General Motors and the Road to Energy Independence

Last week, at the 2006 L.A. Auto Show, General Motors took a small but important step toward the goal of fuel diversification and energy independence. It wasn’t the debut of a slick concept car or a hybrid or fuel-cell-powered vehicle — the grist of most modern auto shows. Rather, it was an initiative to provide new fueling opportunities for the millions of vehicles already on the road that can run seamlessly on either conventional gasoline or plant-based ethanol.

These so-called flex-fuel vehicles, or FFVs, represent a largely ignored solution to reducing America’s oil dependency, and GM has made them a cornerstone of its environmental strategy. In its most recent announcement, GM said it would lead a joint demonstration project along with the state of California, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Pacific Ethanol “to learn more about consumer awareness and acceptance of E85 as a motor vehicle fuel by demonstrating its use in GM’s flexible-fuel vehicles.”

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