E-85's Future is Doubtful, Toyota Rep Says

Global Refining & Fuels Report, October, 2007 by Franco, Joanna

face=+Italic; Washington, Dface=-Italic; face=+Italic; .face=-Italic; face=+Italic; Cface=-Italic; face=+Italic; . face=-Italic; -- A market for E-85 is unlikely, although lower ethanol blends like E-11 and E-12 may be possible on a national scale, said Tom Stricker, Toyota North America's director of technical and regulatory affairs, at Hart Energy Publishing's "Petroleum Refiners and Renewables Conference" here.

"Honestly, Toyota has some concerns over the viability of an E-85 market," Stricker said. "Frankly, most consumers aren't interested" due to E-85's lower fuel economy.

According to Toyota's sources, ethanol production will eventually rise to 15 billion gallons a year. Because 12 to 14 billion gallons are needed to implement E-10 nationally, there will be 2 to...