The Current State of Corn-Based Fuel: We’re All Ears
Monday, October 2nd, 2006
GM has latched onto E-85, an 85% blend of corn-based ethanol with regular petroleum, as the way into consumers’ hearts. On paper, it’s perfect. In addition to swaying those who want to be green, E-85 can provide the corn-belt, all-American image that Toyota’s hybrids will never be able to – no matter how many plants they build in the US. The effectiveness of GM’s ‘Live Green Go Yellow’ ad campaign, with a website featuring wholesome people in cowboy hats against a field of corn, remains to be seen, but it’s clearly designed to appeal to Middle America. Pickup trucks are still the best-selling vehicles in the US, and many families who have been GM for generations are wary about turning in their Silverados and adopting the more expensive and more complex hybrid models.