The Dirty Secret about Flex "Clean" Cars

But First Snide's Remarks: Once again it seems that Politics Uber Alles continues in this White House. Maybe this "scam" is why Toyota was not "invited" to the meeting...or were they? I'm Pissed, what do you think? msnide@theautochannel.com

Washington DC March 27, 2007; Business Week reported that even though President Bush enjoyed a high-profile photo-op on Monday with the heads of the Big Three automakers who showed him an impressive lineup of their latest clean-car models; which included a GM model that can run on ethanol, a plug-in Ford powered by hydrogen, and a DaimlerChrysler Jeep filled with a biodiesel blend...all was not quite what it seemed.

According to Business Week there's a dirty secret about US made clean cars.

The current government policies for flex-fuel vehicles gives automakers leeway in meeting fuel-economy standards if they produce flex-fuel cars and trucks.

So Detroit's automakers have been pumping out hundreds of thousands of the vehicles, even though most consumers have no access to alternative fuels because they're available at only a fraction of U.S. gas stations.

Just 1% of the nation's flexible-fuel vehicles actually use E85. The remaining 99% are using good old-fashioned gasoline. The result is anything but green.

Environmental advocates aren't shy about voicing their outrage. "It's a total scam," says Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club's global warming program.

"The automakers are trying to shield themselves from having to make more efficient vehicles. They're avoiding the path to cutting oil dependence, curbing global warming, saving consumers money, and ultimately saving Detroit from competitors like Toyota."