Ethanol fuel is creating more questions than answers.
Many consumers, gas companies and car manufacturers that want to take a stand on fossil fuels find the footing precarious.
“Currently, joint efforts between the government and car manufacturers are working to increase the availability of alternate fuels to make methods available,” said Bruce Shindler, the owner of Bob Davidson Ford in Baltimore.
Ethanol-based gasoline, commonly known as E85 because it is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, would cost slightly less than a gallon of regular unleaded gas right now ($2.16 in Baltimore), but it does have its drawbacks. The closest E85 pump for Marylanders is in Pittsburgh. Also, the mix is a corrosive formula that cannot run in a typical automobile, and with no ability to adapt an existing system for E85, consumers must buy a specially equipped car. According to Jason Toews, the founder of BaltimoreGasPrices.com, the new gas also would get fewer miles to the gallon.
“It typically is a just a bit cheaper,” Toews said. “Not dramatically, but it has to be [cheaper] because the fuel economy goes down.”
Many national businesses are working on developing new “greener” forms of fueling cars. Shindler told The Examiner that Ford Motor Co. is spending around $5 billion a year on research in the product-development field. Current projects include testing of E85, green diesel, more efficient hybrids and twin-force direct injection turbo engines. Progress does come with a price tag, though, with many electric hybrids selling for more than $3,000 more than the average car before rebates.
“Which one ends up on top?” Shindler said. “My guess is there is going to be more than one going forward that the general public uses.”
