Posted Dec. 15, 2010 Surveys show that as many as 75 percent of flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) owners don't know they can fill their vehicles with E85. Now, a new public awareness campaign will aim to change that. "Breaking through the blend wall begins with the 8 million FFVs on the road today, and reaching these drivers to make sure they know they can use ethanol blends up to 85 percent," said Dallas Tonsager, USDA under secretary for rural development. FFVs can use E15 or ethanol blends up to E85, allowing consumers to take advantage of lower prices when available, he added. On Dec. 14, Clean Fuels Foundation announced that it will be working with the USDA on efforts to increase the use of ethanol blends in FFVs. Initially, efforts of the National FFV Awareness Campaign will focus on areas in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Washington, D.C. Later, the campaign will be expanded to include areas that already have E85 or blender pumps and areas with high concentrations of FFVs. "There's no sense getting everybody all fired up about FFVs if there is nowhere to get the fuel," said Doug Durante, executive director of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition, which is coordinating the campaign. The Governors' Biofuels Coalition and the U.S. EPA are also supporting the awareness campaign. "More frequent use of higher blends of ethanol in flex fuel vehicles is one avenue that can further support meeting the volume requirements of the renewable fuel standard, which in turn results in additional greenhouse gas reductions," said Paul Argyropoulos, EPA spokesperson. "When fully implemented, the program will reduce GHG emissions equivalent to taking 27 million cars off the road. This awareness effort is another avenue which federal and private interests can work together to attain these goals." The idea is to provide the resources needed to spark grassroots, locally driven FFV awareness campaigns. "That's where it's going have to happen," Durante told EPM. "I really believe that." That could mean coordinating with automotive manufacturers to distribute information at dealerships and working with states to provide information to citizens during registration renewals and at emissions stations. Rallies and special events could also help spread awareness. One example would be to hire college students to place information related to FFVs and E85 on parked vehicles at sports games. Or, signs could be placed on top of blender pumps, prompting drivers to find out if they are driving a FFV and telling them how to do that. "That's exactly what this is about, to try to empower people," he said. It will be a challenge to educate millions of FFV drivers, but it's a challenge the group is ready to take on. When drivers are informed that their vehicles are FFVs and where they can buy ethanol blends, ethanol sales increase. "Every gallon of renewable ethanol we place in the market means we are displacing predominantly imported petroleum with a renewable, predominantly domestic product that creates jobs here at home and strengthens our energy and national security," he said. To date, the campaign has the support of the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, Chrysler and 22 other organizations. For more information visit www.ffv-awareness.org.