The 2009 HUMMER H2 will be the first HUMMER to utilize GM's E85 FlexPower, with the H3 following later in 2009. The new H2 will be able to run on E85 ethanol, standard gasoline, or any combination of the two fuels. E85 is a cleaner-burning, higher-octane fuel that can help reduce dependency on oil, but may not necessarily achieve the same fuel economy as regular gas.
The ethanol in E85 is an alcohol that can be distilled from a number of sources, including sugar cane, corn, biomass, and waste materials. With increases in the cost of food supplies, there has been increased emphasis on using ethanol sources that do not affect the prices of third-world food commodities.
GM is a leader in developing E85 ethanol made from waste wood collected as part of forest wildfire prevention programs. Waste wood would otherwise be burned and does not affect food prices compared with corn. In the United States, more than 3 million of the 7 million flexible-fuel vehicles on the road are GM cars and trucks.
In addition to the HUMMER H3 becoming E85-capable later in 2009, a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine also is being developed for it.
Source: General Motors