The Expanding E Fleet Of General Motors

The Expanding E Fleet of General Motors

Summary: E: Is it the way to go or a passing fad? You decide!

Article Body: The E movement, which is based on an alternate fuel consisting of % ethanol and % gasoline, is getting an additional boost thanks to a recent decision by General Motors to expand its existing line up from models to . This increase will mean that General Motors, which already has nearly million E vehicles on the road, will be able to produce as many as , E vehicles per year. For proponents of alternate fuel sources, the decision by General Motors is certainly a welcome one. Lets take a look at GMs expanding E fleet and what this could mean for you, the fuel conscious motorist.

E has been around for well over a decade now, but has only recently has it been the focus of such widespread attention. Credit gas prices exceeding $ per gallon for interest in E and you can see why General Motors is continuing to expand its line up to meet the demand for alternate fuel sources.

The Current Line Up

GMs current fleet of E vehicles now numbers nine. GMs Silverado, Tahoe, Impala, Monte Carlo, Avalanche, Sierra, Suburban, Yukon, and Yukon XL currently make up the entire fleet of E capable vehicles produced by the automaker. The bulk of GMs E sales have come since , however the automaker had been building E capable vehicles for many years prior to the turn of the millennium. DaimlerChrysler and Ford also build tens of thousands of E vehicles per year.

Expanding on the Theme

General Motors is planning to add five new models for including the Chevrolet Uplander, its crossover van offering. Other models have yet to be named, but they will likely include similar sized vehicles.

Shortages Persist/Limited Availability

While Es appeal remains strong, limited pump availability and fuel shortages have put a strain on the market. Most of the ethanol currently used is derived from corn a readily available food and fuel source in the U.S. However, refineries and pump availability is limited outside of the Midwest, making E totally unavailable in some areas. With GMs help, new stations and increased capacity are coming online. Fortunately, if E is not available in a particular area, each vehicle can still run on straight gasoline.

Fuel Economy and Performance

Another area that must be acknowledged is overall fuel economy. While ethanol does produce a nice boost in overall performance, it does impact fuel mileage reducing it by -% on some models. When E prices are or cents lower than gasoline, this is not a problem. However, with E demand being high, prices are only or cents lower in most areas. Certainly, consumers could find themselves paying even more overall for fuel by electing to go with E at various times.

A Cleaner Environment

Beyond price and fuel economy, there is one huge benefit to using E: harmful pollutants are greatly reduced. With only a small percentage of gasoline consumed compared to straight gasoline or diesel fuel, greenhouse gas emissions drop significantly which is clearly better for the environment.

A Temporary Fix or a Wave to be Ridden?

Finally, E may be considered only a temporary fix especially if other forms of fuel efficient vehicles catch on. Hybrids remain an attractive alternative for some, biodiesel is growing in strength, and hydrogen powered cars are only a few years away. Still, E is more then a fad, but it does need some government intervention in order to succeed. Whether the federal government does intervene remains to be seen, but if consumer sentiment continues to rise, that may all become a moot point.