Published: Monday, August 7, 2006
Group touts cars' efficiency, use of ethanol-based fuels
YOUNGSTOWN — The Natural Resources Defense Council is driving across the country in two new vehicles to promote their "Move America Beyond Oil Campaign."
Deron Lovaas, vehicles campaign director, said that the 2006 Chevrolet Impala and 2006 Ford Escape both get about 30 miles per gallon. The Impala runs on ethanol fuels, as well as gasoline, and the Escape is a hybrid, having both gasoline and electric motors, he added.
The Escape's battery will recharge itself every time the brake is applied, he said. But if the battery dies, it would cost more than $2,000 to replace.
This ethanol gasoline mixture is made up of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Both cars can also run on regular gasoline, which is helpful because less than one percent of gas stations offer the ethanol gasoline.
Because of ethanol gasoline's limited availability, Lovaas and co-workers are driving through the country to get the word out. They said they believe that once people know about this, it's use will become more widespread.
"Our mission is to move America beyond oil," Lovaas said. "The advantage is that these cars will not only get us off oil, but they're cleaner vehicles. It's a win-win situation."
Lovaas said that there is enough green area that can be used to grow the plants from which ethanol is made, as long as they widen their sources. He added that if they could get more yields per acre, it would reduce the cost of ethanol and not create a shortage of food crops.
The NRDC is a private group that is funded by donations.
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from vindyJOBS.com
