Car buyers dramatically impressed with ethanol
Posted: 06 February 2006
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Last year's fuel price hike and Middle East crises may have not only hurt US drivers' pockets but also caused them to feel guilty about operating large, gas-only vehicles, says a senior car executive. Because of this, car buyers are looking into ethanol power vehicles.
Bill Saunders, President of Phoenix Automotive, said: "Ethanol power not only allows owners to enjoy large vehicles, but it can also let them feel good about the domestic agricultural economy, American energy independence and the environment."
Only 13 per cent of vehicle owners currently perceive General Motors as an extremely or very environmentally-sensitive company. But if GM were to establish leadership in ethanol development and flex-fuel vehicles, 76 percent would see GM as environmentally sensitive, Saunders said.
"With 1.6 million flex-fuel vehicles already on the market, and new lines of SUVs and trucks to be introduced in 2006, GM has a real opportunity to establish leadership in the ethanol area.
“Ford is not far behind, with its own aggressive ethanol programs. Ethanol could be the alternative fuel source that catapults sales of American auto manufacturers," said Saunders.
The online survey, conducted by Phoenix Automotive among 2,057 vehicle owners, found that 60 per cent are extremely or very familiar with the grain-based fuel. When presented with ethanol's strengths and weaknesses, over 90 per cent of drivers said they would prefer a flex-fuel vehicle (running on both bio- and fossil-fuels) over a strictly gasoline or diesel version.
Fully 87 per cent of vehicle owners said they would feel much or somewhat better about any manufacturer offering flex-fuel vehicles and supporting ethanol delivery infrastructure.
Ethanol is typically produced from renewable, domestically-raised grain. It is priced similar to or lower than gasoline, and it offers reductions in tailpipe particulate and toxic emissions.
Consumers perceive renewable resource (42 per cent), clean fuel (24 per cent) and produced in America (19 per cent) as the most important benefits of ethanol-powered vehicles.
Posted by Editor Pipeline Magazine
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