Indiana corn farmers, through investment of their corn checkoff funds, are working to drive consumers to purchase Flex Fuel Vehicles and fill them with E85. But more E85 pumps are needed. To establish more E85 pumps the Indiana Corn Marketing Council is devoting checkoff funds to help fuel retailers upgrade their equipment. The checkoff will provide up to five-thousand dollars for the cleaning of fuel storage tanks prior to the introduction of E85 blended fuel. This grant is in addition to the grant offered by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture for the purchase of new E85 refueling equipment or existing pump conversion.
Presently, there are fewer than 100 E85 pumps across Indiana. Indiana Corn Marketing Council Director Mike Nichols, a corn producer from Richland, Indiana, says ?we need more fuel retailers to step up and offer E85. But the Council抯 Biofuels Director Mark Walters says - the cost to retailers can be significant, so we are offering them some help in return for the retailer抯 commitment to offer and promote our home-grown, alternative fuel.
More Flex Fuel Vehicles are coming down the road. According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, in 2008, 31 new models of motor vehicles will be offered with an E85 capable engine. With these additions, there are more than 175 models of Flex Fuel Vehicles available to consumers.