Ethanol delivers some from Ike’s aftermath.

Houstonians are collectively lucky – Hurricane Ike could have wrought worse. That’s not to say the present situation is comfortable. For nearly a week, greater Houston has been starved of power and water. People who evacuated have been discouraged from returning. Those who stayed face severe fuel shortages. Empty gasoline reservoirs dash many families’ hopes of escape.

Except for those whose vehicles run on Ethanol.

University of Houston mechanical engineering senior Chris Reudelhuber left his Inner Loop apartment for a friend’s home in Sugar Land in search of cool air and a hot meal. “I noticed a Kroger fuel station on the side of the road,” Reudelhuber said. “They were completely out of gasoline, but they still had E85.”

Reudelhuber’s 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup is capable of running on either the earth-friendly but oft-ignored biofuel – or regular gasoline. Current hybrids run solely on conventional gasoline, decreasing their effectiveness during fuel shortages.

“I filled up my tank, and now I’m heading to College Station to escape the heat,” Reudelhuber said.

E85 usually sells for about $1 per gallon less than conventional gasoline, but vehicles usually deliver moderately decreased mileage when using the biofuel.

Many vehicles already on the road are capable of running on E85. Drivers should look for a label on the inside of their fuel filler lid or on the outside of their gas cap to ensure compatibility. A comprehensive list of E85-capable vehicles can be found on the Department of Energy’s website. A list of E85 fuel stations can be found at http://www.e85refueling.com.

ExpoTV member winfreyson reviewed his mom’s E85-compatible Chevrolet Suburban. We also checked out the Ethanol-friendly Saab 9X BioHybrid and Dodge Ram pickup at this year’s New York International Auto Show.

By the way, if you’re interested in helping relief efforts, visit the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Volunteer Houston, or the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.

Many happy miles,
Adam

5 comments September 18th, 2008