[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8522-S8523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              GENERAL MOTOR'S 1997 FLEXIBLE FUEL VEHICLES

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I want to offer my congratulations 
to General Motors for making what I believe is a good move for our 
environment, for our economy, and for their business. All of GM's 1997 
four cylinder light-duty pick-up trucks will have the capability to run 
on ethanol as well as gasoline. This represents a significant milestone 
in the acceptance of ethanol as a widely-used fuel for America. Ethanol 
helps clean the air and is a renewable domestic energy resource. I ask 
to have printed in the Record the May 11, 1995, news release from GM 
concerning this development.

                      General Motors News Release

       Des Moines, Iowa--General Motors today announced the 
     largest single-model alternative fuel vehicle production 
     program of any manufacturer. All of GM's 1997 four-cylinder 
     light-duty pickup trucks will be flexible fueled to permit 
     them to run on gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of the 
     two.
       Speaking at a meeting of the Governors' Ethanol Coalition, 
     GM Vice President Dennis R. Minano said GM will use the 1997 
     Chevrolet S-series and GMC Sonoma pickups as flexible fuel 
     vehicles because they will meet the broad spectrum of needs 
     of many fleet and retail buyers.
       ``The inclusion of ethanol capability in this program is a 
     win/win for the environment and the customer,'' Minano said. 
     ``As a near-term alternative fuel, ethanol provides many 
     positives. Ethanol is a renewable domestic energy source, 
     provides more range than some other alternative fuels, and is 
     good for the environment.''
       ``We are making this announcement today,'' said Minano, 
     ``in order to provide time for us all to develop an 
     infrastructure and prepare for the volume of ethanol capable 
     trucks Chevrolet and GMC Truck will [[Page S8523]] begin 
     selling in 1997 in the U.S. and Canada.'' Minano said the 
     ethanol industry needs to continue to work with the 
     automobile manufactures to finalize fuel specifications, 
     commonize fuel delivery systems, and develop a refueling 
     infrastructure.
       Minano also said, ``We are particularly pleased to have the 
     opportunity to make this announcement at the Governors' 
     Ethanol Coalition meeting. I know the governors are committed 
     to working with us and with the private infrastructure 
     business to make this program a success. This program is 
     really a partnership in the truest sense of the word.''
       General Motors has been a leader in developing alternative 
     fuel vehicle technologies for more than 25 years. Our 
     strategy has been, and will continue to be, fuel neutral. 
     This strategy includes continuing the development of gaseous, 
     alcohol, and electric vehicles. Minano said, ``The market has 
     to have room to allow multiple fuels. There should not be a 
     mandate for a single technology.''
       The trucks are scheduled for production beginning in the 
     summer of 1996 and will be produced at North American Truck 
     Group facilities in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Linden, New 
     Jersey. They will be sold in the U.S. and Canada under the 
     GMC Truck and Chevrolet nameplates.
     

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