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| Loren Beard, fuels specialist at Chrysler |
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A senior management figure at Chrysler has hit out at five groups he sees standing in the way of alternative fuels.
Chrysler Senior Manager of Energy Planning and Policy, Loren Beard, made his remarks at the end of a weeklong industry conference.
He name five groups that he says are trying to stop the growth of alternative fuels.
Oil companies received Beard's biggest criticism, saying that alternative fuels eat into their market share, complicate distribution operations and may require special components and unique additives at refineries.
Next on the list was Big Agriculture, which supports feedstock-specific biofuels such as soybeans and corn and want to maintain current tax incentives that support their crops.
The Renewable Fuels Association supports mid-level blends of ethanol, which will effectively kill the E85 program, he believes.
Thirdly - while reticent to name names - the "Silver Bullet" carmakers were blamed, which probably include the large Japanese marques pushing hi-tech solutions.
The Chrysler fuel specialist suggested that companies such as Toyota believe their technology is the only answer to improving fuel economy, and look to parochial interests rather than national and global interests.
Fringe Environmental Groups who need "crisis" PR to attract donations came next. Mr Beard remarked they focus on imaginary "silver bullet" long-term technologies with no respect for real world economics.
Finally OPEC came under fire for "needing to support high production rates at high prices." |
