Automakers put ethanol-ready cars on display at West Virginia auto show

Ethanol is still not available at many gas pumps, but there are cars ready to run on it. At the West Virginia International, automakers are showcasing their "Flexible Fuel Vehicles," which operate on ethanol and gasoline, reports The Charleston Gazette. The cars' exteriors do not look any different, but inside there are unique engine components and a computer to analyze the ethanol content of fuel.

"The cars don’t run on pure ethanol but rather E85, a blend of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol," according to the Gazette's staff report. "Among E85’s advantages over gas is that it burns far more cleanly and derives from U.S.-grown crops like corn. When gasoline prices skyrocket, E85 is typically cheaper, but under normal circumstances the prices for each are about the same."

Currently, there are only two E85 pumps in West Virginia: one in Morgantown and another in Bridgeport. The price of E85 at one of those was $2.999 per gallon compared to $3.28 for regular 87-octane gasoline. (Read more)

A list of flexible fuel vehicles:

• Chevrolet: Avalanche, Express, Impala, Silverado (1/2-ton pickup 2WD and 4WD), Suburban, Tahoe, Uplander
• Chrysler: Aspen, Sebring (convertible and sedan), Town & Country
• Dodge: Avenger, Dakota, Durango, Grand Caravan, Ram 1500
• Ford: Crown Victoria, F-150
• GMC: Savana, Sierra (1/2-ton pickup 2WD and 4WD), Yukon, Yukon XL
• Jeep: Commander, Grand Cherokee Mercedes: C300 Luxury & Sport
• Mercury: Grand Marquis Nissan: Armada, Titan
• Pontiac: Montana