A bipartisan group of US legislators have introduced legislation that would require half of all light duty vehicles made or sold in the USA to be “fuel choice enabling vehicles” with 80 per cent to fit the criteria by 2015.

The so-called “fuel choice enabling vehicles” are flexible fuel cars capable of running on petrol and up to 85 per cent alcohol-petrol blends such as E85 or M85. This is in addition to diesel vehicles that are warranted to run on biodiesel. Exceptions will only be made under certain conditions – such as if using fuel-choice plug-in technology caused a vehicle to miss state air quality standards.

The Open Fuel Standards Act follows on from Congressional hearings in December where Ford, Chrysler and General Motors agreed to making 50 per cent of their vehicles flex-fuel by 2012.

It is believed that the distribution system for alcohol fuels will develop if a significant amount of US vehicles are equipped to use them. Congressman Bartlett, one of the Representatives, believes that such a vehicle fleet and distribution system would provide a large market to substantially advance the technology and expand the production of alcohol fuels. He outlined that conservation and energy efficiency are among five steps to an achievable strategy for a sustainable energy future.