Hummers go green?

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Hummer, that lumbering symbol of everything that’s wrong with the American automotive world, is going green. The marque has recently announced that E85 ethanol-burning production versions of the H2 pickup and H2 SUT (Sport Utility Truck) will come onstream for the 2009 model year. And that’s not all, Hummer wants all its vehicles to have an E85 capability by the end of 2010.

Ethanol doesn’t have offer up same kind of energy as gasoline, but it does emit fewer greenhouse gases. It’s produced primarily from corn, with 85% ethanol and gasoline making up the difference. It’s also available in just 1% of filling stations nationwide, so Hummer’s parent company, GM, plans on setting up E85 pumps at dealerships and other locations.

One showroom in Texas has already spent over $500,000 installing pumps that dispense E85, E10 and biodiesel. GM is even considering dealer-located hydrogen pumps as part of its plans. Infrastructures have to start somewhere.

-- Colin Ryan