Kettering University
...Continuing the GMI Heritage!
 

Ethanol is Good for the Environment!
E85 is an alcohol–based fuel, consisting of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.  Ethanol is domestically produced, clean burning, and is made from renewable resources such as corn and other grains, grasses, trees and agricultural residues. Presently, 12 percent of the nation’s automotive fuel supply contains ethanol. Ethanol can also reduce carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming.  Much of the carbon dioxide that is released during the production and combustion of ethanol is recaptured by the plants that are used to produce more ethanol!
 

Ethanol is Good for Your Car!
Ethanol is a high octane fuel preferred by racers!  E85 has a high octane rating of 110 compared to gasoline's 87.   Automobiles equipped to run E85 experience enhanced engine performance due to the reduction in the build-up of deposits.  More than 2 trillion miles have already been driven on ethanol blended fuels!
 

Ethanol is Made in America!
Ethanol strengthens our national economy.  The U.S. imports more than half of its oil.  By keeping money in America, ethanol has already boosted employment by over 195,000 jobs (Northwestern University)!  Further, it has improved the nation's balance of trade by $2 billion and resulted in a net federal budget savings of >$3 billion!
 

Ethanol Fueled Vehicles are Already Available!
You may already be driving a vehicle equipped for E85!  Ford Motor Company and DaimlerChrysler Corporation both offer flexible fuel vehicles for sale! These vehicles are designed to run on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 85% ethanol, or E85.
 

Ethanol: The Time is Now!
Today there are more than 54 ethanol producers in 19 states.  1.5 billion gallons of ethanol is produced annually from 560 million bushels of grain.  In fact, we already have 2 refueling sites located in Lansing and Detroit!  Ethanol is a domestically produced, renewable fuel.  It is good for our environment!  It is good for our economy!
 

Ethanol Vehicle Challenge
Kettering University is among 14 universities from N. America that will participate in this year’s Challenge, which is sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, GM and Natural Resources Canada.  The event will be held throughout Canada this year, with competitions in various towns.  "The Ethanol Challenge is a good way to simultaneously test a wide range of engineering configurations, all designed to optimize the performance of a dedicated E-85 vehicle," says Tom Gross, DOE's Deputy Asst. Secretary for Transportation Technologies. "At the same time, we are offering an incomparable training ground for tomorrow's automotive engineer.  "Teams must modify their donated GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado Truck trucks to run on E85 with the goal of increasing fuel efficiency and lowering exhaust emissions without sacrificing performance.  This is the 3rd year for Kettering University. In 1998, students converted a 1997 GM Malibu, winning Best Engine Emissions. In 1999, competing with the Silverado, Kettering placed Third Overall with a first place in the Off-Road competition and a Second place finish in the Acceleration (Dragrace) competition.