MAY 30, 2000 - Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services Director Kathleen Wilbur announced today that a $35,000 matching state energy grant will enable Flint’s Kettering University to improve the use of ethanol in cold weather.

Kettering University will use the $35,000 matching grant for development of hydrogen technology for ethanol vehicles. The project will focus on adding hydrogen to the fuel mixture for ethanol vehicles to eliminate cold-start problems and improve emissions.

Currently ethanol flexible fuel vehicles run on E85 fuel (a combination of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), gasoline, or both. One of the reasons 15 percent gasoline is still needed for the E85 fuel is to help with cold-start problems. Even with the gasoline, E85 vehicles can experience start-up problems when temperatures dip below 0EC.

"Kettering University’s research will enhance the performance of ethanol in northern climates, such as Michigan, where winter temperatures may limit its use due to cold-start problems," said Wilbur. "Michigan residents benefit significantly with each step we move toward using ethanol because of its environmental, economical and energy benefits."

The grant was awarded by the Energy Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS). CIS awarded grants to Kettering University in 1998 and 1999 to fund its team’s participation in the National Ethanol Vehicle Challenge.

"This grant highlights the State of Michigan’s commitment to ethanol research," said Wilbur. "We’ve also awarded a grant to Central Michigan University to optimize the amount of ethanol that can be produced from the state’s sugar beet pulp."

For additional information, contact Kettering University Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Greg Davis at 810.762.9866 or Jan Patrick in the CIS Energy Resources Division at 517.241.6153.

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.