Oil executives list problems with E85

These comments are not about E10, a formulation long used as an oxygenate and fuel extender. They are talking about E85. With regard to mileage, Mr. Mulva has a very good point, and car makers need to respond with E85 optimization, a technology already implimented in the Saab 9-5 biofuel. With regard to the requirement for storing ethanol blends in their own tanks, it's much less expensive to do this than to invest in infrastructure for other alternatives such as hydrogen. Furthermore, oil companies could upgrade to a European style system that stores ethanol in its own tank, straight gasoline in another tank, and the two are mixed at varying percentages as the fuel is pumped into a vehicle tank. -- Jeffrey Goettemoeller
Journal Gazette | 02/16/2006 | Big oil cool to selling ethanol:
by Sylvia A. Smith, Washington editor
"In letters to Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, the president of Shell Oil said E-85 can't be used in most vehicles and has to be stored in its own tanks at gas stations. But, John Hofmeister said, Shell has a pilot program in Chicago and hopes to learn more about E-85. James Mulva, chairman of ConocoPhillips, was less enthusiastic, saying mileage is better with regular gas..."