanol for 15,000 miles would use about 120 fewer gallons of gasoline than driving a compact hybrid over the same distance.

Common Questions and Answers About E85 FlexFuels | Bio Fuels

Below are some common questions and answers about E85 Flex Fuels.

Q. What is E85 ethanol?

A. Ethanol is a high octane, domestically-produced renewable fuel. E85 ethanol is an alternative fuel to gasoline and is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline – although the exact percentages vary seasonally. 

Q. What are the benefits of using E85 ethanol instead of gasoline?

A. At GM, we believe that the biofuel with the greatest potential to displace petroleum-based fuels in the U.S. is ethanol.  And there are several other benefits to using E85 ethanol,including:

• Ethanol, the major component of E85 ethanol, is a renewable fuel.
• Using E85 ethanol helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Using E85 ethanol helps to reduce dependence on petroleum, and helps create greater diversity in our nation’s energy supplies and sources.
• Using E85 ethanol has the ability to help improve vehicle performance because E85 ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline which allows for more horsepower and torque.
• Using E85 ethanol helps to reduce smog-forming emissions.
• Using E85 ethanol can help to support rural communities and the domestic agriculture industry.

Q. Isn’t ethanol only able to be produced from corn? Doesn’t this divert corn away from food and feed markets?

A. No. Ethanol can be produced from a variety of materials, and other options are being explored now for production in the U.S. Although not yet in large-scale commercial production, “cellulosic ethanol” is an emerging technology to produce ethanol from agricultural waste and forestry residues such as corn stalks or rice husks, or from purposefully–grown crops such as switch grass or trees. An added benefit is that the production of cellulosic ethanol results in greater greenhouse gas reductions than achieved by producing ethanol from corn.

In regards to affecting food and feed markets when creating ethanol from corn, the National Corn Growers Association has published reports that show that there is plenty of corn available for all uses. In addition to fuel, the ethanol creation process yields high-quality livestock feed and food production. The Association has also stated a goal of accommodating the long term projected increase in ethanol production from 4 billion gallons in 2005 to 12.5-15 billion gallons, without giving up the U.S. corn industry’s domestic and export markets.  (Additional statistics on the use of corn in the U.S. include: In 2003, 57% of the total corn grown in the U.S. was used as animal feed and 19% of the total crop was exported.  Ethanol production currently consumes about 13% of the total U.S. corn crop.) 

Q. In terms of cost, which is more expensive – gasoline or E85 ethanol?

A. The price of E85 ethanol varies by market and can fluctuate just like any other fuel. During the spike in gasoline prices in September 2005, the price of E85 ethanol was as much as 60 cents a gallon less than gasoline in some places. In 2006, the price of ethanol reached new highs as refiners abruptly replaced the additive MTBE with ethanol. This sudden increase in demand produced a temporary price spike that made E85 ethanol more expensive than gasoline in some areas. However, ethanol production costs are significantly below today’s price of gasoline. In the future, we expect E85 ethanol to be cheaper per mile than gasoline when gas prices are high and more expensive per mile when gas prices are low. 

As is the case with all forms of fuel, the larger the network of fueling outlets and the greater the use of the fuel, the more competitively priced that fuel will be. For more information on E85 ethanol pricing around the country, visit www.E85fuel.com.

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For 2007, GM vehicles that offer E85-capability are:

	Chevrolet Tahoe		GMC Yukon
	Chevrolet Suburban		GMC Yukon XL
	Chevrolet Avalanche		GMC Sierra
	Chevrolet Silverado		GMC Sierra Classic
	Chevrolet Silverado Classic		GMC Savana
	Chevrolet Impala		Chevrolet Monte Carlo
	Chevrolet Express		Chevrolet Uplander

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How Available is E85 FlexFuel?

To date according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, there are more than 1,000 E85 ethanol fueling stations in the U.S. This number has grown significantly over the past year.

Is GM doing anything to help promote the installation of more E85 stations?

A.  GM is dedicated to helping to grow the E85 infrastructure in the U.S. and is involved in several initiatives with industry, government and other key stakeholders.

GM has also announced several partnerships since 2005 with various states and fuel providers to locate more E85 ethanol fueling pumps or stations throughout the U.S. To date, partnerships have been announced in South Dakota, California, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York and Virginia. As part of these partnerships, to date, GM has helped to launch the installation of more than 200 E85 fueling pumps stations around the country. GM is also in talks with additional states and more announcements should be coming.

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