3 years, 2 months ago
Was GM flex fuels a strategic mistake?
Did flex fuels technology for ethanol add value for GM consumers? Has ethanol combustible engines created a growth market?
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M$1 Answer
@davepamn We have a good outlook on this from our position.
I believe it was, me and my brother both have a good view of the issue from where we sit. You see both of us come from a family surrounded by mechanics, (remember the line from my cousin Vinny ;o) ) ,.... my father is a mechanic , my 4 brothers are mechanics, my cousins are all mechanics and so on and so forth.
Now my father isn't a mechanic, he sells car insurance however, has for a pretty long time, and knows a whole host of knowledge about different vehicles, classification of vehicles, etc. All of my uncles and aunts ARE mechanics including all of their children who are mechanically inclined in someway, as well as one of my uncles who races currently in SuperCross.
We have a view from this end, and to be frank the flex fuel system simply doesn't work for multiple reasons.
>> Delivery
One big reason being which ethanol needs to be treated and also kept at a steady temperature as well as mixed with regular gasoline from refinery to the pump in order to burn efficiently.
This takes added resources to begin with which brings us to the next set of issues.
>> Education
Another reason is simply that consumers are not really all that educated on the subject, they might feel a little intimidated to rush into purchasing a technology they know little or nothing about before visiting their local car/truck salesman.
>> Skepticism
Allot of people also might be very skeptical about something new so soon so the target market doesn't have enough time to digest it.
>> Adaptation
It isn't just the consumers and commercial trucking business's that are going to have a hard time with flex fuel, it's also the dealers and the auto manufacturers.
>> Greed and corruption.
All in all i was a little hesitant in putting this here as well, but I believe it's also the oil manufacturers and their lobbyists that might also play a intricate part in the switch to any new form of combustible fuel. Not only does it scare big oil because of the thought of using something other than gas for consumers vehicles, but it also hurts their pockets if they don't or are not developing a delivery method which is cost viable to strengthen their bottom line.
So while flex fuel in theory might be a good start to our nations dependencies on foreign oil and strategically sound *in theory* for mainly the truck industry, unfortunately for the auto manufacturers as a viable stepping stone to a greener and leaner means of combustible fuel alternative it was to little to late.
Kind Regards,
XDS
I believe it was, me and my brother both have a good view of the issue from where we sit. You see both of us come from a family surrounded by mechanics, (remember the line from my cousin Vinny ;o) ) ,.... my father is a mechanic , my 4 brothers are mechanics, my cousins are all mechanics and so on and so forth.
Now my father isn't a mechanic, he sells car insurance however, has for a pretty long time, and knows a whole host of knowledge about different vehicles, classification of vehicles, etc. All of my uncles and aunts ARE mechanics including all of their children who are mechanically inclined in someway, as well as one of my uncles who races currently in SuperCross.
We have a view from this end, and to be frank the flex fuel system simply doesn't work for multiple reasons.
>> Delivery
One big reason being which ethanol needs to be treated and also kept at a steady temperature as well as mixed with regular gasoline from refinery to the pump in order to burn efficiently.
This takes added resources to begin with which brings us to the next set of issues.
>> Education
Another reason is simply that consumers are not really all that educated on the subject, they might feel a little intimidated to rush into purchasing a technology they know little or nothing about before visiting their local car/truck salesman.
>> Skepticism
Allot of people also might be very skeptical about something new so soon so the target market doesn't have enough time to digest it.
>> Adaptation
It isn't just the consumers and commercial trucking business's that are going to have a hard time with flex fuel, it's also the dealers and the auto manufacturers.
>> Greed and corruption.
All in all i was a little hesitant in putting this here as well, but I believe it's also the oil manufacturers and their lobbyists that might also play a intricate part in the switch to any new form of combustible fuel. Not only does it scare big oil because of the thought of using something other than gas for consumers vehicles, but it also hurts their pockets if they don't or are not developing a delivery method which is cost viable to strengthen their bottom line.
So while flex fuel in theory might be a good start to our nations dependencies on foreign oil and strategically sound *in theory* for mainly the truck industry, unfortunately for the auto manufacturers as a viable stepping stone to a greener and leaner means of combustible fuel alternative it was to little to late.
Kind Regards,
XDS
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
How do you think Ethanol is doing in 2010? The gas I buy has 10% ethanol. There are millions of e85 flex vehicles on the road. Is the ethanol trend working? I see some gas station advertising "No Ethanol". Gas prices are still above $2.66.
What are the solutions for storing ethanol? Can you freeze it? Combine it with other chemicals? ect
even worse than it was doing in 09 / 08 , the problem isn't refining the problem is keeping it stored. It needs to be used properly and at the right time or it doesn't have the same affect.
It's like adding more water to lemonade , everything needs to be just right in order for it to taste good.
Are the E85 production statistics suggesting the Flex-fuel option is starting to become acceptable?
How many E85 flex fuel vehicles are on US roads?
What website provides a list of a E85 fuel station by location?