| GM says
hybrids for 'image' ethanol, hydrogen should be focus |
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Publication Date:16-May-2006 06:00 PM US Eastern Timezone Source:Leftlane News |
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General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner said in an interview last week that the
automaker needs to compete in the hybrid market for “image reasons,” and
would rather see a focus on ethanol, and later, hydrogen fuel. He said
it’s not clear how much further hybrid sales will grow, but there’s
certainly a “natural limit” to demand for the vehicles.
GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz made similar comments in an interview in March. Speaking with CNN reporter Frank Sesno, Lutz said, “We think running the nation on E85 makes more sense than all the hybrids in the world.” E85 fuel, as its name implies, is 85 percent ethanol. Most cars today will run on a maximum of 10 percent ethanol, but several new models now support E85. While Lutz focused on ethanol, Wagoner also mentioned the eventuality of using hydrogen to power vehicles. However, he said the first of these cars would be “massive money losers.” Nonetheless, GM hopes to bring its first hydrogen offerings to market in 2010. |