GM Latin America exec says that using E85 generates the same carbon savings as CAFE standards, saves automakers $100 billion

Robin Walker-Lee, VP and General Counsel of General Motors Latin America, told attendees of the Americas Conference in Miami that using E85 generates the same carbon savings as CAFE standards, and would save automakers $100 billion in investment.

Walker-Lee said that GM, which has 2 million flex fuel cars on the road, expects that half of its sales by 2012 will be flex fuel vehicles. 97% of GM’s Brazilian car sales are flex-fuel.

“We’ve developed the technology, we’ve put in the cars, and we’ve put cars on the road…now it’s time to address infrastructure”, she said, referring to the lack of E85 stations around the country.

She noted that Miami, host of the conference, has just one E85 fueling station. She declined an opportunity to comment on how the fuel would be moved around the country to support E85, after it was pointed out that the US lacks a pipeline to carry ethanol efficiently and safely out of the Midwest to major markets.

In remarks to the conference, she indicated that a plug-in version of the Saturn Vue hybrid would be available by the end of the year.

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